Workhouse Theatre: Steve Martin’s The Underpants up next
By: Dan Hylton 12/01/2007
More than 250 patrons attended Workhouse Theatre’s inaugural performance of their 2007-2008 season, David Mamet’s Oleanna. Already on pace to increase their attendance from last year by 50 percent; things do not look to be slowing down for Camden’s own theatre company. In February 2008, they bring Steve Martin’s The Underpants (an adaptation of Carl Sternheim’s German farce, Die Hose) to the Workhouse Stage at The Warren.
Valerie Borey, Workhouse Theatre Dramaturg, describes the play: “Louise discovers the fleeting price of fame when her underpants drop during the King’s parade, much to her stuffy bureaucratic husband’s dismay. Suddenly, the couple’s ‘Room for Rent’ sign goes down and the renters (all male) seem to want their sugar included. Things haven’t changed much since 1910 (the year Die Hose was written). Think Janet Jackson’s Superbowl fiasco or the recent Brittney Spears tabloid shots.”
Directing the play is Christopher McGahan, who audiences may have seen most recently on stage as Capitano in June’s A Company of Wayward Saints. Camden residents Bruce Stripe (costume design), Mark Webb (lighting design) and Travis Olson (production artist) are returning to lend their talents to this second show of the season.
Workhouse Theatre is continually seeking to encourage, develop and work with aspiring theatre artists in the Camden neighborhoods, by offering classes, as well as volunteer opportunities for all experience levels. If you’re interested contact WTC at info@workhousetheatre.org or 612-237-2014. Visit Workhouse Theatre on the web at www.workhousetheatre.org