This enchanting, imaginative fantasy combines the traditions of classic fairy tale and rollicking, fast-paced Commedia dell ‘arte into a delightfully satisfying theatre experience.  This eighteenth-century tale of romance and betrayal, good and evil continues ENC’s 25th Anniversary Theatre Season and year long celebration.

The kindly king of Serendippo is convinced by his trusted-but-evil prime minister to seek a bride.  Lusting for power, the prime minister hopes to influence the king to choose his daughter (who is pledged to another) as queen.  This will allow him to take the king’s true love and his kingdom.

But the power of love mixed with the magic of a court magician assist the king in thwarting the prime minister’s betrayal. The court magician has entrusted the king with two great magic secrets.  One secret is a plaster bust with special powers.  The face of the bust reveals to the king by its expressions whether or not a woman truly loves him.  If the woman is true, the statue will not react.  If the woman is false, the statue will grin or break into uproarious laughter, a quality which has hilarious consequences when the king interviews his prospective brides.

The bust serves the king well, and he chooses his true love for his wife. The evil prime minister is enraged and plots his revenge. The other secret is a spell which falls into the hands of the minister and proves disastrous for the king.  Mistaken identity, outrageous characters, and fast-paced comedy bring the story to its conclusion, in which evil is conquered by the transforming power of love.

Carlo Gozzi wanted his play to be an allegorical moral lesson and to reveal “the boldness of a whimsical mind.” The Daily Free Press raved that The King Stag was “. . .fantastical. . . a simple story fancifully told.”
 

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The Cast

Smeraldina.....................................Allison Ross

Angela..........................................Kate Ellis

Clarissa.........................................Emily Plank

Cigolotti........................................Tara Brook Watkins

Durandarte......................................Carla Romero

Truffaldino.....................................Dave Sweeny

Brighella........................................Gil Thibault

Guard............................................Heath Tabbi

Leander..........................................Dan Fish

Bust..............................................Tamar Andreson

Pantalone........................................Matt Henry

Deramo...........................................Greg Newman

Tartaglia.........................................Nathan Scott
 

Production Staff

Director......................................................Samuel Young
Producer/Advisor ......................................Ronda  R. Winderl
Technical Director .....................................Michael W. Ballard
Costume Designer .....................................Judy Mucci
Publicist ....................................................Christine Medaglia
Business Manager/Program ......................Angela McEwen
Graphic Designer ......................................Sue Ramey
Ticket Manager ..........................................Melissa Easton
Photographers ...........................................Carl Winderl

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For more information , please call the Box Office from 9a.m. - 5p.m. or send us an email at mcewena@enc.edu.  School group rates may also be available for evening performances. Call the Box Office at (617)745-3715.

Join our mailing list:
To receive a season brochure and be on the mailing list  for more information on The King Stag, send an email to the Box Office at mcewena@enc.edu.  Please include your name, address, nine digit zip code and phone number.  Address Change?  Send an email to the Box Office with your name and old address along with your new address (including the nine digit zip code).

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THE BOX OFFICE
Cove Fine Arts Center
23 East Elm Avenue, Quincy, MA 02170
Phone: (617)745-3715
 

The Cove Fine Arts Center is wheelchair accessible. It is recommended that patrons in wheelchairs notify the Box Office and the house manager.
 

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