Bushwa: A Modern Ubu is a modern, American adaptation of Alfred Jarry's
1898 political satire, Ubu Roi, about a selfish, belligerent, and intellectually
- challenged king. Like the french original, Bushwa is a free-wheeling
comedy that pushes the boundaries of taste. An ensemble of eight actors will play
over thirty different characters, props, and set-pieces. "What I love about this
play," explains Georgetown Theatre Company Artistic Director Catherine Aselford,
"is that it is not only a funny piece of political satire, it also manages to
skewer avant garde theater."
The cast included (in alphabetical order) Stephan Aleksander, Lori Boyd, Bette
Cassatt, Elish Healy, Kenny Littlejohn, Jean Miller, and Armand Sindoni, each of
whom reprise their roles from the CapFringe production. New to the cast is
playwright John Morogiello. Catherine Aselford will direct the play and Charlie
Fink will co-produce.
Bushwa was moved to the Roundhouse Theatre's Silver Spring space after a
critically and commercially successful run at the inaugural Capital Fringe
Festival in July 2006. "I saw Bushwa during its sold-out run at Capfringe
and found it to be a too-true farce," offers co-producer Charlie Fink, "It needs
to be seen by a larger audience."
Bushwa author and ensemble member John Morogiello is a playwright in
residence at the Maryland State Arts Council. He lives in Montgomery Village. His
comedy Engaging Shaw premiered at Oldcastle Theatre in Vermont over the summer.
Locally, Mr. Morogiello's Irish Authors Held Hostage and Bushwa: A Modern
Ubu played to sold out houses earlier in the year. The former was declared
"enchantingly kooky" by The Washington Post, and the latter "an intellectual
field day." Mr. Morogiello's short plays Fashion Specifics and Men and Parts were
finalists for the Heideman Award at Actors Theatre of Louisville, where the latter
play was produced. Happy Hour, a film adaptation of Men and Parts, was named Best
Short Comedy at the 2003 New York Independent Film and Video Festival. Other plays
and productions include: The Matchmaker's Guide to Controlling the Elements and
Gianni Schicchi. Other awards include: Kennedy Center Fellowship of the Americas,
Baltimore magazine's 1996 Best Up and Coming Playwright and The Washington Theatre
Festival's Outstanding Achievement in Acting and Best Production for Irish Authors
Held Hostage. Mr. Morogiello's articles have been published in American Theatre
and Dramatics, and in programs and study guides for Long Wharf Theatre, Huntington
Theatre Company and Everyman Theatre.
The Georgetown Theatre Company originally developed Bushwa: A Modern Ubu
at the 2004 Kennedy Center Page to Stage Festival.
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