University Theatre presents “Ti Jean and His Brothers”

World news has lately centered on stories of the overthrow of tyrannical regimes. This same story will play out in Derek Walcott’s “Ti Jean and His Brothers,” opening Oct. 28 and running through Nov. 12 in UW–Madison University Theatre’s Hemsley Theatre.

In this parable based on a West Indian fable, Pulitzer-prize winning author Walcott explores the power of good versus evil, poor versus wealthy, and the great search to find one’s identity. In the story, the island natives tire of their oppression and set out to overtake an evil imperialist.

Director David Furumoto explains his vision for the play, saying “What gives this work a wonderful complexity of layers, is that the fable itself falls in with all the worlds’ great tales: a poor widowed mother, three brothers, and a bet from the devil. But looking at it from another point of view, it’s the playwright’s parody of what happens in so many places that were at one time colonies of European or Western influence. And it carries a strong statement of the necessity for the people of these places to form their own identities; not European, not African, but a new creation of the amalgamation of the people that make up that place.”

Dance professor Chris Walker will work with Furumoto and the actors to create movement that will help integrate the island culture of song and dance into the story.

Furomoto says: “I very much want this to be a piece of world theater so music and sounds will be eclectic, drawing from many different cultures but coming together in unusual ways.” 

To help with the eclectic feel, the design team, made up of MFA theatre design students, is challenged to think of creative ways to work with recycled materials.

Costume designer Katy Lai found this to be a wonderful opportunity.

“This is a very interesting show for me as I get to do something totally different from what I usually do, which is set design.  On top of this, I get to use my imagination to the extreme by creating both people and creatures using recycled goods to make the costumes,” she says.

“Ti-Jean and His Brothers” will run Oct. 28- Nov. 12  with a pre-performance talk Nov. 3 at 6:30 p.m. featuring Tejumola Olaniyan, the Louise Durham Mead Professor of English and African Languages. 

A post-performance discussion with the actors and others associated with the production complements the Nov. 10 performance.

Performances are in the Hemsley Theatre, 821 University Ave.  Evening performances begin at 7:30 p.m. and matinees begin at 2 p.m.  Individual tickets for all performances are $22 general public or $15 for UW students.  Discounts are available for senior citizens, and Friends of University Theatre.

Tickets can be purchased by phone at (608) 265-ARTS (2787), in person at the Vilas Hall Box Office, 821 University Ave., the Wisconsin Union Box Office, 800 Langdon St., or order on-line. Buy tickets and view the calendar by clicking here.