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CORVALLIS - A cast of Oregon State University students, staff and faculty - all of whom are native speakers of Russian - will perform a two-act play called "Senor Juan's Last Woman" entirely in Russian. A written synopsis in English will be provided.

The performance will begin at 4 p.m. on Saturday, May 15, at OSU's lab theater in Withycombe Hall at the corner of 30th Street and Campus Way. Tickets are priced at $5 for adults and $3 for students and seniors.

This is the eighth year that OSU has staged a play in Russian - an annual spring event that often draws spectators from Woodburn, Silverton, Newberg and Canby, as well as from communities surrounding Corvallis.

Vreneli Farber, an associate professor of Russian at OSU, directs the plays.

"Senor Juan's Last Woman" was written by Leonid Zhukhovitsky and revolves around the legendary Don Juan, who at age 50 seeks peace and quiet in a modest country inn where he hopes he won't be recognized. But for 20 years, he has been pursued by an officer, Karlos, whose brother Don Juan killed in self defense years ago.

Also following Don Juan for the past 20 years has been his wife, Elvira, who accuses him of ruining her life by abandoning her and engaging in numerous affairs. The only way for her to achieve freedom in life, she says, is through Don Juan's death.

Don Juan is recognized by a young female employee of the inn, who seeks his attentions, while a young male servant, Miho, seeks a duel. And the innkeeper sees himself as an imitator of Don Juan and wishes to name his inn after him.

Then the Executor arrives, carrying orders from higher authorities and urging Don Juan to repent his sinful life.

"This is a very colorful and engaging show," Farber said, "and involves sword fights, verbal sparring, a love scene and the inevitable fate of Don Juan. Even if one does not know Russian, it will be an entertaining performance - in some ways, like watching an opera when you don't know the language.

"And the synopsis in English will make it easy to follow along."