Office of Communications

Contact: Amy Batheja

Communications Specialist

Office: (817) 531-7521

abatheja@txwes.edu

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

THEATRE WESLEYAN PRESENTS THE MENAECHMUS TWINS

Theatre Wesleyan's final performance of the fall semester will be a lively rendition of The Menaechmus Twins, written by Titus Plautus, a playwright of the ancient Roman Republic. The play, directed by Connie Whitt-Lambert, professor of theatre, will be at 7:30 p.m. Nov. 13-15 and Nov. 20-22; and at 2 p.m. Nov. 23 in the Thad Smotherman Theatre.

This version of the Roman play was edited and translated by renowned scholar Lionel Casson. Providing a very approachable, very humorous translation, Casson’s work pulls the play out of ancient Rome and transports it into present day vernacular, all while maintaining the integrity of the original piece.

Menaechmus of Syracuse (senior theatre major Michael Kreitzinger) and his faithful slave (senior theatre major Ben Phillips), set out to find the estranged Menaechmus twin (senior theatre major Alfredo Martinez), separated from the family at a young age. Landing in Epidamnus, a city known for its loose morals and loose women, Menaechmus of Syracuse doesn’t realize that he has found the home of his long-lost brother, even though he is almost immediately mistaken for his twin by the wife (senior theatre major Rene Sarradet), mistress (freshman theatre major Suzanne Fordering), table companion (sophomore theatre major Joy Millard), and father-in-law (senior theatre major Rob Carroll) of his sibling. The two brothers, unaware of each other’s presence, unwittingly make mischief for the other as they work out deals and promises with the inhabitants of Epidamnus, none of whom realize they are dealing with two different people. Chaos and hilarity ensue through the device of mistaken identity played out in a very Seinfeldesque manner.

Plautus’ work has been influential throughout the years, inspiring the likes of Shakespeare, Molière, and Stephen Sondheim. Though the text itself is ancient, Plautus’ humor, social commentaries, and witty word play are hardly different from current movies and theatre. The Menaechmus Twins makes clear that humor hasn’t changed much in the last two thousand or so years.

The Menaechmus Twins runs Nov. 13-15 and 20-22 at 7:30 p.m., and Nov. 23 at 2 p.m. Ticket prices are $8 general admission, $6 for Texas Wesleyan faculty and staff, and $4 for senior citizens and all students with a valid school ID. Beginning Nov. 11, the box office will be open from 1:30 to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and one hour before curtain on performance days. The box office phone number is 817-531-4211. The Thad Smotherman Theatre is located at 1205 Binkley St.