An old play with a new twist is coming to Mount Allison University. It was called Ubu Roi, and was written by Alfred Jarry in the late 1890s. But now, professor emeritus, Alex Fancy is giving it a modern update by turning it into a play within a play and sprinkling in a mix of French and English. It’s called UBU (2024).
Fancy has been presenting bilingual plays for more than fifty years. It started as a way to become a better teacher and to help his students to use their language skills outside of the classroom. All these decades later, it’s still working.
Jacob Graham is a fourth year English major. This is his second time doing a Tintamarre production.
“I thought it was a really healthy and enthusiastic environment for a new actor,” said Graham.
He was a French immersion student at school, and is happy to have the opportunity to continue using his second language.
“It’s a useful way to use that skill that I haven’t really used much in my post secondary career.”
Ella Crowley is a second year English major who plays two parts in the production. She said she’s drawn to the material because it’s a mix of languages, of old and new eras, and because the actors get a chance to play with genders through the changing of characters.
“All across the board binaries are being broken down and played with and mixed together. I think it’s a fun thing to do and I’m really enjoying it.”
The play opens on Wednesday, Jan. 31 at Mount Allison University’s Motyer-Fancy Theatre.
