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By Drew Moody
The play centers around a fictionalized version of the famous artist Jean-Francois Millet. A beloved painter, he often captured everyday life, for example, showing poor people in a sympathetic light at a time when the French government frowned on it.
Millet's "The Gleaners"
In the mid-1800s Millet is creating great works of art but none of them were selling. In the play, a student comes up with the idea to pretend Millet is dead, perhaps increasing the demand for his work.
Once the public believes the artist is deceased, the paintings start selling.
The comedy involves a few cross-dressing characters and is full of mishaps and mayhem.
The play will feature many of Millet's paintings onstage. Most of his work was created between 1830-1870.
Millet's "The Wood Sawyers"
Mark Twain wrote the play near the turn of the century. A Mark Twain biographer discovered after it effectively disappeared for about 100-years or so.
Playwright David Ives took the original, much longer play, and made it more accessible to modern audiences, according to director Dennis Wemm. And much of Twain's dialog is preserved.
"I have not picked up a script and just laughed out-loud in so long," Wemm said. "This play has something to appeal to everyone...it just works on all levels."
The finale of the play involves a badly fitting glass eye. "They don't write them like that anymore," Wemm laughed.
GSC professor Dennis Wemm
is directing "Is He Dead?"
Wemm picked up several wardrobe items on E-Bay. Hoop skirts were available for under $20.
Fifteen actors will take the stage as 17 characters.
New to the GSC stage are Patrick Montgomery, Samantha Fields, J.C. Sherman, Erica Butler, Kim Conrad, James Reid and Amber Lane.
Veteran cast members include Edmond White, Chris Summers, Justin Church, Caitlin Pell, Paul Nagy, Sandra Moore, Cassandra Radcliff, Ryan Konarske and Amber Beall.
Is He Dead will be performed October 2, 3, and 4 beginning at 8 p.m. The play has a PG-13 rating.
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