Ariel Dorfman
“I am a person who doesn’t believe in violence, and yet that violence and rage is inside me.” – Ariel Dorfman
On September 11, 1973, Augusto Pinochet and his troops stormed La Moneda in Santiago, Chile, seizing power in a coup that is infamous for its subsequent brutality. In the days, weeks, months, even years that followed, thousands of Chileans died and thousands more were tortured and imprisoned.
Throughout his work, and particularly in Death and the Maiden, writer and playwright Ariel Dorfman confronts this aspect of Pinochet’s regime. He also addresses the issue of how to move forward after such violence and betrayal? How do you forgive those who inflicted such devastating damage?
”Given the satanic qualities of those who were persecuting us and torturing my friends and executing them and lying and destroying a country and a dream, it was easy for me and those around me to feel we were absolute good and they were absolute evil,” Dorfman says. ”The question is, how do you not imitate them? How do you not become like them? How do you struggle against those adversaries and yet not demonise them?” (Sydney Morning Herald Interview)
This weekend, our Ubu’s Other Shoe Staged Reading series will end its 2015-2016 Season with Dorfman’s 1990 play, Death and the Maiden. Directed by David Thayer, and featuring the talents of Tom Ammon, Yvonne Duran, Mark Sitko, Tyler Lopez, Daniel Freeman, Arisa Bega and Sarah Harwood, this is one you won’t want to miss. Set in an unnamed country that is, like the author’s native Chile, emerging from a totalitarian dictatorship, the play explores the after effects of repression on hearts and souls. Once again, Ubu’s Other Shoe offers a theatrical experience you’ll find nowhere else on the Central Coast, giving actors, directors and audience members an opportunity to experience incredible plays that deal with challenging and timely issues.
Death and the Maiden runs for three performances only: Friday, May 20 @ 7 pm and Saturday, May 21 @ 2 pm and 7 pm. Find out more and get your tickets HERE.
Back by popular demand, actor and improv artist Lincoln Potwin will return for another Improv FUNdamentals Workshop on Sunday, May 29th at 12 pm here at the Little Theatre. Learn the fundamentals of improvisation in a relaxed and fun atmosphere. Through the use of games and exercises, this class will give you the basic tools and fundamental base you need in order to start improvising and have fun doing it!
About the Instructor: Lincoln Potwin is a graduate of Dartmouth College and versatile actor known for his roles in the film Snowden directed by Oliver Stone, Big Game starring Samuel L. Jackson, the hit TV series Burn Notice as well as many other films and commercials. In 2011, Lincoln co-founded the improv troupe Bake This and began performing for packed houses in local bars and theatres. Bake This improv is still going strong and you can check them out at www.bakethis.de.
Space is limited for this class, so check out all the details HERE and register today!
Our 70th Anniversary Season will kick-off with one of the funniest musicals ever written! Winner of 5 Tony Awards (including Best Book and Best Original Score), The Drowsy Chaperone is a loving send-up of the Jazz age musical featuring one show-stopping song and dance number after another. Directed by Suzy Newman, with musical direction by Mark Robertshaw and choreography by Drew Silvaggio, this show is a going to be a blockbuster hit and YOU can be a part of it! Warm up those pipes and slip on your tap shoes and come on out for auditions this Saturday, May 21st at 5 p m! Audition details, character descriptions , rehearsal calendar and more can be found HERE.
“Gray skies are gonna clear up, put on a happy face!” Just two more weeks and Bye, Bye Birdie will be singing and dancing its way on to the Little Theatre stage and into our audience’s hearts. Some shows are already selling out, so get your tickets NOW to ensure your seats, ’cause “You’ve got a lot of livin’ to do!”
