UB Department of Theatre and Dance to Present "The Good Woman of Setzuan"

BUFFALO, N.Y. -- The Department of Theatre and Dance at the University at Buffalo will present "The Good Woman of Setzuan" April 7-10 and 14-17 in the Drama Theatre in the Center for the Arts on the UB North (Amherst) Campus. Performances are sponsored by WBFO-FM.

"The Good Woman of Setzuan" is one of the best-known works of Bertolt Brecht, widely considered to be the most influential European playwright of the 20th century. Written in 1939-40, the play is set in a remote Chinese province. It tells the story of Shen Te, a young prostitute who is given the opportunity to pursue a new way of life by three visiting deities. In order to succeed at living a life of goodness, she must create a male alter-ego who can ruthlessly protect her interests. Brecht gives us a modern parable about the nature of morality in a competitive, capitalist world.

Director Saul Elkin uses the version of the play translated and published by Eric Bentley in 1947 and several times since, most recently by the University of Minnesota Press. Bentley, who is widely considered to be one of the most important theatre critics and translators of our time, was professor of theatre at UB from 1974-82. In 1950, he worked with Brecht on a production of Brecht's play "Mother Courage." An old friend and colleague of Elkin, Bentley himself is acting as literary advisor, or dramaturg, for this production.

The extensive musical score is by the late Stefan Wolpe, who was a friend and colleague of the late Morton Feldman, former professor at the University at Buffalo Music Department. The music was assembled for this production by Professor Austin Clarkson of York University in Toronto. The scenery was designed by Craig Chapman. The costumes were designed by Chantal Calato. The choreography is by Lynn Kurdziel Formato, and the musical direction by Nathan Matthews.

Saul Elkin is founder and Artistic Director of Shakespeare in Delaware Park celebrating its 30th anniversary this season, and Founder and Artistic Director of the Jewish Repertory theatre now in its second season.

Tickets for The Good Woman of Setzuan are $15 General, $6 Students and Seniors. Tickets are available from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday in the Center for the Arts Box Office and all Ticketmaster locations, including Kaufmann's. To charge tickets, call 852-5000; in Canada, call 1-416-870-8000. For group sales, call 645-6771. For more information, call 645-ARTS. The Center for the Arts is a Ticketfast location.