Theater Review: 'Marat/Sade' by WCSU Dept. of Theatre Arts

Review by Nancy Sasso Janis

The WCSU Department of Theatre Arts presents “Marat/Sade The Persecution and Assassination of Jean-Paul Marat as performed by the inmates of the Asylum of Charenton under the direction of Marquis de Sade.” The play was written by Peter Weiss. The English version was done by Geoffrey Skelton, with music by Richard Peaslee and verse adaptation and lyrics by Adrian Mitchell.

In a well-considered dramaturg note in the printed program, Co-Dramaturg Sarah Mitelman warns the audience that this is a play unlike anything they have seen before. It contains aspects of the “Theatre of Cruelty–a form of theatrical presentation created and propagated by Antonin Artaud in the 1930–in which the audience’s senses are stressed and assaulted by lights, sounds and dramatic movement.”

In this play within a play set in 19th century France, the infamous Marquis de Sade has been imprisoned in the asylum of Charenton for endangering public morals. As a form of drama therapy, the hospital’s patients are allowed to take part in plays, and de Sade sets out to dramatize the death of the French revolutionary Jean-Paul Marat, who was murdered in his bath. Sade, remembered for his cruelty, has himself written and produced this play for the inmates, and the backstory of each patient adds another layer of interpretation.

"Marat/Sade" is a bawdy and outrageous play where madness and reason seem inseparable. It is a depiction of the violence of modern society while asking whether true revolution comes from changing society or changing oneself.

While reminding us that perceptions of mental health have dramatically changed since the 19th century, Mitelman nonetheless links this work to current times. “We look around at our own cultural and political insane asylum, where little is what it seems to be, and chaos seems to be predominant.”

The students are directed by Professor Sal Trapani, with Ryli Frisch as assistant director. Musical direction is by Jackson Tubis (a transfer junior from North Haven) who conducts and plays piano, with raucous choreography by Jen Turey. Although there were a few sections where I was not able to make out what was going on, and perhaps that was the point, the university students did very well with all aspects of this challenging material.

Alaina Dwyer, a senior from Orange (pictured above,) gives an excellent performance as the Herald. She makes good use of her various props, speaking in rhyme and sometimes providing line prompts. Junior Donovan Shaw from Bristol tackles the role of Jean-Paul Marat and Michael Moriarity, a senior, is the Marquis De Sade (pictured below.)

Senior Nicole Rivera plays Simmone Evrard and Alaina Montgomery, a sophomore, portrays Duperret.

In the roles of four clown-like characters, Asia Aloma of Southington is Rossignol, Raul Calderon (a senior from Waterbury) plays Cucurucu, junior Jamishay Cammann is Kokol and sophomore Colby Groves plays Polpoch.

WCSU junior Alexandra Colaiacovo and senior Fiona Connolly appear as French sisters in large headpieces.

Senior Rebecca Donaghy (above) plays Coulmier, the director of Charenton, with Sandra Mood as his wife and Rachel Rosenberg as his daughter in her WCSU Mainstage debut. Jaxon Beirne, a junior from Milford, plays the role of Jacques Roux, a patient.

The performance that I attended featured Reagan Mary-Lee Smith (pictured above in the center,) a senior from Wolcott who won a 2019 Halo Award, in the role of Charlotte Corday; she shares the role with Anna Raymond, a junior from Pomfret.

A chorus of patients are played by students who all understudy the named roles. They include sophomore Christopher Andreko, Xela Roper from Southbury, senior Jenna Drahota, sophomore Zayda Greer, senior Erin Hager, sophomore Olivia Lanteri, Majella Maltempi and senior Beno Urena. Brianna Wright and Savannah Wright play male nurses.

The scenic designer Professor Elizabeth Popiel captures the feel of the asylum, with bleachers added to each side of the stage for volunteers from the audience to become part of the performance. There is a sheer drop at the front of the stage with a projection that sets the time and place; the opening scene begins behind it. The lighting design by Professor Scott Cally enhances the visual appearance of this striking scene. Popiel also designed the period costumes that delineate the various characters.

There will be a talkback on Saturday, April 29th following the matinee performance with director Sal Trapani, professors Dr. Donald Gagnon and Michael Nolan, and members of the cast.

This production is recommended for a 16+ audience and contains mature themes and language.

Tickets are available at the link below: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/maratsade-tickets-408875616977

"Marat/Sade" continues through Apr. 30 in the MainStage Theatre of the Visual and Performing Arts Center. The performance runs approximately 90 minutes with no intermission.

All photos by WCSU Dept. of Theatre Arts

Nancy Sasso Janis, writing theatre reviews since 2012 as a way to support local venues, posts well over 100 reviews each year. In 2016, her membership in the Connecticut Critics Circle began and her contributions of theatrical reviews, previews, and audition notices are posted not only in the Naugatuck Patch but also on the Patch sites closest to the venue. She recently became a contributor to the Waterbury Republican-American newspaper. Her weekly column and theatre reviews appear in the Thursday Weekend section of the paper.

Follow the reviewer on her Facebook pages Nancy Sasso Janis: Theatre Reviewer and Connecticut Theatre Previews and on Twitter @nancysjanis417 Check out the NEW CCC Facebook page.