University of New England

Feminist classic meets Victorian thriller in a production of Charlotte Perkins Gilman's 'The Yellow Wallpaper' June 17th

A nationally acclaimed production of the "The Yellow Wallpaper," Charlotte Perkins Gilman's horror story and chilling indictment of 19th-century medicine, will be performed at 7:30 p.m., Saturday, June 17, 2006 at Ludcke Auditorium on the University of New England's Westbrook College Campus, 716 Stevens Ave., Portland.

A feminist classic meets the Victorian thriller in this story that takes place in 1885.  During a three-month-long idyll in the country, the detailed attentions of a loving husband—and a room hung with yellow wallpaper—propel a spirited new mother to the brink of madness. Applauded by feminists since its publication in 1891, Gilman's story has been adapted by Warren Kliewer and performed by Michèle LaRue, winning praise from Manhatten to the Midwest.

Under the direction of Kliewer, this stunning dramatization is being presented at UNE as part of the Fourth International Conference on Charlotte Perkins Gilman, titled "Charlotte Perkins Gilman: Then & Now," June 15-18, 2006. The conference is hosted by UNE's Maine Women Writers Collection.

The drama is free and open to the public, although a $5 donation at the door is suggested. A question and answer session and dessert reception will follow the performance.

Background
In 1885, Charlotte Perkins Gilman, a vibrant young woman and dedicated writer, was brought to her knees by marriage, a well-meaning husband, and a questionable “cure.” Relying on blind faith, instinct, and courage, she willed herself back to health. Perhaps the single element most vital to her recovery was the writing of her brilliant “The Yellow Wall-Paper,” published in 1892. Turning autobiography to fiction, she penned [observed editor William Dean Howells] a story “to freeze our young blood.” “The Yellow Wallpaper” continues to chill today’s readers, dazzling feminists and historians, mystery- and horror-story enthusiasts alike, with its wit, suspense, and superlative style.

This Production
Performed in period costume and fully staged, "The Yellow Wallpaper" features recorded Victorian music and sound effects that enhance Gilman’s remarkable story and moving prose. Developed for and touring under the auspices of the East Lynne Theater Company, N.J., this production has played nearly 70 performances, from New York City to the far Midwest. Venues have included Washington, D.C.’s National Portrait Gallery and New York’s Lincoln Center Library and Museum of the Performing Arts.

Michèle LaRue
Reviewers have called LaRue’s performance in The Yellow Wallpaper  “haunting” and “extraordinary.” “A powerful and persuasive presentation,” noted Dr. Mary A. Hill, author of Charlotte Perkins Gilman: The Making of a Radical Feminist. “Your portrayal of that ingenious crazy woman is still with me,” wrote National Portrait Gallery Curator of Education Ken Yellis, who brought the production back for a second run.

In New York, LaRue has worked with Theatre at St. Clements, The Lark Theatre Company, and New Dramatists. She performs often with the East Lynne company, which specializes in late 18th- and early 19th-century American plays and literature; and is a member of New Jersey Repertory Company, which develops and produces new scripts. Her credits with East Lynne include William Dean Howells’ "Bride Roses"; Gayle Stahlhuth’s adaptation of Henry James’ "The Beast in the Jungle"; and a 1912 satirical monologue, "Someone Must Wash the Dishes: An Anti- Suffrage Monologue"—all directed by Kliewer.

LaRue is a member of Actors’ Equity Association, Screen Actors Guild, and AFTRA. She also belongs to Drama Desk, an organization of New York theatre writers; and to the Charlotte Perkins Gilman Society.

Warren Kliewer
A playwright, poet, essayist, director, actor, and teacher, Kliewer founded The East Lynne Company in 1980. Prior to his death in 1998, he produced all—and directed most—of the ELC’s 46 productions. These included John Howard Payne and Washington Irving’s "Charles II, Rip Van Winkle" as performed by Joseph Jefferson III, David Belasco’s "Madame Butterfly," and Rachel Crothers’ "He and She."