Ancient Greek comedy ‘The Birds’ next on Eureka College stage

February 23-28 - Pritchard Theatre

The ancient Greek comedy “The Birds” by Aristophanes will be staged at 7:30 p.m. Feb. 23 through 27 and 2 p.m.
Feb. 28 in Pritchard Theatre at Eureka College.

Dating to 414 B.C., the play follows two slackers from Athens after they decide to shirk the cares of the world. The men climb a mountain to find the king of the birds and convince him to appoint them governors of a city in the sky where they can live a life of ease. The fast-talkers attempt to outwit humans from home and gods from Mount Olympus to establish “Cloud Cuckoo Land” and live as free as the birds.

“It’s hard for me to believe that this play was written 2,400 years ago,” said director Mark Baer, who is completing a master’s degree in directing at Illinois State University, Normal. “The work has a wonderfully light spirit – fresh and goofy. The underlying critiques of democracy are as relevant today as they were for Aristophanes. This play could easily be a draft of a ‘Saturday Night Live’ sketch or a segment of ‘The Daily Show.’”

Cast in lead roles as the Athenian men are Rebecca Collins of Monee as Pisthetaerus and Catherine Davis of Otterbein, Ind., as Euelpides.

Others in the cast are Kerri Rae Hinman of Tremont as king of the birds Epops, Erin Cochran of Collinsville as nightingale queen Procne and Erica Lawver of Macomb as the chorus leader.

Playing multiple roles as birds, gods and chorus members are Jason Hasty of Hanna City, Hillary Thomas of Carlock, Kelly Beaty of Hoopeston, Sable VanDermay-Kirkham of Bloomington, Elizabeth Snobeck of Yorkville, Hilary Schneider of Antioch, Samantha Hubbard of Bartonville, Christine Funk of St. Charles, Justin O’Neil Stewart of Columbia, Mo., and Blisse Stanford and Jacob Coombs, both of East Peoria.

Jessica Whitington of Oakwood is stage manager, and Nicole Zare of Palatine is assistant director.

Tickets are $7 for adults and $3 for students. For reservations, call (309) 467-6363 or e-mail >

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Contact:

Michele Lehman

Media Relations Coordinator

mlehman@eureka.edu

(309) 467-6318