VAINGLORIOUS: The Epic Feats of Notable Persons in Europe After the Revolution
After the French Revolution and the Reign of Terror that followed in its wake, a young general named Napoleon Bonaparte rises to fame through his military prowess and goes on to conquer much of Europe and rule as Emperor of France. Meanwhile, in Vienna, a musical genius named Ludwig von Beethoven experiences his own meteoric rise. Simultaneously, literary star Germaine de Stael invents comparative literature, the wheeling dealing diplomat Talleyrand reinvents political strategy, and Josephine de Beauharnais redefines First Lady style and grace. This large scale historical fantasia imaginatively captures a moment in time, portraying the lives of these five iconic figures and the remarkable people who surrounded them as they fought, rose, struggled, and fell. Featuring a cast of 26 and condensing 20 years of European history into a tautly choreographed action-packed hour, this piece surrounded the audience in a living landscape of epic proportions.
Performed at Christ Church Neighborhood House in March 2012, with support from the Philadelphia Performing Arts Kitchen.
MARCH 2012 CAST:
Kristen Bailey as Talleyrand
Alex Bechtel as Talleyrand
Melissa Krodman as Talleyrand
Miriam White as Talleyrand
Kennedy Candra as Talleyrand
Thomas Choinacky as Ludwig van Beethoven
Dave Sweeny as Johann Baptist Malfetti von Monteregio
Annie Wilson as Anton Schindler
Brian Ratcliff as Kaspar Anton Karl van Beethoven
Ilse Zoerb Russian Ambassador Prince Razumovsky
Jessica Hurley as Germaine de Stael
Sam Tower as Juliette Recamier
Marcel Williams Foster as Benjamin Constant
Anneliese Van Arsdale as Francois de Pagne, Wilhelm Schleigle, The Censor and Jean Rocca
Leah Walton as Monsieur Jacques Necker and Baron Erik Magnus Stael von Holstein
John Jarboe as Josephine Bonaparte
Marla Burkholder and Liz Filios as Marie Antoinette, Hippolyte Charles, lady in waiting
Amanda Grove as Barras, lady in waiting
Jenna Horton as Joachim Murat, Mlle Raucourt, lady in waiting
Isa St. Clair as Pierre-Joseph Redouté, lady in waiting
MK Tuomanen as Napoleon Bonaparte
John Allen as Eugene De Beauharnais
Kate Black-Regan as Duchess Marie Louise
Kate Raines as Jacques-Louis David
Lee Minora as General Caulaincourt
Reuben Mitchell as Joseph Fouche
APRIL 2013 CAST:
MK Tuomanen as Napoleon Bonaparte
Thomas Choinacky as Ludwig van Beethoven
Jessica Hurley as Germaine de Staël
John Jarboe as Josephine Bonaparte
Kristen Bailey as Talleyrand
Tabitha Allen as Juliette Recamier
Nell Bang-Jensen as Russian Ambassador Prince Razumovsky
Alex Bechtel as Talleyrand
Kate Black-Regan as Duchess Marie Louise
Akeem Davis as Fouche
Chris Davis as Eugene de Beauharnais
Liz Filios as Hippolyte Charles
Jamison Foreman as General Caulaincourt
Marcel Williams Foster as Benjamin Constant
Amanda Grove as Barras
Jenna Horton as Mlle Raucourt
Justin Jain as Monsieur Jacques Necker
Amanda Kearns as Talleyrand
Candra Kennedy as Talleyrand
Adam Kerbel as Talleyrand
Bayla Rubin as Schlegel and Rocca
Adriano Shaplin as Karl van Beethoven
Isa St. Clair as Pierre-Joseph Redouté
Isabella Sazak as Jacques-Louis David
Dave Sweeny as Johann Baptist Malfatti
Annie Wilson as Anton Schindler
Creative Team
Directed by Rebecca Wright
Stage Managed by Bayla Rubin
Light and Set Design: Maria Shaplin
Sound Design: Maria Shaplin and Team Beethoven
Costume Design: Katherine Fritz and Maria Shaplin
THE INQUIRER
The title of Applied Mechanics’ astonishingly theatrical show is Vainglorious. The subtitle is “The Epic Feats of Notable Persons in Europe After the Revolution.” Said notable persons include, among others: Napoleon, Josephine, Beethoven, Mme de Stael, and Talleyrand. So you might want to brush up your 19th-century history. Or not — just go and let the show carry you through 20 years of vainglory. (Besides, there’s a crib sheet on the back of the program.) Regardless: If you’re interested in experimental theatre, don’t miss this one. READ MORE HERE
AMERICAN THEATER MAGAZINE
