Brecht’s Arturo Ui Returns Today, Just in Time for the Presidential Election | Playbill

News Brecht’s Arturo Ui Returns Today, Just in Time for the Presidential Election His tale of the “resistible rise” of a Hitler-like thug offers a cautionary tale.

Just in time to offer a cautionary note for the 2016 presidential election, Off-Broadway‘s Phoenix Theatre Ensemble is offering a revival of Bertolt Brecht’s play The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui.

The production is scheduled for a limited run through November 13 at The Wild Project at 195 East 3rd Street (between Avenue A and Avenue B) in the East Village section of Manhattan. Opening night is October 22.

Brecht‘s satirical take on the rise of Adolph Hitler and the Nazi Party relocates the story to 1920‘s Chicago, where the hoodlum Arturo Ui and his goons set out to seize control of the cauliflower trade in local supermarkets—with an eye to conquering the cauliflower business everywhere. It reveals the blueprint for how bullies manipulate politicians, reporters and business people in their quest for power.

The 1941 play will use the U.S. premiere of Stephen Sharkey's new translation, as directed by Kevin Confoy.

Sharkey was quoted in 2011 saying, “I think in the epilogue, Brecht acknowledges that the world fought back and got rid of this threat, this dreadful tyrant [Hitler]. But with the final line—’the beast that bore him is in heat again’—that’s Brecht’s warning.”

Craig V. Smith plays the title character. The acting ensemble will include Desmond Confoy, Sergio Fuenzalida, John Lenartz, Zach Lusk, Ellen Mandel, Elise Stone, Jim Sterling, Antonio Suarez and Josh Tyson. Lighting design is by Tony Mulinex with video design by Andrew Lazarow, sound design by Ellen Mandel, costumes by Deborah Hobson and stage management by Irene Lazaridis.

For more information, call (212) 352-3101 or visit Phoenixtheatreensemble.org.

 
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