CORVALLIS, Ore. - Oregon State University Theatre will present in February the bold, romantic comedy "For the Love of Lies," a bawdy tale in the tradition of Italian Commedia dell'arte.

The performances will be at 7:30 p.m. Feb. 16-18 and Feb. 24-25, and at 2 p.m. Feb. 26 in the Withycombe Hall Main Stage theatre, 2901 S.W. Campus Way, Corvallis.

Commedia dell'arte is a wildly physical and improvisational form of theatre dating back to the Italian Renaissance that has inspired everything from Shakespeare to contemporary musical theatre. Guest director Dan Stone will bring to life a traditional Commedia scenario filled with slapstick humor, music, mistaken identity and love that conquers all.

The play follows the madcap shenanigans of vain and willful young lovers attempting to defy the odds and live happily ever after. The production will follow a basic plot line, but each performance will be improvised and the show will vary from night to night.

"Because we have no script we are not bound by the world of a playwright, and therefore our possibilities for creation are endless and anything can happen," Stone said. "These performances are intended for mature audiences and may include crude behavior, adult situations, bad language and most of all, poor taste."

The cast includes students from OSU and Linn-Benton Community College. Performers include: Ethan Baker-Hayes as Fabrizio; Hayden Bickford as Orazio; Hannah Costa as Franchesca; Joe Cullen as Pantalone; Cheyenne Dickey as Zanni; Lindsey Esch as Arlecchino; Kelsey Farquhara as Musician; Alessandra Ferriso as Pedrolino; Cole Haenggi as Graziano; Sydney KingĀ  as Flaminia; Ben Lawrence as Brighella; Thomas McKean as Capitano; Keiley Neill as Zanni; Amy Stein as Isabella; Alexandra Walchli as Musician; and Matthew Wright as Flavio.

Tickets are $12 for general admission, $10 for seniors, $8 for youth/students, and $5 for OSU students. They are available through the OSU Theatre Box Office at 541-737-2784. Contact the box office for disability access accommodations and/or group ticket sales. Tickets are also available online at http://bit.ly/1wgmTkJ.

Source: 

Elizabeth Helman, [email protected]

Click photos to see a full-size version. Right click and save image to download.