Don Juans reputation as a depraved philanderer often precedes the legend of his unrepentant path to hell.
Though many versions of the Spanish folk story have been told, perhaps one of the best known is the 1665 comedy by French playwright Molière. Its this satiric version that Vancouvers Blackbird Theatre company will stage Dec. 26 to Jan. 26 at The Cultch.
Starring Peter Jorgensen as the master swordsman and seducer who tricks women into sham marriages, and Simon Webb as his servant Sganarelle, Blackbirds take on Don Juan promises to be an unconventional one. When it comes to the sets, music and costumes, director John Wright says he has drawn inspiration from eras long before and after Molières time.
What that means is that, although it was written in the 17th century, you may see the odd mask that comes from earlier, he explains, adding the checkered stage floor is reminiscent of Renaissance Italy, and one costume was designed with a nod to the 1960s. Meanwhile, the soundtrack features a rock mass in Latin with electric guitar by composer Peter Berring and arias from Mozarts Don Giovanni, the 18th century opera based on the legend of Don Juan.
Blackbird has presented a number of modern classics, such as Waiting for Godot (2011/12) and Whos Afraid of Virginia Woolf? (2009/10), based in time periods Wright was content to reproduce.
But as you go further back, I think that there needs to be a bridge between the audience of our time and the play of whatever century, he says.
For Wright, the former head of theatre and film at UBC and co-founder of Blackbird Theatre, Molière is one of the greatest comedy writers in European tradition.
Hes a great master and, if youre going to call yourself a classic theatre company, eventually you have to do Molière.
Blackbirds promotional tagline for the play promises three songs, two duels and a trip to hell. Professional fight choreographer David Bloom was called in to help the cast, including 24-year-old Pippa Mackie, properly wield their daggers, spears and swords.
Even though theyre dulled down, you still have to be very careful, says Mackie, a National Theatre School graduate who plays multiple roles in Don Juan. Its highly choreographed, like a dance would be you have to know the steps.
Swordplay aside, Mackie says she has the most fun when she trades her weapons for a corset and plays Charlotte, a peasant girl seduced by the irresistible titular character. Its a chance for her to really dig into Molières prose.
[The language] is very clean and clear, not like in modern text where you can kind of just zip through it. You really have to give the words their proper weight, she says.
While Wright describes the production as pretty uproariously funny at times, he hopes the audience gets more than just laughs out of it.
Its a play in which the central character rebels against everything, including God. So really, hes an anti-hero, and thats one of the things that makes the play very modern, he says. Its fairly audacious and I dont think you would see another production like it.
Don Juan runs Dec. 26 to Jan. 26 at The Cultch. Tickets from $17.
