Retired professor returns to open Doudna show
Katie Kaye/Staff Reporter
Issue date: 10/3/08 Section: The Verge
Even if you have passed through the Doudna Fine Arts Center, you have just gotten a taste of what this facility truly means for theater art majors.
As I walked through the mirrored halls, I found myself wandering through a backstage set.
I was amazed as I stumbled my way onto the set of the first production in Doudna, "Arsenic and Old Lace."
Recently retired Eastern professor and director of the show, Clarence Blanchette was sitting in the seats in front of the stage, intently watching the student-run set crew hard at work.
Blanchette said he enjoys "Arsenic and Old Lace" because of its humor.
"It's the funniest piece of its period," he said of the piece written in 1939 by Joseph Kesselring. "It is light-hearted. If you don't know it, it's delightful to discover it or to let it discover you."
Blanchette retired in September 2007 after 34 years of teaching.
He said he has spent a lot of time at Starbucks since his retirement.
But a chance to direct once again motivated him to return.
"This whole process is what I love," he said. "Outside of the classroom is when you really get to work with the kids."
The journey to a good show hasn't always been the easiest, especially when discovering the nuances of working with a new facility.
Blanchette said the process of working with the new stage is "challenging."
They have had to go by trial and error with all the new equipment as they discover new features.
Some of the new elements in the theater include better acoustics than the department's old shop at Village Theatre, improved sightliness that give every seat the "best seat in the house" feel, a new shop to construct sets and a strong sound system.
"Arsenic and Old Lace" takes place in Brooklyn in the year 1941.
We see the family try to fix their upside-down world.
"Arsenic and Old Lace" is a family show that should make you laugh and keep your attention.
The production is estimated to be an hour and a half long with two brief intermissions.
"Arsenic and Old Lace" debuts at 7 p.m. today. Future shows are scheduled for 7 p.m. Saturday, Monday and Tuesday, as well as a 2 p.m. show Sunday.
As I walked through the mirrored halls, I found myself wandering through a backstage set.
I was amazed as I stumbled my way onto the set of the first production in Doudna, "Arsenic and Old Lace."
Recently retired Eastern professor and director of the show, Clarence Blanchette was sitting in the seats in front of the stage, intently watching the student-run set crew hard at work.
Blanchette said he enjoys "Arsenic and Old Lace" because of its humor.
"It's the funniest piece of its period," he said of the piece written in 1939 by Joseph Kesselring. "It is light-hearted. If you don't know it, it's delightful to discover it or to let it discover you."
Blanchette retired in September 2007 after 34 years of teaching.
He said he has spent a lot of time at Starbucks since his retirement.
But a chance to direct once again motivated him to return.
"This whole process is what I love," he said. "Outside of the classroom is when you really get to work with the kids."
The journey to a good show hasn't always been the easiest, especially when discovering the nuances of working with a new facility.
Blanchette said the process of working with the new stage is "challenging."
They have had to go by trial and error with all the new equipment as they discover new features.
Some of the new elements in the theater include better acoustics than the department's old shop at Village Theatre, improved sightliness that give every seat the "best seat in the house" feel, a new shop to construct sets and a strong sound system.
"Arsenic and Old Lace" takes place in Brooklyn in the year 1941.
We see the family try to fix their upside-down world.
"Arsenic and Old Lace" is a family show that should make you laugh and keep your attention.
The production is estimated to be an hour and a half long with two brief intermissions.
"Arsenic and Old Lace" debuts at 7 p.m. today. Future shows are scheduled for 7 p.m. Saturday, Monday and Tuesday, as well as a 2 p.m. show Sunday.
The Daily Eastern News encourages on-topic, civil discussion on its articles posted online. It is our policy not to screen comments before they are posted or edit them after they are posted. However, we reserve the right to remove comments that are off-topic, malicious, libelous or include excessive foul language. The DEN also reserves the right to turn off all comments on any story it deems necessary.
Comments violating copyright law will also be removed.
Users who repeatedly violate this policy will be banned from commenting.
If you have any questions on our comment policy or wish to report a comment that you feel violates these standards, please e-mail a link to the article to our Online Editor at DENNews.com@gmail.com.
Be the first to comment on this story