NEW HAVEN — A play on the “tragicomic vision of the horrors of groupthink” will debut at the Yale Repertory Theatre this week, with shows continuing through March.

Eugene Ionesco’s Rhinoceros will have its preview shows this weekend, starting at 6 p.m. on Friday, March 6th. The play’s official opening night will be on 8 p.m. on Thursday, March 12th. The final show will take place on March 28th.

Rhinoceros takes place in a small French town where Berenger and his friend Gene witness a rhinoceros rampage its way across the nearby square. When his neighbors and friends begin slowly transforming into rhinos, Berenger must decide whether to stand against them or join the herd. The play reflects Ionesco’s experiences during World War II and its aftermath, where he witnessed his peers being seduced by and converted to the ideology of fascism and Communism.

The play is being presented by Yale Repertory Theatre Artistic Director James Bundy and Managing Director Florie Seery. The play was adapted by Frank Galati and translated by Derek Prouse, with choreography by Emily Coates.

Tickets are $15 and $35 for previews, $15 and $50 for weeknight performances, and $15 to $65 for weekend performances after opening. For more information, visit yalerep.org.

Expanded coverage of Fairfield County cultural events is made possible with support from the Fairfield University Quick Center for the Arts.