Rhinoceros...
Rhinoceros is a play by Eugene Ionesco, written in 1959, but is as relevant to our American culture today as if it had been written yesterday.
Over the course of three acts, the inhabitants of a small, provincial French town turn into rhinoceroses. Ultimately the only human who does not succumb to this mass metamorphosis is the central character, Bérenger, a flustered everyman figure who is initially criticized in the play for his drinking, tardiness, and slovenly lifestyle and then, later, for his increasing paranoia and obsession with the rhinoceroses. The play is often read as a response and criticism to the sudden upsurge of Fascism and Nazism during the events preceding World War II, and explores the themes of conformity, culture, fascism, responsibility, logic, mass movements, mob mentality, philosophy and morality.
Sound familiar?... it ought to because one could easily turn the word "Rhinoceros" into the word "Republican" and get the same effect as to what has been transforming many people within American society during the past two years. There is dangerf for us Americans in this play and the production drives that home powerfully.
Many people may be getting sick of me saying this, but this production (under the direction of George Roesler) is an extraordinary one - foremost...it's perfectly cast.
The main characters (Lucas Gerstner as Berenger and Clint Allen as John) have fantastically complicated and long speeches throughout the play - both say they are the most difficult roles they have ever performed. All of the actors in every role are pushed the maximum of their creativity. And the costuming is brilliant...it often feels as if real rhinos are roaming the arena.
I don't care where you go... live theater doesn't get any better than this.
Over the course of three acts, the inhabitants of a small, provincial French town turn into rhinoceroses. Ultimately the only human who does not succumb to this mass metamorphosis is the central character, Bérenger, a flustered everyman figure who is initially criticized in the play for his drinking, tardiness, and slovenly lifestyle and then, later, for his increasing paranoia and obsession with the rhinoceroses. The play is often read as a response and criticism to the sudden upsurge of Fascism and Nazism during the events preceding World War II, and explores the themes of conformity, culture, fascism, responsibility, logic, mass movements, mob mentality, philosophy and morality.
Sound familiar?... it ought to because one could easily turn the word "Rhinoceros" into the word "Republican" and get the same effect as to what has been transforming many people within American society during the past two years. There is dangerf for us Americans in this play and the production drives that home powerfully.
Many people may be getting sick of me saying this, but this production (under the direction of George Roesler) is an extraordinary one - foremost...it's perfectly cast.
The main characters (Lucas Gerstner as Berenger and Clint Allen as John) have fantastically complicated and long speeches throughout the play - both say they are the most difficult roles they have ever performed. All of the actors in every role are pushed the maximum of their creativity. And the costuming is brilliant...it often feels as if real rhinos are roaming the arena.
I don't care where you go... live theater doesn't get any better than this.