UWinnipeg Theatre Season Ends With Gender-bending Bang!

WINNIPEG, MB – The University of Winnipeg’s Department of Theatre and Film closes its 2008/09 theatre season with the period comedy Monsieur d’Eon that explores the amazing life of Chevalier d’Eon, an enigmatic figure from the era of Voltaire, who lived his life at times as a man and others as a woman. The play, which runs from March 31 to April 4, 2009 will be directed by Robert Metcalfe and performed by the Acting IV: Honours – Style & Genre class, with technical support from the Department’s production students.

Monsieur D’Eon – courtier, soldier, spy, and intellect
In 18th-century France, Monsieur D’Eon – courtier, soldier, spy, and intellect – keeps his (or her) secret for 60 years. A gender-bending, swash-buckling, biting comedy with all the right elements for an adventure story, the play nonetheless makes some interesting observations about gender and class, both in 18th-century France and today. It was nominated for four Dora Mavor Moore Awards and Toronto playwright Mark Brownell was nominated for a Governor General’s literary award for the play.

Charles-Genevive-Louis-Auguste-André-Thimothée d’Eon de Beaumont was a diplomat, writer, spy, and Freemason, a member of the elite Dragoons and one of the best swordsmen in France, whose true gender was a source of speculation and provoked public bets in the late 18th century. Generally it was believed that d’Eon was born female, but was raised as a male through his childhood. When his secret was revealed decades later, he changed back from “a bad boy into a good girl” and lived as a woman until his death in 1810, when it was revealed that he was, in fact, a man who had dressed as a woman. D’Eon is often called the patron saint of transvestites.

The production is being directed by Robert Metcalfe who has been Artistic Director of Prairie Theatre Exchange for six years. After graduating from the acting program at Studio 58 in 1980, he has had a lengthy, active and varied career as a freelance director, actor, dramaturge, and fight director. Next up, he will be directing a second show for Festival Antigonish Summer Theatre in Nova Scotia; his gig last year directing Sexy Laundry broke box office records.

The sets and costumes for Monsieur d’Eon are designed by Kim Donald Haverty with lighting by Ken Perchuck. UWinnipeg Theatre faculty members Tom Stroud (Movement Coach), Rick Skene (Combat Coach), and Shannon Marentette (Voice Coach) round out the artistic team.

Performances are Tuesday, March 31 through Saturday, 4 at 8:00 p.m. nightly, at the Gas Station Theatre, 445 River Avenue. Admission is free but reservations are recommended. Please call the 24-hour Reservation and Information Line at 204.786.9152, or visit The University of Winnipeg’s Department of Theatre and Film’s website at: http://theatre.uwinnipeg.ca.