McDaniel College Theatre presents “The Madman and the Nun”

McDaniel student actors perform in McDaniel College Theatre’s production of “The Madman and the Nun.” 

Written by Stanislaw Witkiewicz, a Polish playwright, novelist, painter, photographer, and philosopher, this absurdist comedy explores love, art, and power.

The production is directed by Theatre Arts lecturer Richard Sautter, who said, “[‘The Madman and the Nun’] is a wild ride of a play that, in less than an hour, takes the audience to the edge of reality and, perhaps, over it.” 

Sautter states that he has been a fan of the playwright for decades.

“I first discovered Stanislaw Witkiewicz in graduate school. In this work, as in all of his plays, he creates intensely dramatic situations with sharply drawn characters. And then he removes the laws that usually govern human behavior. The result is a compelling, funny, and mystifying experience,” Sautter said.

Performances are Thursday, Nov. 20-Saturday, Nov. 22, at 7:30 p.m. in WMC Alumni Hall at McDaniel College. (Note: the show contains adult material and is intended for mature audiences.)

Tickets are $12 for adults and $10 for students, seniors (over 60), active military members and veterans, as well as those with a McDaniel College ID. For ticket information, call 410-857-2448.

The cast includes McDaniel student actors:

• Linda Brown, junior Sociology and Theatre Arts major from Rosedale, Maryland, who portrays Sister Barbara
• Delaney Goodwin, senior Theatre Arts major from Sykesville, Maryland, who portrays Walldorff
• Leo Hill, sophomore Writing & Publishing major from Catonsville, Maryland, who portrays Walpurg
• Thomas Jackson, first-year Psychology major from Ellicott City Maryland portrays Bidello
• Ibby Morales-Talero, senior English and Biology major from Arlington, Virgina, who portrays understudy/corpse
• Nov O'Donnell, junior Theatre Arts major from Newark, Delaware, who portrays Alfred
• Nick Ramirez, first-year Early Childhood Education major from Damascus, Maryland, who portrays Paphnutius
• Miriam  Sall, senior American Sign Language major from Abington, Pennsylvania, who portrays Grün
• Jaylin Smith, senior Theatre Arts and English major from Sykesville, Maryland, who portrays Sister Anna

Senior Ave Maria Contreras, a Theatre Arts major from Westminster, Maryland, is the sound designer; sophomore Gray Wheatley, an English major from Federalsburg, Maryland, is an assistant stage manager; and sophomore Forrest Roca, a History major from Columbia, Maryland, is the stage manager.