THE WISDOM OF HECTOR MANUEL
By Sean Britton-Milligan
Edited by Susan Murad
The second production of The Company Theatre's 2022-23 season, “The Wisdom of Eve,” showcases another side of multi-talented first-time director Hector Manuel.
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Manuel, who has been acting and performing in the Rochester and greater Finger Lakes area since childhood, is excited about his professional directorial debut.
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“I’ve been giving direction for years,” says Manuel, “but this is the first time that I have formally directed my peers.”
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His direction style and experience performing in theater from a young age have driven his passion for the creation of an ensemble work, noting that collaboration and showcasing local actors' abilities are of the utmost importance.
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The cast includes a collection of phenomenal local actors including Jael Lopez as Eve Harrington and Rachel Kodweis as Margo Crane, along with supporting cast Rowan Collins, Philip Detrick, Brian Tan, Ben Liebrand, Carmen Ibis Lopez, Sam Nelson, Marianna Tonas, and Shawnda Urie.
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“The Wisdom of Eve” is the play on which the Academy Award-winning feature film “All About Eve” and hit musical “Applause” were based, but Manuel notes that the script differs greatly from the movie and musical.
HECTOR MANUEL - DIRECTOR
“The script focuses more on the strengths of Margo and Eve and the tactics they use to get what they want,” he says.
Unlike the film and musical, age was not a factor in casting this production.
“Once you take age out of the picture, you see that the script's focus is the sheer power of the actresses, and what worthy adversaries they are. The audience sees Eve as a very capable adversary to the famous and well-established Margo, whose life we watch unravel.”
Most notably, one quote from the script stands out to Manuel above all others, "Real life is just something that has to be suffered until the curtain goes up.” He explains that in a physical sense, artists are merely working and living until they once again are able to create art, until it is at last the only thing needed to live.
“The Wisdom of Eve” runs February 23, 24, 25, and March 2, 3 and 4 at 8:00 p.m., with matinee performances February 25 and March 4 at 2:00 p.m.
The 2 p.m. Saturday, February 25 matinee and 8 p.m. Friday, March 3rd evening performance will feature Sign Language interpreting from students in RIT-National Technical Institute for the Deaf's bachelor's degree in interpreting program.
Tickets are $25 general admission and $22 for students and seniors.
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Purchase 3 or more tickets to receive a 15% discount on tickets!
THE COMPANY THEATRE PRESENTS
"THE WISDOM OF EVE" FEB. 23RD-MARCH 4TH, 2023
JAEL LOPEZ - EVE HARRINGTON
RACHEL KODWEIS - MARGO CRANE
The Company Theatre will present “The Wisdom of Eve” Feb. 23-March 4, 2023 in the Temple Theatre Loft, 50 Liberty Pole Way, Rochester.
Directed by The Company Theatre board member Hector Manuel, and adapted from the story by Mary Orr, “The Wisdom of Eve” is the story on which the film “All About Eve” and the hit musical APPLAUSE were based.
An engrossing and revealing "inside" story of life in New York's theater world, told in terms of an unscrupulous ingenue's rise to Broadway stardom, “The Wisdom of Eve” examines the lengths individuals will go to for fame.
“This version of Mary Orr’s timeless piece about a cunning actress’s rise to the top is one that many folks have never seen before.” Manuel said. “I’m honored to bring these words to life with this cast of true stars.”
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The cast is lead by Jael Lopez as Eve Harrington and Rachel Kodweis as Margo Crane, and includes Rowan Collins, Philip Detrick, Peter Doyle, Andrew Langton, Carmen Ibis Lopez, Sam Nelson, Marianna Tonas, and Shawnda Urie.
Tickets are $22 for students and seniors, $25 for all others. GET THEM NOW!