Moebius Theatre

"Not to go on all fours; that is The Law. Are we not Men?"

Moebius Theatre presents an audio theatre adaptation of H.G. Wells'

The Island of Dr. Moreau

From its roots in the radio drama of the early Twentieth Century, audio theatre re-emerged as a popular art form for stage presentation during the 1990s. A style that works on two levels, audio theatre performances allow audience members to construct the scene in their own minds using the vocal, musical, and sound effects cues created live onstage, while visually, the story is presented by a close-knit team of performers working various machines: spinning wheels, pumping devices, and of course, slamming doors. Music, written specifically for this project, is performed in synchronization with actors who move smoothly between microphones, taking on different roles and voices as the story requires.

The Island of Dr. Moreau, H.G. Wells' self-described "exercise in youthful blasphemy," is an ideal creative bed for audio theatre. A variety of environments, from ship to wilderness to laboratory and beyond, are constructed and razed in just a few seconds as scenes shift and action builds to an ultimate, terrifying climax.

Moebius Theatre, Chicago's original science fiction theatre company, is proud to bring to Chicon our ground-breaking adaptation of one of the true classics of the genre. Launched in 1976, the troupe has performed at numerous World Science Fiction Conventions, including a fully staged production of Ray Bradbury's "The Martian Chronicles" at Chicon 2000, and an original work, E. Michael Blake's "Reply from Extraterrestrial Intelligence" at Torcon 3. The company is also highly regarded for its sketch comedy shows, which have entertained audiences for decades.

The Island of Dr. Moreau will take place Friday evening, starting at 8:30 p.m. in the Grand Ballroom. Running time is approximately an hour-and-a-half.

Creative Team

Writer, director: K. Zoe Graham
Man Wearing Too Many Hats (Asst. Director, Audio Engineer, Music Director): Peter Pollack

Cast:

• Narrator: Rachel Bonarek
• Prendick: Ralph Scotese
• Montgomery: Michael Brugioni
• Moreau: Joseph Adlesick
• Ensemble/Narrator understudy: Penelope J. Skrzynski
• Ensemble/Prendick understudy: Alan Ziebarth
• Ensemble/Montgomery understudy: Don Alsafi
• Ensemble: Dan Ley
• Ensemble: Nicholas Scotese
• Music ensemble/Moreau understudy: E. Michael Blake
• Music ensemble: Lisa Golladay
• Music ensemble: Larry Blake