Miss Julie

Miss Julie is a naturalistic tragedy written in 1888 by August Strindberg - it handles several topics, but most heavily focuses on the issues arising from class based dominance, versus sexual based dominance.

The entire play takes place on Midsummers Eve, in the kitchen of Miss Julie's father's estate. Miss Julie dreams of escaping her aristocratic life, and decides to seduce her manservant Jean as a means of accomplishing her goal (if only for a short time). Jean, on the other hand, dreams of making a better name for himself, and exploits the control his sexual presence has over Miss Julie to his advantage.

Their insatiable struggle to challenge their respective situations by means of exploiting and abusing one another, ultimately arouses a passionate and violent battle of the sexes - accomplishing nothing and destroying them both.

Miss Julie is the inaugural production by 50% Fruit Theatre, an Edmonton based, independent theatre group, dedicated to the production of avant-garde interpretations of well known, classical based theatre work.

50% Fruit Theatre was formed in 2011 by Grant MacEwan University, Theatre Arts students Zachary Parsons-Lozinski and Carrie-Ann Hubbard (Hubbard can be seen in Inadmissable Productions presentation of Luigi Pirandello's The License at this years Edmonton Fringe Festival), and originally intended to produce William Shakespeare's The Tempest at the Fringe this season; but after several unforeseen conflicts - the decision was made to alternate from the fantasy of The Tempest, to the brutal, unforgiving reality of Miss Julie.

Kerry Johnson plays the titular character. Originally from Winnipeg, Kerry holds a BFA in Stage Management from the University of Alberta, as well as a diploma in Theatre Arts from Grant MacEwan University (class of 2011). Previous credits include: Romeo & Juliet (Theatre Prospero), The Misanthrope (Edmonton Fringe), Twelfth Night, The Music Man, High Society and Uncle Vanya (Grant MacEwan).

Zachary Parsons-Lozinski plays the manservant Jean; in addition to being the artistic director of 50% Fruit Theatre, he also holds a diploma of Theatre Arts from Grant MacEwan University (class of 2011). Previous credits include: Dog Sees God: Confessions of a Teenage Blockhead (Rabid Marmot), The Maids (Cowardly Kiss), the Canadian premier of Neil Gaiman's Neverwhere (Mob Hit), Our Balzac is Showing (A Lot Like Listening), Dracula (Escape Route) and BUNBURYING (Cowardly Kiss).

Janine Hodder plays Christine, Julie's cook, as well as Jean's "fiancé". In addition to exploring her love of fight choreography, and experimenting with a new passion for photography (all of the promotional photography for Miss Julie for example), Janine holds a diploma in Theatre Arts from Grant MacEwan University (class of 1996). Previous credits include: Albertine in Five times (Walterdale Playhouse), Pieces (Finally Sauces) and Into The Woods (ELOPE). Janine was also the fight choreographer for The Playmates (New Works).

50% Fruit Theatre is proud to present Miss Julie the way that August Strindberg NEVER intended it. They have created a punk-rock, trailer trash, sexual exploitation, extravaganza. They have stripped away all notions of what "classical theatre" means, and are pushing Miss Julie and Jean's sex-filled, struggle for power to its most extreme.

What the audience can expect is the beautiful written word of August Strindberg, performed in the campy style of cult-theatre shows such as The Rocky Horror Show or Repo! The Genetic Opera.

There will be sex, violence, chainsaws, ravens, tampons - and plenty of opportunities for the audience to verbally interact with the show as it happens before them.

Miss Julie presented by 50% Fruit Theatre, will be performed at Avenue Theatre (9030 118 Avenue) from August 17-26. Tickets are $14.50 / $12.00 and can be purchased at the Fringe Theatre Adventures Box Office, online, and at the door on the day of the show (limited capacity, purchasing tickets in advanced is highly recommended).

For more information, please visit our Facebook event page: http://www.facebook.com/events/318453788244183/?ref=ts