Blondell Talk to Examine Dido Stories

John Blondell, Westmont professor of theater arts, and the cast of “The Dido Project” offer a Gender Studies Lecture Demonstration on Tuesday, Feb. 2, at 7 p.m. in Porter Theatre. The talk, “Laid in Earth/Consumed by Fire: Female and Male Bodies in Two Stories about Dido” takes its title from the final moments of the two dramatic plays being performed at Westmont: “Dido and Aeneas” and “Dido, Queen of Carthage.” The event is free and open to the public.

“The talk looks at female and male bodies in these vehicles —— one an early Elizabethan play, the other a late 17th century Baroque opera,” Blondell says. “Both present provocative images of young bodies, and place the implications of the physical as important and active subjects of these two stage vehicles.”

The talk will include an historical overview of how the body was conceived during the periods of the texts’ making, and consider ways of understanding the body in several key moments of the performances —— all along supported by actors and singers who’ll play the scenes in question.

Blondell directs the two plays at Porter Theatre. “Queen of Carthage” is Thursday, Jan. 28, at 8 p.m., Saturday, Jan. 30 at 9 p.m., Thursday, Feb. 4, at 8 p.m., and Saturday, Feb. 6, at 9 p.m. “Aeneas” is Friday, Jan. 29, at 8 p.m., Saturday, Jan. 30, at 7 p.m., Friday, Feb. 5, at 8 p.m., and Saturday, Feb. 6, at 7 p.m. Tickets cost $12 for general admission, $7 for students, seniors and children, and may be purchased at www.westmont.edu/boxoffice. For more information, please call (805) 565-7140.