‘Good Person of Szechwan’ to feature original music at DPU

DePauw University Theatre presents “The Good Person of Szechwan,” the second play of the 2016-17 season. The production opens Thursday at 7:30 p.m. in Moore Theatre of the Green Center for the Performing Arts followed by a reception in the Great Hall.

Performances continue on Friday and Saturday at 7:30 p.m., with a matinee performance at 1 p.m. Sunday.

With original music by senior Jerald Parks, “The Good Person of Szechwan” was written by Bertolt Brecht in 1941.

The central question in Brecht’s parable play is “Can one be good in a corrupt world?” Shen Te, the good prostitute who must ultimately employ bad practices to have even the most basic of life’s necessities, deals with this conflicting question.

The title of the play suggests a Chinese setting, but the story happens in a modern U.S. city. In one of those places, according to Brecht, “where man is exploited by man.”

Shen Te is rewarded with money when she provides shelter for the “gods.” She uses her windfall to better herself and the lives of her impoverished friends and neighbors. However, her good deeds are exploited and impossible to sustain, and Shen Te is forced to resort to deceit and oppression, nearly extinguishing her much desired and admired goodness.

As with most of his work, Brecht is critiquing societal politics that make it so difficult to adhere to moral principles. And he hopes -- as do we -- that his work will inspire the audience to question why and move toward change.

The DePauw production is directed by Gigi Jennewein, part-time assistant professor of communication and theater.

Tickets are $10 for general admission and $5 for students.