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Don Juan was such a legendary lothario that his name has become synonymous with lechery, but perhaps the devil made him do it all. Playwright David Ives makes a case for the innocence--believe it or not--of the notorious libertine with the romantic comedy, Don Juan in Chicago. City Lights Theater Company opens its season on Sept. 18 with Ives' tale of love, lust and immortality.
Ives reimagines Don Juan as a 16th-century nobleman with a one-track mind ... for learning. Convinced that his studies will lead him to the meaning of life, the bookish Don spares not a moment for love.
However, fearing that one lifetime won't offer sufficient time to discover the mysteries of the ages, Don Juan makes a deal with the devil, the classic deal: immortality in exchange for his soul. But being so well read, Juan should've known there would be a catch.
Mephistopheles stipulates that the Don must seduce a different woman every night or face eternal damnation. Too bad for Don Juan that his very first conquest should be Dona Elvira, who strikes her own bargain with Lucifer in order to have Don Juan for herself. After several centuries of Don Juan pursuing women and Dona Elvira pursuing Don Juan, it all leads to a showdown between Don and Dona in modern-day Chicago. To top it all off, this risqué tale is told largely in rhyming verse.
City Lights gets its season off to a rousing start with this comedy that may be less ribald and more romantic than it may first seem. With Jeromy Carssow as Don Juan, Joey Jalalian as Dona Elvira and Tom Ammon as Mephistopheles. Directed by Jeff Bengford.
Don Juan in Chicago plays Sept 18Oct. 18 at City Lights Theater Company, 529 S. Second St., San Jose. Tickets are $15$28. For more information, call 408.295.4200 or see www.cltc.org
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