Aquila Theatre Company Bring AS YOU LIKE IT and AN ENEMY OF THE PEOPLE to the Stage of the Edison Theatre Feb 12th and 13th

The Aquila Theatre Company brings Henrik Ibsen's An Enemy of the People to Edison Theatre Feb. 13.

"The strongest man in the world is the man who stands most alone."

So argues Dr. Thomas Stockmann, the beleaguered hero of Henrik Ibsen's darkly funny thriller An Enemy of the People, which explores the financial and psychological impact of severe environmental issues within a small rural community.

In February New York's Aquila Theatre Company - one of the nation's finest interpreters of classical works - will return to the Edison Theatre with a new production of Ibsen's prescient drama as well as William Shakespeare's delirious, gender-bending comedy As You Like It.

Both performances are sponsored by the Edison Theatre OVATIONS Series. As You Like It will begin at 8 p.m. Friday, Feb. 12. An Enemy of the People will begin at 8 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 13.

Edison Theatre is located in the Mallinckrodt Student Center, 6445 Forsyth Blvd. Tickets are $32; $28 seniors and Washington University faculty and staff; and $20 for students and children. Tickets are available at the Edison Theatre Box Office and through all MetroTix outlets.

For more information, call (314) 935-6543 or email us at Edison@wustl.edu.

As You Like It

Set in modern-dress, As You Like It centers on Rosalind, a young French noblewoman whose father was banished by his power-hungry brother, Duke Ferdinand. Rosalind remains at court thanks to her friendship with Ferdinand's daughter, Celia - until, that is, she falls in love with Orlando, the neglected youngest son of a rival clan. Fearing Ferdinand's wrath, Rosalind disguises herself as a man and flees with Celia to the Forest of Arden, where, unbeknownst to her, a disguised Orlando takes shelter from his own bloodthirsty brother.

"Aquila Theatre... mischievously seeks to compound rather than simplify the confusion by having actors take on multiple roles in Russian-doll fashion," says The Los Angeles Times. "This finely acted production succeeds at creating a pleasantly tipsy experience as it merrily toys with the fluidity of identity."

As You Like It is directed by Kenn Sabberton, a longtime Aquila actor and an 11-year veteran of the Royal Shakespeare Company. The cast of seven is led by Leandra Ashton as Rosalind, Owen Young as Orlando and Lauren Davis as Celia. Combining to fill out another dozen characters are James Lavender, Damian Davis, Howard Crossley and Lucy Black.

An Enemy of the People

Written in 1882, An Enemy of the People is set in a would-be tourist town that has staked its future, and a great deal of money, on a new spa said to possess healing properties. But when Dr. Stockmann discovers that local waters have been contaminated by waste from an important business - thus threatening the health of patrons as well as the anticipated economic boom - he finds himself at odds with both city hall and a mob of fellow citizens, who flatly refuse to believe his evidence.

Directed by Peter Meineck, founder and artistic director of Aquila Theatre, the production stars Damian Davis is Dr. Stockton and James Lavender as his brother, Peter, the town mayor. Also starring are Leandra Ashton as Katrine Stockman, the doctor's wife, and Lauren Davis as Petra, their daughter.

Aquila Theatre Company

Founded by Meineck in London in 1991, Aquila Theatre is comprised of both British and American players and currently serves as professional company in residence at the Center for Ancient Studies at New York University. The troupe has won critical and academic acclaim worldwide, with extensive touring throughout Europe, the United States and Canada and special performances at such venues as the British Museum, the McNay Art Museum and the Folger Shakespeare Library.

Aquila's many honors include the prize for Dramatic Excellence from the Greek government and several prestigious British Council Touring awards. The Aquila Education Program has been presented at over 150 North American theaters and universities. Its original translations of Greek plays are published by Hackett Press.

The company made it's St. Louis debut in 2002 at Edison Theatre with The Wrath of Achilles, a re-setting of Homer's The Iliad, and Shakespeare's The Tempest. In 2003 they returned with a new production of Shakespeare's Othello and in 2004 presented a new stage adaptation of H.G. Wells' The Invisible Man.

Edison Theatre

Founded in 1973, the Edison Theatre OVATIONS Series serves both Washington University and the St. Louis community by providing the highest caliber national and International Artists in music, dance and theater, performing new works as well as innovative interpretations of classical material not otherwise seen in St. Louis.

Edison Theatre programs are made possible with support from the Missouri Arts Council, a state agency; the Regional Arts Commission, St. Louis; and private contributors. The OVATIONS Season is supported by The Mid-America Arts Alliance with generous underwriting by the National Endowment for the Arts and foundations, corporations and individuals throughout Arkansas, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, Oklahoma and Texas.

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