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NEWS RELEASE 4-23-09 Contacts: ISU Theatre presents ‘Vinegar Tom’ at M-Shop, April 30-May 3 AMES, Iowa – ISU Theatre’s final selection of the school year looks at fear, religious hypocrisy and exploitation in “Vinegar Tom.” Called “edgy and provocative,” the play will be on stage April 30-May 3 at the Maintenance Shop in Iowa State University’s Memorial Union. “Vinegar Tom” takes place in 17th-century England, where women are being tried as witches. The poor, the defiant and the sexually active are all targeted by religious leaders for supposed liaisons to the devil. Vinegar Tom is the name of an unseen black cat believed to transport messages from Satan to women. “It’s a truly interesting play with complex character relationships,” said Sarah Zwick-Tapley, lecturer in the ISU theatre department and the play’s director. “The character relationships are not straight forward.” The drama follows the lives of seven women. Some are accused of being witches and are tortured and killed. Some of the women are lower class and poor and dirty, some are sexually active, and one is old and alcoholic. “They’re easy people to dislike and target,” said Zwick-Tapley. “The play is about how society treats them. We’re trying to make sense of the people who torture and condemn these women to death and how they could do that.” Written by world-renowned playwright Caryl Churchill, “Vinegar Tom” draws disturbing parallels between the 1600s and today by mixing contemporary music with period scenes. The play is for mature audiences only due to its sexual content, language and violence. Major cast members are Courtney Gevaert of Wilton, Iowa, as Alice; Jacob Wittenauer of Ohio, Ill., as Jack; and Kelly Teitsworth of Washington, Iowa, as Margery. Tickets are $14 for adults, $12 for seniors and $7 for students. Tickets are available at the Maintenance Shop ticket booth during regular business hours and at the door during each performance. -30- |
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