Modern Language Play Festival

The Illinois College Department of Theatre in collaboration with the Department of Modern Languages will offer two plays in February under the auspices of the biennial Modern Language Play Festival. A magical folktale told in Japanese, “Peach Boy” centers around an old childless woman who discovers an enormous peach one day and brings it home to her husband. They discover upon cutting it open there is a boy inside who grows to be big and strong. With the help of his friends: the pheasant, the dog and the monkey, he overcomes the evil ogre who has been pillaging the land bringing safe and prosperity to his village. Vina’s “The White Uniform” explores societal pressure, particularly class conflict, inherent in Spanish-American culture. Perfomed in Spanish, a lady and her maid spend an afternoon on the beach. As the conversation turns to the nature of each woman’s role in the social strata, they devise a plan to spend a moment in one another’s shoes. The result is both surprising and telling. Infused with humor, “The White Uniform” illustrates the psychological consequences of power and the capacity of the individual to betray self, others and the societal norm. Both plays will be performed Thursday, February 10, through Saturday, February 12, at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, February 13, at 2 p.m. in the Kirby Learning Center’s ICEBOX Theatre. General admission tickets are $5 and free to Illinois College and MacMurray College students, faculty and staff. Call the TheatreWorks box office at 217.245.3471 for reservations. Founded in 1829, Illinois College is a residential liberal arts college fostering academic excellence rooted in opportunities for experiential learning while preparing students for lifelong success.