Ivona, Princess of Burgundia
Ivona, Princess of Burgundia brings to life the delightfully wicked fairytale kingdom of exotic Burgundia, where life seems flawless. The royal family’s way of life turns into paranoiac chaos when young Prince Philip announces his engagement to the grotesque and disturbing mute, Ivona.
Written in 1938 by renowned Polish playwright, author and philosopher Witold Gombrowicz, the play is a classic of Polish literature, taught along side of Shakespeare. Ingmar Bergman recently directed a seminal production of this play at the National Theatre of Sweden.
Ensemble member and director Kirsten Kelly returns to Chicago where she her credits include The Lark (Eclipse Theater), The Hairy Ape and The Gut Girls (Mary-Arrchie Theater). Currently, she is training at The Julliard School in New York, after receiving the prestigious Andrew J. Mellon Fellowship for Advanced Studies in Directing.
“… a rare but welcome piece of programming from this venerable off-Loop company … the talented young director Kirsten Kelly has crafted a very creative production …”
— Chicago Tribune
“Gombrowicz’s inspired satire is well served by Kirsten Kelly’s playful, intelligent production, which uses every theatrical trick in the nonnaturalistic bag—cartoonish makeup, eccentric movement, odd sound effects, expressionistic stage pictures. And Kelly’s wonderful ensemble prove adept at re-creating Gombrowicz’s caricatured universe without ever chewing the scenery.”
— Chicago Reader
Cast
Tim Curtis
as Chamberlain
Julie Daley
as Aunt #1
Anita Deely
as Lady/Aunt
Jen Engstrom
as Queen Margaret
Carmine Grisolia*
as King Ignatius
Chris Hainsworth
as The Innocent
Kyle Hamman*
as Simon
Tom Hickey
as Various
Jess Hill
as Cyprian
Heidi Kunz
as Singer
Kat McDonnell*
as Aunt #2
Stacy Parker
as Ivona
James Anthony Zoccoli
as Checkers the Butler
Creative Team
Witold Gombrowicz
Author
Kirsten Kelly
Director
Allie Quetel
Assistant Director
Michelle Caplan
Set Design
Michelle Habeck
Light Design
Rachel Healy
Costume Design
Cybele Moon
Props Design
Lindsay Jones
Sound Design
Debbie Caruso
Technical Direction
Heather Brown
Stage Manager
Casey Freund
Production Manager
* Strawdog Theatre ensemble member