This North Coast Weekend:Hater and Others

Dueling Molieres on the HSU campus this weekend.  Although readers of this week's North Coast Journal may be surprised to hear it (though not readers of the Eye or Tri-City Weekly) , the HSU Theatre, Film & Dance production of Hater, a new translation of Moliere's The Misanthrope, opens Thursday.  It's directed by Michael Fields, and plays in Gist Hall Theatre  at 7:30 p.m. Thursday-Saturday, and 2 p.m. on Sunday, as well as next weekend.

Wednesday (Feb. 27, otherwise known as tonight) another version of another Moliere play opens at the HSU Van Duzer Theatre at 8 p.m.  The Northcoast Prep first and second years are doing a 1970s themed production of The Imaginary Invalid, directed by Colin Stevens.  It starts at 8 p.m., Wed.-Saturday, a one weekend run.

I don't have any more information on the Northcoast Prep show, and getting that much wasn't easy.  But there's a lot more about the HSU show at HSU Stage and Screen.  Briefly, though:

 Samuel Buggeln is a New York-based director of such cutting edge downtown shows as Bedbugs!!! and Go-Go Kitty, GO!. He is also fluent in French. He combined these talents in his new translation of Moliere’s comedy, The Misanthrope, called Hater (“misanthrope” loosely translates as “hater,” though not in exactly the same sense as “hater” is used today.) Dell’Arte’s Michael Fields met Buggeln in New York and proposed Hater for production by HSU Theatre, Film & Dance.  This is its West Coast premiere, and may be the first production since its downtown Manhattan premiere.

 The script reads like heightened contemporary conversation (with lots of f bombs) and director Fields promises a slam-glam “bling Baroque” production. The compulsive truth-telling misanthrope is now called Alex (played by Charlie Heinberg.) The beautiful gossip and flirt he’s in love with against his better judgment is Celine (Johani Guerrero, photo above.) Others in the cast are Brodie Storey, Mark Teeter, Galen Poulton, Luke Tooker, Michelle Purnell, Andreina Loaiza, Adrienne Ralsten and Derek Burns.

P.S. Saw opening night.  Charlie Heinberg's never been better, Johani Guerrero is a star, and at least two of the supporting performances--by Mark Teeter and Andreina Loaiza--are astonishing.  This show is going to be legendary.

The Pitmen Painters continues this weekend at Redwood Curtain.