"GOODNIGHT DESDEMONA" A JOURNEY OF IMAGINATION

The White Rabbit disappeared down a hole and Alice went through the looking glass to great and mysterious effect.  For Professor Constance Ledbelly, her adventures began when her studies and research into plays by Shakespeare take her back in time to visit the likes of Othello, Desdemona and Iago and later to Romeo, Juliet, Tybalt and Mercutio.

Enter the intoxicatingly complex world where a young English literature professor from across the pond ventures into worlds far away from her everyday existence. She lands right in middle of two of Shakespeare's greatest tragedies:  "Othello" and "Romeo and Juliet."  The Department of Theatre on the campus of Central Connecticut State University, 1615 Standly Street, New Britain will be stretching the boundaries of imagination until Saturday, October 18 at 7:30 p.m. in the Mahoney Black Box Theatre with its production of "Goodnight Desdemona (Good Morning Juliet)" by Ann-Marie MacDonald.

Benideliz Canales Salgado plays the intrepid Constance who theorizes, after extensive research, that evidence exists that these two plays in question were originally comedies, written by a mysterious "fool."  Whether in her subconscious or by sleight of hand and some hocus pocus, Constance finds herself suddenly immersed in Shakespeare's world.

Throwing on a figurative cloak of courage, she encounters easily persuaded Othello (Laugh Sanchez), the conniving Iago (Stephen Lenczewski) and the innocent Desdemona (Kat Barone). Constance soon finds herself fighting duels and saving lives.  She intervenes and interferes in the story of Romeo (Matt Cote), Tybalt (Anthony Yovina), Mercutio (Kat Blair), Juliet (Melanie Gawlak)  and her nurse (Adam Cormier), changing the course of events along the way.  Who knew penning a doctoral dissertation could be so dangerous!

Mistaken identities ensue, swords clash brilliantly, pillows are used to smother, handkerchiefs with strawberries signal infidelity and strange sexual attractions abound.  Thom Delventhal directs this comedy or errors and tragedy of intentions with an ambitious all student cast.

For tickets ($10 students, $5 seniors), call the box office at 860-832-1989 or online at theatre.ccsu.edu.  Next up will be "It's a Wonderful Life" by Joe Landry December 4-6 and "Servant of Two Masters" by Carlo Goldoni March 3-7.

Help cheer on Constance and help her discover her true self as she plunges headlong down the Shakespearian rabbit hole.