If you’ve never taken a Medieval literature class or don’t think of the “Canterbury Tales” as light, weekend reading, then you probably don’t spend very much time attending Medieval morality plays.
Don’t let that scare you away from the staged reading that Nouveau 47 Theatre is hosting Monday.
“The Summoning of Everyman” is one of the most popular Medieval morality plays, and writer, actress and theater magician Anastasia Munoz has adapted this tale of God’s anger to bring it up-to-date and show its relevance for a modern audience.
“The driving force behind tackling this project sprang from my obsession with the play,” Munoz said. “I began working on this project by doing a line-by-line translation of the original text into modern language.”
Commonly referred to as “Everyman,” this play is an allegory about a character who represents everyman to whom God sends death in order to cleanse the world of earthly pleasures.
Throughout the play Everyman is taken on a journey to his death. He meets friends who represent concepts, such as Fellowship and Knowledge, along the way only to find himself deserted by everything but his good deeds, as he heads toward the grave.
For this staged reading, Munoz compiled some of the brightest actors in Dallas and has entrusted them and director Mac Lower with a stripped down version of the script, relying on their talent to bring it to life.
“The director Mac Lower has added a Commedia concept on top of it, and I think it works very well,” Munoz said. “All of these characters are stock characters making the concept fit quite nicely.”
This reading is part of Nouveau 47’s weekly ‘Theatre Appresh’ events, which have included other staged readings, short story nights and improv shows.
These nights have been the catalyst for this new theater company and have warmed up their new space in the Magnolia Lounge in Fair Park.
“Everyman” is one of the largest-scale pieces they produced so far, and it promises to be an interesting, relevant night of theater.
“We are approaching a new dark age,” Munoz said. “What sets man apart from machines? What makes us human? Adults need fairy tales and morality tales, probably more now than ever.”
Check out the staged reading of “Everyman” adapted by Anastasia Munoz, Monday at 7:30 p.m. in the Magnolia Lounge in Fair Park. Tickets cost $5 and it is BYOB.
For more information visit http://www.nouveau47.com.
