'The Clean House' Opens the Department of Drama's 63rd Season

Hannah Maxwell, left, and Guadalupe Campos in 'The Clean House.'

Actors during a performance of 'The Clean House'

Photo Submitted

A scene from “The Clean House”

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – The Clean House, a romantic comedy about a cleaning lady who aspires to be a comedian, will open Friday, Oct. 4, in the Fine Arts Center’s University Theatre.

Sarah Ruhl’s play centers around Mathilde, a young Brazilian woman, who falls into depression unless she is telling or creating jokes. Mathilde has been hired to clean the house of Lane, a high-strung doctor with a struggling marriage. However, she finds herself too depressed to actually clean. To solve this dilemma, Lane’s sister Virginia secretly offers to clean for Mathilde.

The friendship between the two women leads to a discovery, form an unlikely friendship, and together they make a scandalous discovery,” Frank said. “From there, the play explodes with preposterous relationships, whimsical images and lots of laughs.”

Kate Frank (Company, 2013) directs a cast of both graduate and undergraduate drama students. Other credits include scenic design by Michael Riha, professor of drama and chair of the department; costume design by Cayla Greer, master of fine arts student; lighting design by Justin Spaethe, senior drama student; and technical direction by Patrick Stone, assistant professor of drama.

The play is recommended for ages 16 and older. It may be seen at 8 p.m. Oct. 4-5 and 9-12 and at 2 p.m. Oct. 6 and 13.

Tickets are $16 for adults, $14 for faculty, staff and seniors, and $7 for children under 18. University of Arkansas students may attend the show free of charge on Wednesday and Thursday or for $3 on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Students must show their university ID for the free or discounted tickets.

Tickets are available online at http://drama.uark.edu or at the box office in the Fine Arts Center. Box office hours are noon-3 pm Monday through Friday and two hours prior to each show. For reservations by phone, call the University Theatre Ticket Office at (479) 575-4752.

Parking is available in the Stadium Drive Parking Facility and is free after 5 p.m. Entrance to the parking facility is on Stadium Drive, and the facility’s elevator will take patrons to street level directly across from the Fine Arts Center.