The Loras’ Players first play of the season, Around the World in 80s Days, opens this weekend. Around the World in 80 Days is about Phileas Fogg who makes a wager with some London gentlemen that he can make it around the world in 80 days. During his trip he makes new friends (and new enemies) all while trying to make it back in London in time.
The play is based on a book by Jules Verne, an author with many well known works that you may have heard of, such as Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea, Journey to the Center of the Earth, and The Mysterious Island. He was a revolutionary science-fiction author. In fact, he is sometimes referred to as the “Father of Science Fiction,” as he wrote about technological advancements before they were actual practical realities, including the submarine with deep-sea exploration and space travel. In his lifetime, he wrote more than 60 books, not to mention dozens of plays and short stories.
The library has a few Verne works in our collection if you are interested in reading more. There are also a few copies of his works in the Loras College Special Collections Limited Editions Club, so if you are interested in looking at those be sure to stop by the Special Collections room when it is open or schedule a time with the Library to do so.
The Loras Players’ production of Around the World in 80 Days takes place October 25-27 at 7:30 PM, St. Joseph Auditorium with limited seating, so if you want to see some of Verne’s imaginative work brought to life on stage, be sure to check it out!