University of Richmond Players Will Perform Comedy "Goodnight Desdemona (Good Morning Juliet)" Jan. 31 - Feb. 8

January 30, 2003

The University of Richmond Players will perform "Goodnight Desdemona (Good Morning Juliet)," the slapstick comedy in which an assistant professor magically "saves" some of Shakespeare's heroines from their tragic fates.

Constance Ledbelly, the young professor, believes she has found a manuscript containing the original versions of "Othello" and "Romeo and Juliet." In the ancient manuscript, however, the plays are comedies rather than tragedies. In despair one night over her personal life and her research, she throws the manuscript into a trashcan and is suddenly transported into the world of Shakespeare's plays, where she meets his characters and changes their star-crossed fates.

The Memphis Commercial Appeal says: "Imagine a collaboration among Shakespeare, Lewis Carroll and Woody Allen, and you have the essence of 'Goodnight Desdemona.'"

Rosemary Ingham will direct the play written by Ann-Marie MacDonald. Best known as a costume designer and writer, Ingham is also a seasoned director of such plays as "The Blood Knot," "Getting Out," "Crimes of the Heart" and "Falling Grace. She retired from the faculty of Mary Washington College in 2001. Canadian writer MacDonald played the role of her character Constance in a 2001 production of "Goodnight Desdemona" in Toronto.

Performances are at 7:30 p.m. Jan. 31-Feb. 1 and Feb. 5-8 and at 2 p.m. Feb. 2 in Cousins Studio Theatre in the Modlin Center for the Arts. Tickets range from $3 for University of Richmond students to $8 for adults. Call the box office at (804) 289-8980 for reservations.