Bondman Julian (Adrian Garcia) tries vainly to comfort his master Cordelius (Jack Sharkey), who bewails his banishment from his love, Charlotte (not pictured)
Julian and Cordelius’ relationship is inspired by a verse play I started ten years ago and never finished, about a cheese thief and a goat thief in central France. The two thieves (Gorbaduc and Androboros) happened upon a slain count who happened to look exactly like Androboros, and so snuck into France disguised, with Gorbaduc (the smart one, who came up with the idea) posing as a servant. Lies, forgery, marriage contracts, blackmail, and nude paintings all complicated matters until the two were forced to flee Paris and abandon their false identities.
Central to the above plot, though, was the reversal of status roles. Gorbaduc, the smart one who usually made the decisions, was suddenly relegated to servitude under a slow-witted master who was eager to take advantage of his new fortune.
You can see this pretty openly reflected in the (reasonably) clever Julian, forced to serve under the impulsive and naive Cordelius. Circumstance then complicates this relationship, allowing both men a chance to explore (willingly or not) new positions in social status.
COSTUMES by Delena Bradley
LIGHTING by Benjamin Dionysus
PHOTO by INDie Grant Productions, LLC