University of Virginia Library

Virginia Players Do Original;
'Chas. Stuart' Opens Tonight

Tonight through Saturday, at
8:30 p.m. in Minor Hall, the
Virginia Players will present their
final major production of the spring
semester — "Charles Stuart, King,"
a new play by the University's
Schubert Fellow in Playwriting,
Mark Pilkinton.

The play is one of over twenty
full-length original scripts the
Virginia Players have produced in
their history. Original productions
by the Players are usually, although
not always, the work of the
recipient of the Schubert Fellowship
in Playwriting, awarded annually by
the Schubert theater chain in New
York to a promising dramatist
pursuing an advanced degree in
various colleges and universities
across the country.

The play, set in the reign of
Charles. I of England, deals with the
crisis which confronted the King
when political necessity dictated
the execution of his best friend, the
Earl of Statford. The play was
conceived while the playwright was
attending a summer session at
University College, Oxford, in
England last summer. Research for
the play began at the Bodleian
Library in Oxford and continued
when Mr. Pilkinton returned to the
University of Virginia last fall.

"Charles Stuart, King" is being
directed by E. Roger Boyle. Scenic
design is by LaValin Hoh. costume
design by Lois Garren. The cast
includes Lawrence Alaimo as King
Charles 1: Arthur Greene as the Earl
of Statford; Ellen Mease as Queen
Henrietta Maria: Ken Lambert.
Gerald Palmer. Peter Pentz, W.
Simpers, and David Spurlock as
members of the House of Lords.

Tickets are $1.50 tonight
through Thursday, $2.00 Friday
and Saturday, with a special
University student rate of $1.00
tonight through Wednesday.
Reservations can be made by
phoning the box office in Minor
Hall, 924-3051, 2:00 — 8:30 p.m.
Reserved parking for theater
patrons will be available in the
amphitheater next to Minor Hall.