"White as Snow, Red as Blood" to be Performed

The theatre department presents “White as Snow, Red as Blood” Nov. 17-19 in the Ophelia Parrish Courtyard Theatre. Shows will be at 7 p.m. In addition, there will be a matinee show at 2 p.m. on Nov. 19. On Nov. 15 and Nov. 16, there will be special performances for Ray Miller Elementary students at 1 p.m.

“White as Snow, Red as Blood,” is an adaptation of the popular tale from the Brothers Grimm, “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.” The story includes all of the traditional characters, beginning with the Good Queen who dreams of having a little girl “white as snow, red as blood, and black as ebony.” The audience meets Snow White at age seven, as she’s led into the “dark wood, the far forest,” where she’s spared from death by the Huntsman. Of course, the dwarfs adopt Snow White as their little sister, and they all lead a life of quiet and peace in their forest cottage until Snow White turns 16.

Playwright Virginia Koste parts company with the traditional tale by splitting the role of the Evil Queen into two: the beautiful and fashionable Evilun, and HerSelf, a ratty, ugly manifestation of Evilun’s spirit. The two of them dance, exchange insults, and conspire to end Snow White’s life. This division of the Evil Queen into a public persona and hidden spirit brings to the fairytale a subtle exploration of evil, as Evilun battles and then embraces her own ugliness in her quest to be “fairest in the land.” Snow White is not fooled into allowing the world, or a mirror, to define her as a person.  Her intuitive wisdom and her inner beauty, which Evilun calls, “magic,” make her dangerous to the false confidence of Evilun’s divided self.

This show is appropriate for children and adults alike and should last 85-90 minutes with no intermission.

Tickets are available Monday-Friday, 10:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Tickets will also be for sale 30 minutes before the performance.

For more information and to reserve tickets, call the Box Office at 785.4515.
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