The Ballad of the West

January 28, 2016 12:00 AM

<a href="http://4thwalldramaturgy.byu.edu/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/TwelfthNight.png"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-4192" src="http://4thwalldramaturgy.byu.edu/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/TwelfthNight.png" alt="TwelfthNight" width="1164" height="531" /></a>Christian Riboldi

by Christian Riboldi, dramaturg As we discussed last time, Shakespeare has been changed and adapted over time for a variety of reasons. Sometimes it's in order to be true to Shakespeare, and other times it's purpose is to appeal to a different audience. In our version of Twelfth Night we have set the stage in the Wild West. Sebastian and Viola were separated in tornado and now Viola finds herself in a town called Illyria. But this isn't your regular western Shakespearean town. It's a town where everyone can sing and dance...well almost everyone. As you can imagine, cutting Twelfth Night down from 140 minutes to 50 minutes is a major feat. In order to do so many scenes and a few characters were merged with others in order to simplify and essentialize the plot. In addition to cutting, a few musical numbers are added throughout the script to clarify and connect one scene to another. Our script adapter Rick Curtiss and our director Professor Jones did an amazing job creating the lyrics to accompany these comical musical parodies Every song that is in this show is an original parody of a famous western song and will be sung and accompanied by our talented cast. We have a guitar, trombone, tambourine, ukulele, percussion, and even a cow bell.

As an example here are some of the lyrics to a song sung by Sebastian as he enters sung to the tune “I’m So Lonesome, I Could Cry”.

I bet you all forgotten me, I’m an unlucky guy, Stuck out in the desert alone, I’m so thirsty I might die.

I only had one can of beans, for when the end was nigh, a coyote came and stole the can, I’m so hungry I might die.

At night the critters crawl on me, by day the vultures fly, I met a snake, it bit my foot, I’m so poisoned I might die.Hey what is that up on the ridge, Is that a ranch I spy, I hope it has some pretty girls, If not, I just might die.

I hope you can imagine how fun this show is going to be now! Here are the links to the other songs that inspired our parodies. We hope to see you at the show so you can hear the rest of our fun songs! Until next time!

[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-K4BvF_sb3Y[/embed]

[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qGEubdH8m0s[/embed] [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cDm_ZHyYTrg[/embed] [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mjdRgBAY278[/embed]

[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rN2U5wkhRWc[/embed]

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by Darci Ramirez, dramaturg Dear Audience Members and Fellow Stars, Luna is able to take cosmic themes and tell them in a single, simple story for people who are looking for a reason to believe in their dreams and find friendship. But that doesn’t mean that the heavier themes are missed by younger audiences.. Need, loss, loneliness and sacrifice are all shown throughout this play. It’s important to recognize that the ending isn’t perfect; Mama and Papa are separated from Soledad and Luna’s relationship with Soledad is still tender and hurt. We don’t know what the future holds for Mama and Papa, who are still continuing to work in an industry that is hard and, sometimes, unfair. But what makes Luna shine is the hope for tomorrow because of the big steps we’re willing to make today. Soledad takes risks to find friendship and believe in her dreams, even if it complicates her life. And taking risks doesn’t always mean success, because Soledad didn’t always succeed - but taking risks does mean that you’ll grow to be the sort of person that can succeed, can find your friends, and can reach the moon. This production is informed by where we are, as a community, and who we are as a creative team. Because a strong majority of migrant workers in Utah are Mexican, Mexican-American, or of Mexican descent, that has informed the world in which Soledad finds herself. You might even recognize the Utah mountains in the backdrop of the set! But, at the same time, Soledad is an outsider in this world. In order to show this, Soledad and her family carry with them Costa Rican traditions and designs - informed by the cultural background of our director, Kris Peterson. This production has also been touched by many other Latinx backgrounds and identities - my own included. These design and story choices are expressions of our stories and experiences, but it doesn’t encompass all experiences. Luna isn’t just Mexican, Costa Rican, Guatemalan or Brazilian - but it holds the hearts of people who are. Because of that, we’ve chosen to give parts of our cultures to a story that can apply to anyone who’s ever felt alone. That doesn't mean that we’re limiting who we are, or who our audience is, either! In the end, Soledad doesn’t have to sacrifice who she is in order to make connections - she loves her books and astronomy, but learns to love fashion and food, too! In the same way, we can relate to the experiences of other people and celebrate what makes us unique.

The Ballad of the West

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