Oct. 29, 2002

Contact: Charla Jenkins, University Theatre, (785) 864-2684.

KU Theatre for Young People to present 'Where to, Turelu?'

LAWRENCE --The University of Kansas Theatre for Young People will stage an original French play inspired by European circus techniques. A public performance, at 2:30 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 10, in the Crafton-Preyer Theatre, will follow four days of school performances for local students in grades 4, 5 and 6.

"Where to, Turelu?" by Henri Dégoutin, Jeanine Védienne and Yves Hugues, has been translated from the French by Miriam and Lewis Morton.

The KU-TYP production is directed by Jeanne Klein, associate professor of theatre and film and director of the KU Theatre for Young People program. Scenic, costume and makeup designer is Aaron Dyszelski, Milwaukee, Wis., graduate student in scenography; lighting designer is Brent D. Lind, Overland Park junior; movement coach is Leslie Bennett, assistant professor of theatre and film; and vocal coach is Paul Meier, professor of theatre and film. Original music for the production has been composed by Jeremy Schropp, Lawrence graduate student.

Originally created in 1973 by members of the Comedie de Lorraine of Nancy, France, "Where to, Turelu?" attempts to communicate the harsh realities of dictatorial authority and capitalistic power through metaphoric situations and physical humor, Klein said.

In addition, the play dramatizes the clash between rural and urban lifestyles by contrasting basic needs with materialistic desires for new, fast-paced technologies, Klein said.

Turelu is a simple, friendly wanderer who merely wants to help people along the metaphorical road of life. He meets and tries to befriend two sisters and a brother who have left their rural home to see the world on their homemade tricycle after their father's death. The older sister bosses her younger siblings around as the younger sister struggles for independence and the youngest seeks to become the man of the family. When a fast-talking salesman arrives on a souped-up motorbike with his parrot sidekick and a van full of material pleasures, he convinces them to make him their leader so he can steal the family's inheritance money. But when he threatens to harm Turelu and the young girl, the older sister finally recognizes his deceptions and imprisons the salesman in his van. The four friends decide to return home to the simple pleasures of life, having learned the true values of democratic family relationships by not trusting capitalistic swindlers.

"With these serious overtones, this farcical play reveals the more valuable rewards of helping others on their life journeys through friendship, which respects human rights and privileges," Klein said.

Klein said her cast members are being challenged physically to adopt the commedia dell'arte characterizations through improvisational movement and to enliven two puppets. Two fantastically built vehicles and fancifully exaggerated costumes add to the broad comedy of the production.

General admission tickets for the public performance are on sale through the KU ticket offices: University Theatre, (785) 864-3982; Lied Center, (785) 864-ARTS; SUA, (785) 864-7469; and online at www.kutheatre.com. Tickets are $6 for the public, $3 for all students and $5 for senior citizens.

Members of the cast for "Where to, Turelu?" include (listed by name, class, parents' names and role):

BARTON COUNTY
From Great Bend
Bobby Sloan, junior, son of Robbie and June Sloan; Mac-Bluff.

DOUGLAS COUNTY
From Lawrence
Julia Elise Hardin, junior, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Richard Hardin; Césarine.
Stephen Moles, freshman, son of Kevin and Betty Moles; Gégé.

JOHNSON COUNTY
From Overland Park
Joe Plese, senior, son of Edmund and Marsha Plese; Turelu.

MONTGOMERY COUNTY
From Coffeyville
Holly Rauch, junior, daughter of Steve and Vicki Rauch; Rascale, a parrot.

SALINE COUNTY
From Salina
Lauren Marshall, freshman, daughter of Eric and Barbara Marshall; Didiche.