University of South Florida College of The Arts


Rhinoceros (Eugene Ionesco)

Event Type: Theatre
Facility: Theatre 2 (THR)
Presented By: School of Theatre
The play starts in the town square of a small provincial French village. Two friends - the eloquent, intellectual but incredibly prideful Jean, and the simplistic, shy, kind-hearted drunkard Berenger - meet 
up in a coffee house to talk Instead of talking about what they were supposed to, Jean becomes furious at Berenger's tardiness and drunken state until a rhinoceros rampages across the square.

The next day, Berenger arrives late for work at the local newspaper office, but the newspaper's 
receptionist Daisy covers for him. Mrs. Boeuf, the wife of a fellow employee, appears to say that her husband has turned into a rhinoceros and that streets are plagued with people who have turned into 

Berenger goes to visit Jean in order to apologize for the previous day's argument they had, but finds him in bed, heavy with a sickness he has never had.  As the scene progresses, Jean's skin turns 
greener and greener, he turns into a rhino himself and chases Berenger out of his apartment.

Almost everyone in town has succumbed to rhinoceritis. Daisy and Berenger realize that they are left completely alone - the only humans left in a world of monsters. As Berenger examines himself in a 

This is a tale not to be missed - funny, absurd, with a political message for our times.  Audiences are sure to leave the theatre talking.
Date: 10/5/2014
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Location: THR-Hall/Stage
Start Time: 3:00 PM
End Time: 5:00 PM