Eugene Ionesco wrote ironic absurdist plays that draw attention to themselves. In his 1959 work, Rhinoceros, currently being staged at Northern Kentucky University, one character asks of another, “Do you know anything about the avant-garde theater there’s so much talk about? Have you seen Ionesco’s plays.” The response: “Unfortunately, not. I’ve only heard people talk about them.” The questioner points out, “There’s one happening now. Take advantage of it.” That’s the kind of circular, thought-provoking logic you’ll find in the script by the French playwright. It’s the story of a small town where the local citizenry are turning into rhinoceroses. All but the central character are affected. But Bérenger, a man who’s often drunk and tardy, doesn’t much care. NKU drama professor Daryl Harris is staging the show with particular attention to the “Theatre of the Absurd,” with special emphasis on the comic side of the action, rooted in both physical action and linguistic antics. Harris’s staging of Rhinoceros also features music specifically created and recorded for the production. $8-$12. Through Nov. 8.
Get showtimes, tickets and find nearby bars and restaurants here.
