Chico State Who-Done-It — “Murdering Marlowe” — Staged Sept. 26-30 in Wismer Theatre

History is full of instances where the Second Banana takes out the Grand Puh-bah in order to become the Grand Pu-Bah himself/herself. One only has to remember the “hit” skater Tonya Harding attempted on her rival Nancy Kerrigan prior to the 1994 Olympics.

Could this possibly have been what happened to Christopher “Kit” Marlowe, the literary giant — think status of present day rock-star-god — whose popularity/celebrity in the late-1500s eclipsed all others who dared to put ink to paper, including an up-and-coming playwright named William Shakespeare? Could the unthinkable have happened? Could Shakespeare have put a “hit” on Marlowe? Could he have played a role in the bar room murder of Marlowe in order to steal his thunder and become the rock-star-god of Elizabethan literature that he is perceived to be now?

That is the premise for Charles Marowitz’s thriller, “Murdering Marlowe,” presented by CSU, Chico’s Department of Theatre and the School of the Arts Sept. 26-29 at 7:30 p.m. and Sept. 29 and 30 at 2 p.m. in Wismer Theatre.

“It has long been suspected that the death of Marlowe was, well, more than just a bar brawl…people have suspected involvement with Shakespeare,” notes Joel P. Rogers, Chair of the Theatre Department at CSU, Chico and director for “Murdering Marlowe.” “The rivalry in this play is more fiction than fact, but people have all sorts of theories…some even believe that Marlowe staged his own death, fearing an impending trial for heresy, fled to Italy, and wrote many of the plays attributed to Shakespeare, and smuggled them back to England.”

Rogers describes “Murdering Marlowe” as “an odd little play” because it has moments of verse and language that sound very much like olde-English, something Shakespeare could have written. However, the tone of the play is definitely contemporary, and the sexuality and situations in the play are also contemporary.

Adding to this dichotomy is the setting Rogers has chosen to place Chico State’s production of “Murdering Marlowe” — the gritty, grimy underbelly of present-day London.

“While one production chooses to place it in the 1590s, the next chooses to place it in contemporary London. We have also made the choice to place it physically in the present, though the language of the play harkens back to Elizabethan language.”

Costumes designed by Department of Theatre faculty member Gail Holbrook and set designed by Department of Theatre Scenic Designer David Beasley will reflect the underground punk culture of present-day London. Sound and music (designed by Department of Theatre faculty member Katherine Whitlock) as well as lighting (by Department of Theatre alum Adrian Torres) will add to the gritty ambiance.

Audiences should have little trouble identifying with Marlowe, who is portrayed very much like a “rock star” celebrity.

“He is using himself up very quickly and while he perceives that what he is doing is fine, he is heading down a very slippery slope. There are many celebrities today that reflect his approach…and while they enjoy the celebrity status, they seem to resent what that implies.”

Cast includes some of Chico State’s most-talented actors.

Junior James Dugan plays William Shakespeare; Senior Davis Carlson — a veteran of several Chico State productions — plays Robert Poley; Senior Bret Colombo — Algernon in “The Importance of Being Earnest” — plays Philip Henslow; Junior Cindy Kay — veteran of “42nd Street,” “Alice in Wonderland,” and “Anton in Show Business” — plays Anne Hathaway, lover of Shakespeare and Marlowe; Senior Sara St. Pierre — “we’ve seen her in several shows, many for Court Theatre,” notes Rogers — plays Emilia; Junior Kevin Evans, a performer in several Chico State productions, is cast in his biggest role so far at Chico State, one of the play’s stars, Kit Marlowe; Senior Teddy Spencer — rememborable as the King in “The King and I” and Officer Lockstock in “Urinetown, The Musical” — plays Henry Maunder; and Sophomore Brandon Larson — Tiny Tom in “Urinetown, the Musical” and part of the ensemble for “The King and I” — plays Ingram Frizer.

Rogers said the faculty chose to do “Murdering Marlow” because the show fits nicely into the Department of Theatre’s upcoming season of plays.

“It’s a ‘thriller’ of sorts and we haven’t done one in a while. It features the students well and gives them the opportunity to work on a script that is a contemporary style. The play is also very interesting — it asks interesting questions that are appropriate for the university setting; it provides students in a variety of departments that are studying these historical characters a different way of looking at this historical mystery.”

Personally, Rogers said the show appealed to him because, among other things, it takes an accepted belief and looks at it in a very different way. It also sets the major characters of that era in light that may not be flattering or how history has necessarily portrayed them.

“I always appreciate literature that takes the ‘polish off the diamond’ and shows characters in a more human way. I also like plays or musicals that deal with sexuality and the dangers of using sexuality to your advantage without carefully considering what that might imply. I also like the fact that this play implies that Shakespeare was just a spoiled, ineffective playwright that had to potentially kill another playwright to get noticed…I mean, what if that were true? Though we think we know, we really don’t…the events might have just happened as portrayed here and everyone might have been lying to cover up the fact that Marlowe staged his own death.”

“Murdering Marlowe” premiered at Malibu Stage Company in Malibu, California on June 7, 2002. It was directed by the playwright. Charles Marowitz (born 1932) is an American writer, playwright, and theatre director best known for the 1987 Broadway play “Sherlock’s Last Case” starring Frank Langella.
He was the lead critic on the Los Angeles Herald-Examiner until they ceased publication.

“Murdering Marlowe” was selected as a finalist for the GLAAD Media Awards of 2002. His free translations of Shakespeare have been collected in “The Marowitz Shakespeare.”

Rogers anticipates “Murdering Marlow” will be a fun show for the audience and will leave them thinking …“what if?”

“The play certainly makes an attempt to show Shakespeare, Marlowe, and Anne Hathaway, historical figures that we may have perceptions about, in a very different light. None are held up as noble…indeed all are shown as being opportunistic, selfish characters that get what they deserve; there is some satisfaction for the audience in that there is some justice.”

“Murdering Marlowe” has strong sexual content and brief nudity and is not recommended for people under 18.

Advance tickets, at $15 adults, $13 senior citizens, and $6 students/children, are available at the University Box Office, 898-6333. For disability-related accommodations, please call 898-4325. Add $2 for tickets purchased at the door.

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