PROVOCATIVE COMEDIES.

Byline: Fred Crafts The Register-Guard

The truth comes out in different forms in two comedies opening on local stages this week.

University Theatre

"The Misanthrope," Moliere's 1666 comic masterpiece, will open Friday at the University of Oregon's Robinson Theatre.

"The Misanthrope" of the title is Alceste, a man so disillusioned by the calculated duplicity of his fellow man that he decides to speak only the truth, no matter what offense this might give.

Ironically, Alceste is enamored of a young widow, Celimene, whose malicious tongue and unceasing coquetry make her the embodiment of the very behaviors he professes to detest.

"We are setting the action in our own time, but we are imagining that the ongoing party at the home of Celimene is a masquerade; if you don't bring your own costume, she'll provide one," says director Jeffery Mason, a UO theater professor.

Mason says this will free costume designer Alexandra Bonds to create outfits that are contemporary in certain respects but also echo late 17th century French style.

"The actors, in turn, are free to borrow certain aspects of the manners and movement that would have been typical of Moliere's theatre and the court of Louis XIV," he adds.

The scenic design will include a stage within the stage; the look is what scenic designer Jerry Hooker refers to as "Las Vegas neoclassic."

The cast includes Andrew Beck as Philinte, Christopher Hisrh as Alceste, Ian Armstrong as Oronte, Leticia Maskell as Celimene, Mindy Linder as Basque, Margie Kment as Eliante, Alexander Dupre as Clitandre, Elizabeth Helman as Acaste, Parisse Boothe as Guard, Sara Griner as Arsinoe and Edward Volkert as Du Bois.

Mason's production team includes assistant director Brandon Finch, stage manager Michelle Lira and assistant stage manager Jessie Macklin. Along with set designer Hooker and costume director Bonds, the design team includes technical director Janet Rose, lighting designer Matthew Robins, sound designer Tomo Mai, assistant scenic designer Anna Libb and properties manager Mary Jungles.

"The Misanthrope" will be staged at 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday and April 17-19 and 25-26 in Robinson Theatre, 1109 Old Campus Lane. A matinee is scheduled for 2 p.m. April 13 as a benefit for Sexual Assault Support Services.

Admission is $12 for the general public; $9 for senior citizens, UO faculty and staff, and non-UO students; $5 for UO students.

Tickets are sold at the Erb Memorial Union (346-4363), the Hult Center (682-5000) and, on performance nights only, Robinson Theatre (346-4191). For tickets to the Sunday matinee benefit, call SASS (484-9791, Ext. 314).

Actors Cabaret of Eugene

Finally, finally, Jesse Lally is directing "House of Yes," a work he fell in love with six years ago.

"It has been a long journey up to this point," says Lally, "the material constantly germinating within my mind, shifting and evolving as I waited for the right time to present my vision."

Written by Wendy MacLeod, "House of Yes," opening Friday in the ACE Annex, is a surrealistic view of one American family's discoveries about who, and why, they are. Lally considers it in the same category as the comedy "Fuddy Meers," a recent ACE production.

"It is highly original, memorable, mysterious and poignant while maintaining a darkly comedic undertow," he explains. "It is the utmost in serio-comedic presentation, a heartfelt rumination on family, class, wealth, truth and, most importantly, love."

The action takes place at Thanksgiving, when the Pascal family is shut in during a powerful hurricane.

Lally's cast consists of Harold Baker, Jennifer Coombs, Lisa Moes, Benjamin Newman and Jessica Reynolds.

Although Lally acknowledges that the subject matter may be "weird," he calls the play "an extraordinary work because it manages to tackle some very serious and surprising familial revelations and obsessions while maintaining a fast-paced, funny, articulate and emotionally satisfying show.

` `House of Yes' is about the insularity of some members of the upper class, people who exist in old money and live by the rules they've invented for themselves," Lally says.

Or as playwright MacLeod puts it, "It's about people who have never been said no to."

The image that Lally carries through the work is that of "delicate broken dreams."

"It is so pivotal in life to remember what's important to us, not as individuals but collectively, as the human race in whole," Lally says. "It is easy to focus on our wants and desires, our needs and goals as singular people, but what this play does is remind us of what really is vital to our life, what is truly valuable to us; that is our families, our friends and our loves. Given our political climate, it is an invaluable lesson to be reminded of again."

A preview performance is scheduled for 8 p.m. Thursday. Regular performances will be at 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday and April 17-19 and 25-26 and May 2-3 at the ACE Annex, 39 W. 10th Ave.

Admission is $5 on Thursdays, $12 other nights. Tickets are available at the ACE box office (683-4368).

CAPTION(S):

Benjamin Newman, playing Anthony Pascal, accuses Harold Baker, in ``House of Yes.'' The premise of the play has a family stuck in a house because of a hurricane during Thanksgiving. Plays: `House of Yes' delves into class, wealth and love Continued from Page G3 The classic French play ``The Misanthrope'' opens at UO; the contemporary ``House of Yes'' begins a run at Actors Cabaret Andrew Beck (left) portrays Philinte and Chris Hirsh portrays the cynical, disillusioned Alceste in ``The Misanthrope.''