GENEVIEVE PFISTER, Staff Writer—

You on the Moors Now, written by Jaclyn Backhaus and directed by Denison Professor Eleni Papaleonardos, opened in the Eisner Center’s Hylbert Family Studio stage this past weekend and enjoyed sold-out Saturday night and Sunday matinee shows. 

The show takes inspiration from four works of classic feminist literature: Little Women, Pride & Prejudice, Wuthering Heights, and Jane Eyre, providing a modern reimagining of these heroines as their lives intersect after rejecting their suitors. 

“It’s this kind of meta-comedy where we look at the role of the patriarchy in womens’ lives at that time, but also [through] a modern lens . . .” said assistant director and stage manager Nora Cashman ‘25. “It’s a . . . negotiation between a modern interpretation of these classic novels within the contexts in which they were written.”

Part of that negotiation is the application of more inclusive, modern interpretations of gender identities to the novels’ older narratives and contexts. “[The show] takes that trope of boys vs. girls and flips it onto all of us vs. patriarchy,” Cashman said. “Patriarchy isn’t just a danger to cis-women, it’s a danger to everyone.” The show’s cast also includes nonbinary actors, and Cashman explained that considering the show’s characters’ identities have been a key part of the process.

Cashman stressed that reading the novels beforehand is not necessary in order to enjoy the show, and that she encourages everyone, regardless of their knowledge of the texts, should come to see it. 

For Cashman, working on the show has been “challenging but phenomenal.” She said that while there was a learning curve to being a stage manager, she enjoyed learning from Professor Papaleonardos and working with new and returning theatre students. She has also loved working with women in technical theatre roles, including her stage management mentor Elizabeth Dauterman, Denison’s Production Coordinator & Technical Assistant, and the show’s scenic and lighting designers. 

“I think seeing women in a technical theatre space has been really important to me because I don’t see that as much,” Cashman said. “As someone who works in the scene shop and in some technical, professional spaces, it’s a lot of men . . . it’s been nice to have more women at the table, especially for this project.”

Cashman also gave a shout out to Caro Elliott ‘23 and Liberty Kingsley ‘25, two of the show’s understudies who recently stepped up to fill parts due to an actor being unable to perform.

You on the Moors Now will hold three more performances on Friday, November 11 and Saturday, November 12 at 8:00 P.M., and Sunday, November 13 at 2:00 P.M. Denison students and faculty can visit Denison’s website to reserve tickets.