Contact: Maridith Geuder
STARKVILLE, Miss.--Rap music, one-armed monsters and plenty of laughs will help bring a 6th century Scandinavian warrior to life Saturday [April 30] for area audiences.
"Sort of Beowulf: A Sort of Comedy" is being staged by students in the Mississippi State University chapter of Sigma Tau Delta national English honor society.
The free 4 p.m. performance in the Simrall Hall auditorium will give a somewhat different perspective to the classic epic of English literature while also benefiting the local Boys and Girls Club. Donations in support of the club will be accepted, with additional funds to be generated through a post-production bake sale.
Originally, the script was written by associate professor Richard Wolf for his wife's fourth- and fifth-grade drama classes.
"It actually was never performed when written," said Wolf. As a result, the play will receive its first staging at MSU, he added.
A member of the MSU English faculty since 1974, Wolf (no known relation to Beowulf) also has written a children's play titled "Myths of Ancient Egypt." He's at work on a third child-focused drama to be titled "Conversations with Dummies."
"My drama interest dates from high school and undergraduate days," explained the specialist in 18th century drama and world literature. His recent scholarly work has focused on the treatment of 17th century comedy on the 18th century stage.
Wolf holds a bachelor's degree from Yale University, and master's and doctoral degrees from the University of Chicago.
For more information on the play, telephone the English department at (662) 325-3644.