Theatre Department Presents the Renaissance Tragedy 'The Changeling'

The department of theatre at the College of the Holy Cross presents The Changeling written by Thomas Middleton and William Rowley, directed by Edward Isser, professor and chair of the theatre department. The play will be performed November 3-5 and 10-12 at 8 p.m. in Fenwick Theatre (located on the second floor of O’Kane Hall). Tickets are $7 for members of the Holy Cross community and $10 for the general public. Group rates are available. Tickets can be reserved by calling the box office at (508)-793-2496. Parental guidance is recommended.

The Changeling is a shocking Renaissance tragedy about obsession, madness, murder and the wages of sin.  Beatrice-Johanna is forced by her father to become engaged to an unappealing aristocrat, but shortly after, she meets the man of her dreams.  Wishing to be free to pursue the object of her desire, Beatrice-Johanna convinces a deformed servant, De Flores, to kill the inconvenient fiancé.  Once the gruesome deed is done, she discovers that De Flores wants something much more than money in return.

“This startling morality play was very popular at the time it opened, but the work was so disturbing and repellent that it was banned from the English stage for almost 300 years,” says Isser. “Since the early 1960s, however, the play has been regularly revived to the gruesome delight of modern audiences.”

Isser, who has directed a dozen Shakespeare productions on campus, in Green Hill Park and at Foothills Theatre, says he is “thrilled at the prospect of tackling this challenging and disturbing text.”

Cast and crew include: Shannon Locascio '14 as Beatrice-Johanna, William Soller '14 as her demanding father, David Martinez '12 as the servant De Flores, Matthew Helfer '12 as the object of affection and Conor Sullivan '14 as the unfortunate fiancé. Barbara Craig, assistant professor of theatre, set and lighting design; Kurt Hultgren, costume designer, costumes; Eric Culver, lecturer of music, music direction; choreography by Linsey Barker '12 and Caroline Cataldo '12.

Watch a video previewing the theatre production