Go on ‘Holiday’ with Theatre Oct. 31-Nov. 9

Posted 9-25-08

GREENSBORO, NC — Free-spirited young man engaged to class-conscious beauty falls for her free-spirited sister. Sounds like a “Holiday” is in order.

UNCG Theatre will stage Philip Barry’s 1928 romantic comedy Oct. 31-Nov. 9 in the recently refurbished Brown Building Theatre.

“‘Holiday’” is an exploration of a fundamental human dilemma – that of a young person, in this case two young persons, struggling, against the demands of society, family, and economics, to figure out how they fit into the grand scheme of things and how they might productively live their lives,” says director Jim Fisher, head of the Department of Theatre. “One of the play’s characters was born into privilege, the other into poverty, but both find that their circumstances weigh heavily against the realization of their individual dreams.”

The plot is something of a fairy tale. Johnny Case meets golden girl Julia Seton and proposes marriage to her. Later he realizes that she is one of the Setons, New York’s wealthiest family. Almost immediately, Johnny and Julia seem incompatible, a situation exacerbated by his plan to retire immediately after making a bundle on a business deal.

Johnny finds himself attracted to Julia’s unconventional sister Linda, who vainly tries to help Johnny and Julia work out their differences. But Linda finds herself simpatico with Johnny’s goals, and falls secretly in love with him.

Barry also wrote “The Philadelphia Story,” which became a classic film starring Katharine Hepburn and Cary Grant. Hepburn and Grant also appear in the 1938 film version of “Holiday.” “Holiday” was adapted into a stage musical, “Happy New Year,” with songs by Cole Porter.

Show times are:
• 8 p.m., Oct. 31, Nov. 1, 7 and 8
• 7 p.m., Nov., 5 and 6
• 2 p.m., Nov. 2, 8 and 9

Tickets are $12 adults; $10 students, senior citizens, and children; $8 groups of 10 or more and UNCG Alumni Association members; and $7 current UNCG students.

For tickets, call the University Box Office at (336) 334-4849, or visit http://boxoffice.uncg.edu.