COVENANT STAGES RARELY PERFORMED PLAY BY THE “SHAKESPEARE OF HOLLAND”
Lucifer, the inspiration for Paradise Lost
This February Covenant College’s Department of Theatre and Film Studies will produce Joost van den Vondel’s 17th century tragic masterpiece Lucifer. Directed by Prof. Camille Hallstrom with senior Kate Sarafolean performing the title role for her Senior Thesis, Lucifer will be performed at Covenant College’s Sanderson Hall on February 19-20, 26 at 8:00pm with a matinee performance on February 27 at 2:30pm. Covenant and Hallstrom will present one of their most ambitious productions. Vondel’s magnificent poetry envisions epic celestial battles. His verses are described as “knowing not their equal in nobility of sound, in fullness and purity of tone, in rapidity of change from tenderness to strength, in wealth of coloring.” It is a play written in the high Greek tragic style and intertwines the origin of man and the origin of evil. The fall of Lucifer results in the ruin of man. Leonard Charles van Noppen’s translation of Lucifer into English shows brilliant construction and use of verse. Of Lucifer, Noppen wrote that “the spirit of revolt never found fiercer and more poetical expression.” This rarely performed masterpiece of Dutch literature by the "Shakespeare of Holland" is considered to have been a source for Milton's Paradise Lost. Vondel’s interpretation of the coming of evil into the universe presents the grief and the envy of the angels in heaven when humans are created and set above the angels. Lucifer, the Viceroy in heaven, along with angels Beelzebub, Apollion, and Belial are jealous of the power and joy given to Adam and Eve. They foment a rebellion and spread dissent in the heavens through the use of cunning and subtle arguments until Archangel Michael calls for a clear distinction between the loyal and the rebellious spirits. Knowing it is a vain hope to win a war against God, but unable to believe God could forgive their rebellion, Lucifer and his legions plunge into battle out of despair. In the words of Vondel: “To rekindle your zeal for art, and at the same time to edify and to quicken your spirit, the holy tragic scene, which represents the Heavens is here presented to your view.”
The cast of Lucifer includes the returning talents of Kate Sarafolean, Katie Jenkins, B. Mitchell and Kevin Hartzell with Ann Jones, Jordan Linkston, Audrey Doris Brown and Zach McElrath in their debut performances. The chorus actors are Evelyn Petcher, Katelyn Hickey, Elizabeth Brink, Ben Burge, David Pickering, Alysha McCullough, Janel Corbett and Jonathan Davis. A post-show panel discussion will occur on February 20th with Dr. Jeff Dryden, Professor of Biblical Studies; Dr. Bill Tate, Professor of English; and Miss Camille Hallstrom, Professor of Theatre and Film Studies and director of the show. Tickets can be purchased at the door while seats are available, $7 for adults and $5 for students and seniors. A preview performance will be held February 18th with tickets at $3 for students and $5 for adults. For more information or to reserve tickets call Iemima Ploscariu at (916) 642-3430.
