One Day in the Season of Rain
By Mohan Rakesh Newly translated by Aparna Dharwadker and Vinay Dharwadker CAST AMBIKA...........................................................................................................................................Jess Smith MALLIKA.................................................................................................................................Elodie Senetra KALIDAS...............................................................................................................................Brett Robertson DANTUL..................................................................................................................................... Mack Folkert MATUL.................................................................................................................................Thomas J. Novak NIKSHEP..............................................................................................................................................Eric Sipe VILOM............................................................................................................................. Andrew Stachurski RANGINI.....................................................................................................................................Shannon Fox SANGINI.........................................................................................................................Denise Wargowsky ANUSWAR............................................................................................................................Mitch Weindorf ANUNASIK............................................................................................................................Matt Schaeflein PRIYANGUMANJARI...........................................................................................................Kristyn Taggart
CREW Director...................................................................................................................Neil Kristian Scharnick Stage Manager..................................................................................................................... Nicole Werner Assistant Stage Manager.....................................................................................................Marcie Swan Technical Director/Scenic Designer.....................................................................Martin McClendon Assistant Scenic Designer...................................................................................................Marcie Swan Costume Designer.................................................................................................................Kim Instenes Lighting Designer/Operator.........................................................................................Colleen Geddes Properties Designer.............................................................................................................Slim Simonini Properties Master..................................................................................................................... Caitlin Zant Properties Crew................................................................................................ Marcie Swan, Jess Smith Sound Designer............................................................................. Nicole Werner, Simon Skluzachek Sound Operator...........................................................................................................Simon Skluzachek Costume Crew......................................................... Maureen Toomey, Dan Brennan, Brea Beelow Run Crew...................................................................................................Brigette Estola, Derek Nelson Rainmaker................................................................................................................................Victor Terrific House Manager........................................................................................ Alex Campea, Mikaley Osley Thanks to all Carthage ACTF participants for expediting load-in
SPECIAL THANKS Anita Rakesh, Aparna Dharwadker and Vinay Dharwadker, Jim Guy, The Milwaukee Repertory Theater, Shoreline Irrigation, Herschel Kruger, Hannah Binish, Stephen Schreiber, David Rosenberg, Nathan Gerowitz, William Newcomb
T H E AT R E FAC U LT Y Brian Gill.................................................................................................... Adjunct Instructor of Theatre Laura Gordon.......................................................................................... Adjunct Instructor of Theatre Annie Hackett............................................................................................Adjunct Instructor of Dance Kim Instenes.....................................................Costume Designer, Assistant Professor of Theatre Laura Jacqmin........................................................................................ Adjunct Instructor of Theatre Herschel Kruger............................................. Department Chair/Associate Professor of Theatre John Maclay............................................................................................. Adjunct Instructor of Theatre Martin McClendon..........................................Technical Director/Assistant Professor of Theatre William Newcomb.................................................................................... Assistant Technical Director Stacy Pottinger.........................................................................................Assistant Professor of Dance Neil Scharnick........................................................................................ Assistant Professor of Theatre Carthage College 1
D I R E C TO R ’ S N O T E When I first learned from Aparna Dharwadker that she’d received permission to write a new, authorized translation of Ashadh ka Ek Din, I knew I had to direct it at Carthage. The precise reason for this instant assurance, despite having access only to a woefully inadequate English translation, remains a bit of a mystery to me. Perhaps I had been moved by Rakesh’s ability to capture in Mallika the transcendent beauty of a truly poeticized, aesthetic existence; perhaps it was his honest portrayal of Kalidas as a modern, troubled artist; perhaps I was drawn to his humorously critical take on literary and artistic criticism, the artist’s relationship to the state, and the periphery’s relationship to the capital; or maybe I’m just a sucker for star-crossed love stories. Whatever the reason, I promptly pitched the idea at Carthage and met no resistance. I’ve long believed and often asserted that, where plays are concerned, there is a mode of understanding that can only be accessed through production. When I teach Play Reading and Analysis, this is the source of some frustration. But when I direct, the daily revelations and ever-deepening appreciation are a source of constant delight. Whatever I thought of Rakesh’s play when I first encountered it, our initial mounting of this production convinced me that the play is a modern masterpiece. Reviving it nine months later, I continue to discover new layers of meaning. I only hope that the availability of this new translation will inspire more American productions, earning for Mohan Rakesh and this remarkable play the attention they deserve. - Neil Scharnick
T R A N S L ATO R ’ S N O T E One Day in the Season of Rain is a new English translation of Mohan Rakesh’s Ashadh ka Ek Din (1958). The original play is written in Hindi, the common language of much of northern India and of the subcontinent as a whole. Modern Hindi is one of India’s two official languages (the other being English); and it is the main language of the country’s popular culture, especially in film, television, and music. It is closely connected to Urdu, the official language of Pakistan. Historically, both languages are related to Sanskrit and Persian, with traces of Arabic and Turkish. Hindi is the first language of about 600 million people in the world today. Rakesh chose to write this play in a highly stylized form of modern standard Hindi. His vocabulary draws heavily on classical Sanskrit, and the dialogue is always formal rather than conversational. The language of the original tries to capture the flavor of India’s classical culture, as also of a way of life associated with a royal court. Thus, lovers, such as Mallika and Kalidas, address each other and their private thoughts only in decorous terms; and even buffoons, such as Anuswar and Anunasik, play out their unwitting comedy in courtly diction. Rakesh’s method in One Day in the Season of Rain replicates the method of its historical model, Kalidas’s Sanskrit play Shakuntala, with great precision. Our English translation pays close attention to Rakesh’s style and its nuances. Our sentences offer the best English parallels to the elaborate structure of many of his sentences in Hindi. Our phrasing, likewise, mirrors his choice of words, images, and metaphors. We have focused especially on capturing the tone of each character and scene, because Rakesh modulates his tone masterfully to create atmosphere, tension, conflict, anguish, and laughter. At the same time, we have tried to keep the translation as close as possible to the conventions of contemporary performance in English. Our goal has been to make One Day in the Season of Rain fully accessible to actors, directors, and audiences, regardless of their previous familiarity or unfamiliarity with Indian drama. Our English version therefore aims for the kind of transparency that lets readers and viewers engage directly with Rakesh’s imagination, without the medium standing in the way. - Vinay Dharwadker 2 Carthage College
CAST BIOGR APHIES Mack Folkert (Dantul) most recently appeared in Carthage Theatre’s production of BILOXI BLUES. He has previously worked with First Stage Children’s Theatre and the Milwaukee Shakespeare Theatre Company. He is enjoying his first year at Carthage College. This is an experience that Mack holds dear. Shannon Fox (Rangini) is a sophomore Theatre major at Carthage. In addition to some high school and community theater shows, she has appeared in the Carthage mainstage production of LYSISTRATA, and as a prisoner in the Studio Theatre production of FAR AWAY. She is very excited for this production and hopes you enjoy the show! Thomas J. Novak (Matul) is a senior graduating with a BA in Directing & Performance with a minor in Dance. He is thrilled and honored to play Matul for the Region Three festival. After graduation, Thomas hopes to pursue an MFA in Directing. Favorite roles at Carthage include Leo Barrett (POSTMORTEM), Ching Ho (THOROUGHLY MODERN MILLIE), Greg Wagner (ROOM SERVICE) and Father Flynn (DOUBT). Thomas thanks Neil for casting him in this fun role and his friends and family for their love and support. Thomas is so thankful for the education he has received at Carthage.
Brett Robertson (Kalidas) is thrilled to be performing in ONE DAY IN THE SEASON OF RAIN for KCACTF. His most recent roles have been at Carthage College and include Gordon and Dwight in DEAD MAN’S CELL PHONE, Todd in FAR AWAY, Hamish in GENERAL OF HOT DESIRE, and The Magistrate in LYSISTRATA. Brett would like to thank his friends and family for their undying support. Matt Schaeflein (Anunasik) is a sophomore at Carthage where this is his third show. Matt is a Theatre Performance major. Matt’s past productions have been THE GENERAL OF HOT DESIRE and the part of Ciniceus in LYSISTRATA. Matt would like to thank the whole cast and crew for helping this be an incredible experience. Elodie Senetra (Mallika) is honored to be a part of this show. Elodie is a junior this year majoring in Theatre Performance. ONE DAY IN THE SEASON OF RAIN marked her second mainstage appearance at Carthage. She last appeared playing Jean in DEAD MAN’S CELL PHONE. Elodie would like to thank the Theatre Department for providing such innovative opportunities on and off stage as well as everyone who continues to support the arts. Eric Sipe (Nikshep) is a sophomore studying Psychology, Theatre, and Entrepreneurial Business. His acting credits include performances with Carthage College 3
C A S T B I O G R A P H I E S ( c o n t .) the Joliet Drama Guild, Bolingbrook’s Theatre on the Hill, Plainfield Central High School, and now Carthage College. Eric is ecstatic for this opportunity to give this beautiful piece of theatre to a new audience. Eric thanks his family, friends, fellow actors, wonderful crew, and brilliant production staff for their contributions to this production. Andrew Stachurski (Vilom) is excited to be in ONE DAY IN THE SEASON OF RAIN. He is a freshman majoring in Theatre Performance with a minor in Education. This is Andrew’s second Carthage role, the first being Joseph Wykowski in BILOXI BLUES which was brilliantly directed by Tommy Novak (Matul). Andrew would like to thank Neil for casting him, his friends and family for their support, and the cast. Enjoy! Jess Smith (Ambika) is a senior with majors in English (Creative Writing emphasis) and Theatre. Jess has performed in W;T, ROOM SERVICE, and LAST TRAIN TO NIBROC, and has also done technical work for HONEST, LASS MASS AT ST. CASIMIR’S, and POSTMORTEM. Jess would like to thank her family and friends for their support,
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especially Anna, Marcie, and Deven. She would also like to thank Neil for the opportunity and Martin for his guidance in constructing the fawn. Kristyn Taggart (Priyangumanjari) is proud to be joining such an incredible cast on this journey. All have been very supportive of Kristyn and the others joining this year. Kristyn hopes to tackle the challenge of this role and come out victorious. Kristyn is a senior at Carthage pursuing a Music Theatre Major. The last show she performed in was LITTLE WOMEN the musical as Beth. Kristyn would again like to thank the director and cast of this show for the opportunity of a lifetime. Denise Wargowsky (Sangini) ONE DAY IN THE SEASON OF RAIN was Denise’s 8th performance at Carthage. She is a senior pursuing a Theatre Performance major. Her most recent role was Adelaide in a workshop production of GUYS AND DOLLS. You may also recognize her from pervious shows such as LYSISTRATA, THOROUGHLY MODERN MILLIE, and Postmortem. She would like to thank her friends, family, Kim, Martin, Neil and Herschel for their unending support. Mitch Weindorf (Anuswar) is a sophomore from Campbellsport, WI. This is his second appearance on the Carthage mainstage. Mitch had the unique opportunity to go to KCACTF as a freshman and is excited to be back. He was also in last fall’s production of LYSISTRATA. He has a wonderful riddle for all: Why are 2010 pennies worth more than 2009 pennies?
T H E T R A N S L ATO R S Aparna Dharwadker (Translator) is Professor of Theatre and Drama and English at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where she teaches Restoration theatre, contemporary world theatre, modern Indian and postcolonial theatre, and South Asian diaspora literature. Born in Jaipur and educated at the Universities of Rajasthan and Delhi, she received her Ph.D. in Restoration theatre from Penn State. Aparna’s essays and articles have appeared in a wide range of journals and collections, and her book, Theatres of Independence: Drama, Theory, and Urban Performance in India Since 1947 (2005), won the 2006 Joe A. Callaway Prize for the best book on drama or theatre published during 2004-05. She has held fellowships from the NEH, the American Institute of Indian Studies, the Folger Library, and the Newberry Library, among others, and is currently completing a scholarly edition of theatre theory in multiple Indian languages, titled A Poetics of Modernity: Indian Theatre Theory, 1860 to the Present. Aparna has collaborated earlier with her husband, Vinay Dharwadker,
on translations of contemporary Hindi poetry; One Day in the Season of Rain is her first collaborative translation of a play from Hindi. Vinay Dharwadker (Translator) is a Professor in the Department of Languages and Cultures of Asia at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where he teaches Indian languages and literatures, modern theory, and interdisciplinary humanities. A poet and a scholar, he translates extensively from Hindi, Marathi, Urdu, Punjabi, and Sanskrit. His books include Sunday at the Lodi Gardens (poems, 1994); The Oxford Anthology of Modern Indian Poetry (editor, 1994); and Cosmopolitan Geographies (editor, 2003). In 2008 he won India’s national translation prize for Kabir: The Weaver’s Songs, and the American Culture Association’s Ray and Pat Browne Award for his contributions to The Greenwood Encyclopedia of World Popular Culture. He is the South Asia editor of the new Norton Anthology of World Literature, and is translating Ghalib: Ghazals for Penguin Classics (both forthcoming).
Photo: Milwaukee Rep
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PRODUCTION BIOS Colleen Geddes (Lighting Designer) is excited to be able to light design solo for the first time. She has had a busy year last year being the production stage manager for ROOM SERVICE and assistant light designer for LYSISTRATA. She just finished being the sound operator for FAR AWAY and is glad to be back lighting up people’s world. She hopes everyone enjoys the show and is glad for all the support she has gotten this year from family and friends. Kim Instenes (Assistant Professor of Theatre/Costume Designer) holds an MFA in Costume Design and Technology from Ohio University, and a BA in Theatre from UW-Whitewater. Kim joined the Carthage faculty from UW-Parkside where she was costume shop supervisor. She has also worked as a sabbatical replacement at UW-Parkside and Lawrence University. Kim has designed a number of productions for Parkside and Lawrence including IMAGINARY INVALID, PRIDE AND PREJUDICE and the TROJAN WAR. Kim continues to work as a freelance costume and make-up designer in the Milwaukee/Chicago area. Design credits include First Stage, Milwaukee Shakespeare, the Milwaukee Repertory Theater, Utah Shakespearean Festival and the Racine Theatre Guild. She would like to thank her family for their continued support. Martin McClendon (Scenic Designer/ Technical Director) is an Assistant Professor of Theatre. Before he began teaching he spent 10 years working as a professional actor, carpenter, and scene designer in 6 Carthage College
Chicago and Los Angeles. He designed more than a dozen sets for Chicago’s Defiant Theatre, twice receiving Joseph Jefferson Citation nominations for his scenic work. As an actor he has appeared on the stages of Chicago’s Steppenwolf, Northlight, and Victory Gardens theatres as well as in television commercials, sitcoms, and independent films. He would like to thank Jennifer, Arabella, and Horatio for their support. William Newcomb (Assistant Technical Director), the newest member of the Carthage Theatre faculty, holds a BFA in Technical Theatre from Tarleton State University, Stephenville, Texas, and an MFA in Arts Administration from Southern Utah University. He was Assistant Manager of the Milwaukee Repertory Theatre for two years before coming to Carthage. Other credits include Technical Director of the Wells Fine Arts Center at Tarleton State, Assistant Technical Director at Oberlin College, Scene Shop Foreman at Ohio Light Opera, and Assistant Production Manager of the Utah Shakespearean Festival. He would like to thank Alison for her continued support. Neil Kristian Scharnick (Director), Assistant Professor of Theatre, is a member of the Theatre faculty and a PhD Candidate at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He holds an MA in Theatre from Northwestern University and a BA from Carthage. This is his sixth directing credit at Carthage, having previously directed THOUROUGHLY MODERN MILLIE, THE SERPENT, ARMS AND THE MAN, PROOF, and TRANSLATIONS. He is boundlessly indebted to his wife Erin for her support, and is grateful to Aparna and Vinay for allowing him to become a part of this play’s history.
P R O D U C T I O N B I O S ( c o n t .) Slim Simonini (Properties Designer) is a Political Science and Theatre major. In addition to performing in such Carthage shows as LASS MASS AT ST. CASIMIR’S and ROOM SERVICE, he has also been Master of Properties for LYSISTRATA and a member of the HONEST crew during its run at the American College Theatre festival. Marcie Swan (Assistant Scenic Design, Assistant Stage Manager) is in her final year studying Technical Theatre and Design focusing on Scene Design. Last year she worked under Martin on THOROUGHLY MODERN MILLIE and this past fall she worked with guest designer Maureen Kruger on LYSISTRATA. She would like to say thank you to Martin and Neil for giving her this opportunity. “An artist’s only concern is to shoot for some kind of perfection, and on his own terms, not anyone else’s” -J.D. Salinger Nicole Werner (Stage Manager, Sound Designer) will be graduating in the spring with a major in Technical Theatre and a minor in Studio Art. She is very excited to be stage-managing ONE DAY IN THE SEASON OF RAIN. She has recently been stage manager for LYSISTRATA and THOROUGHLY MODERN MILLIE. Nicole participated in an entertainment internship with Sea World Orlando over the summer. She would like to thank the cast and crew for putting on a great show and being wonderful to work with. She would also like to thank her parents and Dan for all their love and support. Break a leg!
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B.A. degrees in: Theatre Performance Technical Theatre and Design Music Theatre
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Learn more at www.carthage.edu/theatre