This Nov. 6, the University of Louisiana at Lafayette Theatre is proud to present the famous French play “Ubu Roi” by Alfred Jarry for their mainstage production this year. It will start at 8 p.m. opening day and run through the following weekend and will be under the night sky in the Fletcher Hall Courtyard.
Tickets will be $20 for the general public and $15 for outside students and visitors over the age of 65 with valid ID. For UL Lafayette students and faculty however, complementary admission will be provided with use of a valid UL Lafayette ID. So all members of UL Lafayette can enjoy the mainstage production free of charge.
The play “Ubu Roi” by Alfred Jarry tells a story of a military officer, Papa Ubu, who is convinced to steal the Polish crown by his wife.
The story sheds light on human characteristics like pettiness and impulsiveness that people don’t like to admit that they have.
The play’s fame comes from its rather offensive first line of dialogue which, in response, started a riot during its opening night at Théâtre de Paris back in 1896.
The adaptation that UL Lafayette chose to perform still keeps the full name of the play, “Ubu: A Coup D’etat Shee-it Story,” and much of Jarry’s original piece but it is redesigned under Ms. Dayane Mounsib’s training for the audience. Ashlee Dixon, a senior and performing arts major concentrating in acting, commented, “As a theatre major I am very excited to see the work that my fellow colleagues have been preparing for the audience to see. I believe it will be an amazing show I must see.”
The play will be acted out by many UL Lafayette students including, Nick Mackowiak who is playing Papa Ubu, Ryan Kolb who is playing Mama Ubu and Tucker Dufrene who is playing Captain Bordure among others. Alongside guest director Dayane Mounsib the design team will be led by PFAR Head of Tech and Design Marty Aikens. Many individuals, both UL Lafayette students and professionals from across the world, have come together to produce this famous play.
Shynee Robinson, a freshman and nursing major said, “I am so excited to see what UL Lafayette Theatre has put together this year. It is my first time being here at UL Lafayette and I’ve enjoyed everything thus far so I have no doubts that the play wouldn’t meet those same expectations.”
The UL Lafayette theatre department has always performed spectacular performances, from “Urinetown” in spring 2022 to “The Complete Works of William Shakespeare” in fall 2022, so there is no doubt that this year’s performance of “Ubu: A Coup D’etat Shee-it Story” won’t withhold that same excellence.