RATS' TALES Comes to Elizabethtown College In April

Terri Mastrobuono, adjunct professor of theatre at Elizabethtown College, brings "Rats' Tales'" to the Tempest Theatre stage April 19 through 29.

" 'Rats' Tales' is a unique take on some classic German folk tales done in story theatre style," said Mastrobuono, noting that "during the performance, both the audience's imagination and the actor's imagination will be engaged." The audience will go into the show with only a familiarity of the original folk tales the director said.

After the Pied Piper of Hamelin pipes the rats away, the town chooses not to pay him. In retaliation, the Piper plays a hypnotic tune, drawing away the children of Hamelin.

"Rats' Tales," told by Carol Ann Duffy and adapted for the stage by Melly Still, takes the Tempest Theatre stage at Elizabethtown College at 8 p.m. Thursday, April 19; Friday, April 20; Saturday, April 21; as well as Thursday, April 26, and Friday, April 27. A matinee is offered at 2 p.m. Sunday, April 29.

In "Rats' Tales," the Hamelin parents deal with their losses by telling stories-about rats. Duffy and Still combine world folk tales with original stories by Duffy to create stirring tales of children, using fiendish plot twists, thrilling metaphors and dazzling feats of theatrical invention. As they tell these primal stories, they restore the blood, guts and cruelty but also the relief, wonder and laughter when the threat is over.

Admission is $7; reserve at boxoffice@etown.edu or 717-361-1170. Read about additional events at Elizabethtown College.

Elizabethtown College, located in historic Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, is a private coed institution offering more than four dozen liberal arts, fine and performing arts, science and engineering, business, communications and education degrees. Learn more: http://www.etown.edu/about/