Theatre of the People presents night of seduction

Theatre of the People sold out on opening night and added more seats for the two one-act plays in “Ladies of Lust: Oscar Wilde’s ‘Salome’ and August Strindberg’s ‘Miss Julie.’”

The crowd laughed at the jokes and evocative performances Friday in the John Waldron Arts Center Rose Firebay room. Both shows will run again at 8 p.m. Feb. 19, 20 and 21 and at 2 p.m. Feb. 21.

The shows highlight the passion for love in a non-traditional manner. Characters Salome and Miss Julie are determined women who fight extreme battles to obtain romance.

Miss Julie, the countess in the play, lusts over her servant, Jean. She seduces him into falling in love with her, commands he kisses her feet and after they make love, demands they escape together.

“You don’t want to die with me?” said Miss Julie. She then asked him if he knew what love is.

Eventually, she cannot handle the pain and commits suicide with a knife.

During the love scenes, which occurred behind a white curtain so the audience could only see the actors’ shadows, 50 Cent’s “In Da Club” and “Smack That” by Akon played in the background.

“It was definitely an interesting take on the show, considering it is now set in modern-day times when it was originally written in the 19th century,” freshman Amanda Sesler said.

Salome’s story ends in tragedy as well. She is stabbed in the back by the king, who resents her because she demands him to behead Iokanaan, the man she admires.

Salome yearns to kiss Iokanaan’s lips and be with him forever. She cries in mercy when she receives his head and she speaks to it as if it were real. In the play, Iokanaan’s head was a painted sculpture she held tight to her chest.

“It is challenging to play Salome’s character, because I am too young to have fallen deeply in love like that, to feel those emotions,” said freshman Suzie Zimmerman, who plays Salome.

The co-artistic directors for Theatre of the People directed both plays. Hannah Moss, an IU Department of Theater and Drama graduate, directed “Salome,” while senior David Nosko directed “Miss Julie.”

“We altered the ending. In the real play everyone is supposed to take a spear and kill her,” Moss said.

Those involved in the play said they hope the positive reactions and attendance remain as enthusiastic as on opening night.

“I am very excited,” said sophomore Amy Leigh Abelson, who plays Julie in “Miss Julie.” “The audience has said so many positive things, and I am psyched about the audience turnout.”