Laughter echoed through the school as the Upper School put on the first theater production of the year: The Madwoman of Chaillot. Set in 1940’s Paris at cafe “Chez Francis,” The Madwoman of Chaillot’s set transported viewers to the cafe where the play took place, with bright colors, foot traffic, and music all working together to bring a slice of France to the Huss Center. 

Though not as well known as other productions put on by the drama department in past years, The Madwoman of Chaillot certainly did not disappoint. The show checked all of the boxes: humor, action, music. 

Because the entire first act took place in the cafe, one might think that the play would be repetitive, but thanks to the technical movements that were constantly happening onstage it felt like a new twist or turn could happen at any moment. 

The Madwoman of Chaillot brought up ideas such as greed, corruption, and rights for all, all of which are relevant today. This particular play may not be quite as well known as past US productions such as Rent or Into the Woods, but the motifs and ideas that it centers around are still important now.

The madwoman (senior Ananya Narayan) was the star of the show. Narayan moved confidently and projected her lines clearly and proudly. Her costume: a colorful robe and dress, with a large red wig, personified her role as she walked with power and sophistication. Other standouts included the Ragpicker (junior Maren Ostrem), The Prospector (junior Nathan Forsberg) and The Waiter (junior Isobel Alm), all of whom performed as if they lived their roles in 1940’s Paris. 

Like any team, the easiest way to find success is through a sense of community. The theater family had been working for months to put on a show like The Madwoman of Chaillot, and their hard work and dedication was shown through their performance. 

The production performed on the Huss stage Nov. 22-23.

Rating: 5/5 ★★★★★ 

This story was originally published in the December 2019 issue of The Rubicon.