Comedy and commentary carry 'Island of Slaves' at Lee Center

Slap-stick comedy and guitar-heavy rock songs bring an 18th-century French play to life at the Lee Center beginning Jan. 21.

"The Island of Slaves," directed by Seattle U professor Ki Gottberg and adapted from the play by Pierre Marivaux, tells the story of two aristocrats and their servants who have been shipwrecked on an island. The island, called Slave Island, is run completely by slaves who have their own form of government. Their government forbids any form of servitude and eventually forces the aristocrats and their servants to swap roles.

The rest of the production takes the audience through a comedic portrayal of the changes and growth each character experiences.

Anne Marie Jones, freshman theater major, plays Euphrosine, a pompous aristocrat who treats her servant terribly. Though Euphrosine only cares about her own misery at the beginning of the production, she soon casts aside all her insignificant worries and empathizes with her servant.

Robert Keene, sophomore theater and music major, plays Iphiacrites, a vain French aristocrat who goes through a similar transformation.

"He goes through a big change," Keene said. "He starts out very gigantic and slowly becomes more real."

Elspeth Walker, senior theater and English major, plays the very bitter maid Cleanthis. At the beginning of the production, Cleanthis is completely blinded by the way she's been mistreated and craves revenge. After a few hilariously vicious scenes, Cleanthis learns to find compassion and forgiveness.

Sean Shannon, senior theater major, plays the role of Harlequin, the second servant and the piece's most comical character. Through the use of extreme, clown-like comedy, Harlequin finds himself in the role of master for the first time in his life.

Nick Wichman, junior theater major, plays the role of Trivelin, the native leader of Slave Island. He's considered the doctor of the island who can fix anyone's faults with his philosophical life lessons about revenge and being human.

"The character who runs the island thinks of it as a place of rehabilitation for people who don't have the ability to empathize," Gottberg said.

While the story was written in the 18th century, it remains very relevant to today's world.
"So much of our culture is about ‘I want to be rich and famous,' but does being that make you above someone else?" Gottberg said. "Human beings are meant to be rational, humane and human."

"The Island of Slaves" opens Jan. 21 and runs Thursday through Sunday until Feb. 7. Tickets range in price from $6 to $10.

Kat may be reached at acatlett@su-spectator.com.