MASKS Premieres at PHS -- Nov 16 - 18; Dec 1 & 2

  Pomperaug High School is trying something new this year. The Pomperaug Theatre Company will present a world premiere of a new play by our own drama teacher, Mr. Paul E. Doniger.

  The play is called Masks and is about a collection of actors in a Commedia dell’Arte troupe. Commedia, or Italian Comedy as it is also known, is a form of theatre that began in ancient Rome, grew up during the Renaissance, was extremely popular in Italy, France, and Germany, and has thrived for centuries. The influence of this kind of comedy can be found not only in theatre, but in literature, film (the classic slapstick comedies of the silent era, for example), and television to the present day (many of the characters of the popular television program, The Simpsons, for example, are extensions of the stock characters of the Italian comedies). Mr. Doniger’s play includes both Commedia scenes (with several actors playing members of an onstage audience) and scenes of the backstage life of the comedians themselves. It is a play mixed with both tears and laughter.

  The production of Masks, designed and directed by Mr. Doniger, will be presented in the Black Box Theatre at PHS (room #113) with one intermission of approximately 10 minutes. Masks for the show are being constructed by students from Ms. Kristine Monaco’s sculpture class.

  The play opens on Friday, November 16, 2007 at 7:30 p.m., and will have a total of five performances. Additional performances will be on Saturday, Nov. 17^th (also at 7:30), Sunday, Nov. 18^th at 2:30p.m., Saturday, December 1^st at 7:30, and Sunday, Dec. 2^nd at 2:30pm. Tickets will be on sale @ $10.00 for adults and $5.00 for students, Region 15 faculty, and senior citizens.

  For further information, call (203) 262-3247or 3200.