The Enchantment
One sunny day in Paris, Gustave Alland, famous artist and philanderer, visits Louise Strandberg, who is convalescing in her brother's studio, and casts her effortlessly under his spell. In a vain attempt to escape, she exiles herself to her provincial hometown in Sweden. But a letter propels her back to Paris and into his arms. And for a brief moment, ecstasy is hers. Victoria Benedictsson's play, written shortly before her suicide in 1888, is about an obsessive, tragic love affair that asks questions about a woman's agency, independence and passion in the balance of a relationship and its aftermath. Inspired by Benedictsson's own life, the play is a fascinating examination of a woman's capacity for love and yearning for a sense of her own self.
The Enchantment by Victoria Benedictsson, translated by Clare Bayley, is available by arrangement with Nick Hern Books for an amateur reading. (Please note: This is a professional quality staged reading. This language was dictated by the British publisher for our non-Equity reading.) The reading is directed by Ensemble Member Holly Robison.
Tickets are no longer available for this show.
Biographies
Victoria Benedictsson
Victoria Benedictsson (Playwright) was a Swedish writer noted for her natural and unpretentious stories of folk life and her novels dealing with social issues, publishing her first collection of stories, Från Skåne, in 1884. She is regarded as one of the greatest proponents of the Swedish realist writing style. In her novels she described the inequality of marriage and often debated women's rights issues. Benedictsson, a contemporary of Henrik Ibsen and August Strindberg, was said to be an inspiration for Hedda Gabler and Miss Julie. Ultimately overshadowed by other male writers and her own personal life, Benedictsson’s works reflect both the professional and personal frustrations of women.
Holly Robison
Holly Robison (Director) curated the For Your (Re)Consideration reading series and serves as Producing Director with Ghostlight Ensemble. For Ghostlight, she also directed An Ideal Husband, Picasso at the Lapin Agile, as well as wearing a variety of hats in other productions. Holly is a Chicago-based director, actor and improvisor. She has studied directing with various organizations, including Unlocking the Director’s Imagination with Irina Brown via Rose Bruford College of Theatre and Performance in London and Everything but Rehearsal workshop with Joanie Schultz via Steep Theatre. Additionally, she completed the summer program, A Practical Approach to Directing, at Yale School of Drama and is a member of Lincoln Center Directors Lab. Holly is also a Cast Member and Producer with Improvised Jane Austen. Holly would like to extend a huge thanks to the other fabulous directors in this series, as well as to the Ghostlight Ensemble for their support.
Cast
Andrew Bosworth
Andrew Bosworth [he/him] (Alland) Before the bottom dropped out of 2020, Andrew was relatively new to the city, with a few projects in various states of progress (Lifeline Theatre, Eclipse Theatre, Otherworld Theatre). He had recently completed his Master of Fine Arts at the FSU/Asolo Conservatory for Actor Training in Sarasota, FL, and subsequently taught Playscript Analysis at the Conservatory the following semester. In 2018 he had the privilege of participating in the Asolo Repertory Theatre’s remounting of Rachel Rockwell’s Shakespeare in Love alongside many of Chicago’s finest performers. He is currently pursuing teacher certification with the International Demidov Association; upon completion he and his colleagues in Boston, London, Athens, and Moscow will be the first certified teachers in the world. Visit: http://andrewbosworth.weebly.com
Rebecca Flores
Rebecca Flores [she, her] (Erna/Mrs. Knutson) is delighted to work with Ghostlight Ensemble. Rebecca was last seen in Broken Nose Theatre’s production of Labyrinth, and Bechdel Fest 7: Momentum. Around Chicago, she has performed with The Factory Theater, Redtwist Theatre, Something Marvelous, First Floor Theater, 20% Theatre Company, Halcyon Theatre and City Lit Theater. In her free time, Rebecca has probably poured you a drink (or two) behind the bar at Theater Wit. She received her bachelor of art in theatre performance from Bradley University.
Madeline Pell
Madeline Pell [she/her] (Louise) is delighted to be working with Ghostlight Ensemble again, where she was last seen in An Ideal Husband (Lady Chiltern). Some favorite Chicago theatre credits include: Emma (Jeff Award Nomination for Best Supporting Actor and Best Ensemble) and A Wrinkle in Time at Lifeline Theatre, and The Merchant of Venice with Invictus Theatre. A graduate of Roosevelt University’s Bachelor of Fine Arts acting program, she is now pursuing her Master of Arts in acting at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama in the U.K. (expected graduation September 2021). Some of her film credits include The Exorcist (FOX and He's the Worst (Columbia College). For more information, visit madelinepell.com.
Nina Romeo
Nina Romeo (Lily/Miss. Knutson) is a Chicago actress and improviser who has been performing her whole life. She has studied the performing arts at Columbia College Chicago, Interlochen Arts, Northwestern University Cherubs, and the Second City. Her favorite credits include, Peter Pan (The New Life Theater), The Comedy of Errors (Interlochen Arts), A Dose of Reality (Northwestern University) and Droppin Science Improv (The Annoyance Theater). Most recently, Nina appeared on FreQout Live, a sketch show produced by Frequency TV, as well as continuing to perform as a cast member on Improvised Jane Austen. She is currently represented by Stewart Talent Chicago.
Janice Rumschluag
Janice Rumschlag [she/her] (Concierge/Botilda) is excited to return to Chicago theatre with Ghostlight after 6 years living in the San Francisco Bay Area! Her California credits include: Shotz!, Predator Block Tango, Pint Sized Plays and Music/Scene all at PianoFight, and Besties with Left Coast Theatre Co. Some of her previous Chicago credits include: Improvised Jane Austen, Night of the Iguana (u/s), Palace of Riches and A Very Busy Man with The Artistic Home, Troll the Sequel, Troll Again at C.I.C., The Nairobi Project at The Annoyance and Friday the Halloweenth at the i.O. Theatre.
Daniel Stewart
Daniel Stewart [he/she/they] (Viggo Pihl) is absolutely thrilled to work on his very first production with Ghostlight Ensemble! He has been living here now for the past two years and is excited to get started with theatre through a new storytelling medium. Several of his most recent credits include: The Servant of Two Masters, Macbeth and The Merchant of Venice at Great River Shakespeare Festival; as well a production of the The Returning with Akvavit Theatre Company. He recently graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Arts from The University of Evansville in Evansville, Indiana. Shout out to my family for their love and support, and Julia for their endless generosity.
Robert Von
Robert Von (Henrik & Moeller) is happy and proud to be making his actor debut with Ghostlight Ensemble Theatre in the production of The Enchantment. He was last seen as Devil Anse Hatfield in Hatfield & McCoy with the House Theatre. Past credits include: Choir Boy (Raven), Great Expectations (Remy Bumppo/Silk Road Rising), Skin for Skin (Agency Theater Collective), As You Like It (Citadel), To Kill a Mockingbird (Oak Park Festival), Mud, River, Stone (Eclipse), Darlin’ (Step Up Productions), Bodies (MPAACT) and Ceremonies in Dark Old Men (eta). Hardaway holds a Master of Fine Arts in acting from California State University-Fullerton, is a Shattered Globe Protégé and Black Theater Alliance Awards’ Best Supporting Actor recipient.