From the seamstresses to the set designers to the actors on stage, it’s all hands on deck for the MU Department of Theatre’s spring show: The Revolutionists.
The University of Missouri Department of Theatre department is now showing The Revolutionists, its spring production directed by Claire Syler, assistant professor of theatre. The play is showing at 7:30 p.m. April 28 – 30 and 2 p.m. April 30 and May 1. at the Rhynsburger Theater. Learn more at theatre.missouri.edu.The Revolutionists is set in 18th century France at the height of the French Revolution. The play follows four female leads (left to right), Marie-Antoinette played by Payton Woodruff, Marianne Angelle played by Chloe Oliphant, Olympe De Gouges played by Kasey Lynch, and Charlotte Corday played by Abby Uphoff.The costumes for The Revolutionists were created by students in the MU Theatre Costume Shop, which is led by Marc W. Vital II, assistant professor of theatre. The Costume Shop handles the wardrobe for each theater production, including contemporary plays and period pieces like The Revolutionists.The costumes for The Revolutionists reflect popular dress in 18th century France and include historical pieces such as a “stays,” which is similar to a corset, smoothing the under layers of an outfit and accentuating a woman’s figure.Costumes were designed to match each character’s personality and status within the play. “For Marie Antoinette, we wanted her to feel decadent, so her fabrics are shiny and sparkly with lots of frothy details to make her look over the top wealthy, while our other characters have minimal decoration and more matte finishes,” Vital said.Payton Woodruff plays Marie Antoinette, who was the queen of France from 1774 to 1793 and was the last queen to reign before the French Revolution.Olympe de Gouge, played by Kasey Lynch, is based on a real playwright who lived during the French Revolution.Marianne Angelle, played by Chloe Oliphant, is a free black woman from Saint Dominique, a French colony known today as Haiti.Charlotte Corday, played by Abby Uphoff, is based on a real female revolutionist, known for the murder of prominent journalist Jean-Paul Marat.Though The Revolutionists takes place in 18th century France, Director Claire Syler believes the story remains relevant. “We are currently living in a time of intense interest in social justice and equity,” Syler said. “This play helps audiences grasp just how long women have been laboring for equal rights and how far we still have to go.”The guillotine played a major role in the French Revolution and is an important piece of the production of The Revolutionists. During the French revolution, over 10,000 people were executed by guillotine, including Marie Antoinette and her husband King Louis XVI.Theatre at Mizzou began 100 years ago when a group of students gathered to discuss the creation of a theatre on campus. Now, MU theatre is a complete department, offering bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees.
