Described as a gangster play that would recall certain events familiar to us all, The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui is a witty and savage satire of the rise of Hitler recast by Bertolt Brecht into a small-time Chicago gangster’s takeover of the city’s greengrocery trade.
Presented by The Midnite Youth Theatre Company, the upcoming production will feature Years 11 and 12 students from Christ Church Grammar School and neighbouring schools.
Artistic Director of Midnite, Gregory Jones says, “The cast have worked fearlessly in approaching this challenging play. Brecht was against realistic theatre where the audiences ‘hang up their brains’ with their hats in the cloakroom.”
Using a wide range of parody and pastiche, from Al Capone to Shakespeare’s Richard III , Brecht’s compelling parable continues to have relevance wherever totalitarianism appears today.
“Brecht first wrote this play for the Broadway stage in 1941 while waiting for a visa which would allow him to escape the Nazi regime. He chronicles the rise of Arturo Ui, a fictional hustler, and his attempt to take over Chicago by any means necessary.”
“Arturo Ui is simultaneously a satirical exploration of the rise of nationalism in Germany and a warning against allowing the events of the 1930s to repeat themselves.”
“The Midnite cast and production team have delighted in finding the grotesque and contradictions in this political statement, and look forward to bringing this production to the stage across four performances at the Subiaco Arts Centre ,” said Jones.
The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui will be performed from 22 to 24 August at the Subiaco Arts Centre. Tickets can be purchased at the Perth Theatre Trust website.
Source:- Media release
