Pauline Adamek
***
Tonight, and this weekend only, experience An Evening with Peter Brook at the Broad Stage in Santa Monica.
Review by Pauline Adamek
The legendary British director of avant-garde theatre and film, Peter Brook is presenting a rare opportunity to see two of his most revered recent works in one extraordinary theatrical evening.
It all begins with The Grand Inquisitor. Starring the astonishing Bruce Meyers, this intensely profound one-man show imagines Christ”™s return to earth during the Spanish Inquisition.
Meyers reads while seated on a stool behind a lectern. He has silver, close-dropped hair and deep creases in his handsome face. Using occasional gestures, Meyers relates the tale with great expression and measured delivery, his finger tracing the lines as he reads. A consummate storyteller, he grips the audience in his palm during this 50 minute monologue. With his soft, neutral British accent, the actor occasionally breaks into impassioned delivery.
In this monologue Dostoyevsky is echoing the oft-quoted phrase from Karl Marx; “Religion is the opiate of the masses.”
Following intermission, Brook, with his characteristic alchemy, stages a quintet of  existential playwright Samuel Beckett”™s Fragments, illuminating the comedy and courage in these characters who dare to face the void. Clowns, nihilism, repetition and black comedy – all of Beckett”™s favourite themes are touched on in these fragments of plays, including Rough for Theatre, Rockaby, Act Without Words II, Neither and the memorable Come and Go.
This is a rare opportunity to see two of Peter Brook”™s most intimate works from one of the 499 seats at The Broad.
Coming up F. Murray Abraham stars in The Merchant of Venice.
Special thanks to Susan Stockel for providing underwriting support.
AN EVENING OF PETER BROOK
The Grand Inquisitor and Fragments
From Beckett to Dostoevsky
The Broad Stage
1310 11th Street,
Santa Monica CA 90401
Performances:
Friday, April 8; Saturday, April 9 at 7.30pm
Sunday, April 10 at 2pm
TICKETS:
Premier $95 -Level A $77 -Level B $57 -Level C $45 – Fri Eve
Premier $120 -Level A $100 -Level B $75 -Level C $55 – Sat Eve
Premier $95 -Level A $77 -Level B & C $57 – Sun Mat
Box Office:
310-434-3200.
Purchase Tickets here.
Purchase single performances or Choose-Your-Own!
When you purchase two tickets for four events, The Broad Stage will send you a voucher good for a fifth performance on us.
For assistance with your order at any time,
please call The Broad Stage Box Office: 310-434-3200.
