Drama in RiNo

Miss Julie, playwright August Strindberg's spare, sexy classic, was written in 1888, but its themes of class and control resonate loudly in the Occupy era. Set in the kitchen of an aristocratic estate, the play -- and the ensuing tension -- unfolds over one afternoon, as an unstable heiress trades...

By Laura Bond

March 1, 2012

[
        {
          "name": "Air - MediumRectangle - Inline Content - Mobile Display Size",
          "component": "12017618",
          "insertPoint": "2",
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "2"
        },{
          "name": "Editor Picks",
          "component": "17242653",
          "insertPoint": "4",
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "1"
        },{
          "name": "Inline Links",
          "component": "18838239",
          "insertPoint": "8th",
          "startingPoint": 8,
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "7",
          "maxInsertions": 25
        },{
          "name": "Air - MediumRectangle - Combo - Inline Content",
          "component": "17261320",
          "insertPoint": "8th",
          "startingPoint": 8,
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "7",
          "maxInsertions": 25
        },{
          "name": "Inline Links",
          "component": "18838239",
          "insertPoint": "8th",
          "startingPoint": 12,
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "11",
          "maxInsertions": 25
        },{
          "name": "Air - Leaderboard Tower - Combo - Inline Content",
          "component": "17261321",
          "insertPoint": "8th",
          "startingPoint": 12,
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "11",
          "maxInsertions": 25
        }
      ]

Miss Julie, playwright August Strindberg's spare, sexy classic, was written in 1888, but its themes of class and control resonate loudly in the Occupy era. Set in the kitchen of an aristocratic estate, the play -- and the ensuing tension -- unfolds over one afternoon, as an unstable heiress trades barbs and seductive power with an enigmatic servant. Miss Julie is as vicious, titillating and relevant today as it was nearly 125 years ago.

"We've built a niche for ourselves by breathing new, visceral life into classics, and Miss Julie felt like a great, juicy play to kick off our first season in our new home," says Paragon Theatre artistic director Warren Sherrill. Indeed, Miss Julie marks a new era for the nomadic Paragon, which opens the doors on a 96-seat theater at 2810 Larimer Street tonight. According to Sherrill, the theater will be a permanent fixture in RiNo, known for its galleries, graffiti-drawn alleys and strong independent streak.

"The neighborhood feels hip, vital and emerging," he says. "Having our own space that enables us to fully control and enhance the experience for our audience is empowering, and opens up so many possibilities for outreach, expanded education programs and an additional production this year."

Miss Julie runs Thursdays through Sundays through March 17; tickets are $17 to $21. Call 303-300-2210 for more information.
Thursdays-Saturdays, 7:30 p.m.; Sun., March 4, 1:30 p.m.; Sun., March 11, 1:30 p.m. Starts: Feb. 24. Continues through March 17, 2012

KEEP WESTWORD FREE... Since we started Westword, it has been defined as the free, independent voice of Denver, and we'd like to keep it that way. Your membership allows us to continue offering readers access to our incisive coverage of local news, food, and culture with no paywalls. You can support us by joining as a member for as little as $1.