'The Resistable Rise of Arturo Ui' at WCSU - A Review

Danbury, CT - The Western Connecticut State University Department of Theatre Arts presented two weekends of THE RESISTIBLE RISE OF ARTURO UI, a parable play, in the Studio Theatre on the campus of the Visual and Performing Arts Center on the Westside Campus. I was pleased to be invited to attend a performance for review, but unfortunately I was only able to make a matinee on the second weekend.

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The play was written by Bertolt Brecht and translated by Bruce Norris; the WCSU production was directed by Pam McDaniel. Not only had I never heard the title, I had trouble remembering it correctly.

Dramaturg Jenna Castonguay helpfully provided details in her note in the program. She writes that the satire is “timeless in a unique way. Although the action takes place in 1930s Chicago, Brecht calls upon multiple eras and influences to show one simple fact: history repeats itself.” The playwright specified in the original script that signs be used to outline the direct parallels of Adolph Hitler’s rise to power to the scenes of the play; the WCSU production did not do this, although there was a lobby display that exhibited many such similarities.

So the action is seeped in 1930s Chicago in the middle of the gangster mob scene that hit home with American playgoers, set at a time when the Great Depression left the city as one of the poorest in the country. Brecht uses the veil of the vegetable grocer business to depict the bootlegging business that was common in the wake of Prohibition. So the title character takes the form of Al Capone in this parable. Mr. Norris warns that the actions of Arturo Ui were not stagnant in time. When the translator adapted the play in 2017 with very modern language, he wanted the audience to really think about what the actors are telling us

The performers adopted a tough Chicago accent for their lines that often had a rhythm and sometimes even a rhyme, as improbable as that may seem. It somehow added to the poetry of an otherwise tough piece.

“In order to protect our democracies from authoritative figures, the action needs to start from the people. If we fail to learn from history, another Ui will do the same...or maybe already has.” Dramaturg Jenna Castonguay

WCSU senior Musical Theatre major from Middletown Mark Sumner (Che in EVITA, Eddie in THE WILD PARTY, David in COMPANY) took on the role of the fictional Chicago mobster Arturo Ui and commanded the stage when he was on it. I will miss seeing Mr. Sumner on WSCU stages when he graduates, but look forward to seeing him on other area stages. Mr. Sumner shared the role that was originated in 1963 by Christopher Plummer with Kat Karl, a senior from Redding, who appeared as Mrs. Bumbrake in PETER AND THE STARCATCHER at WCSU.

The play opened with a most memorable performance by junior Carter Smith (THE WILD PARTY, COMPANY) in the role of an announcer, Ted Ragg and an actor who trains Mr. Ui. Junior Anthony Laslo from Stamford had to age up to play the role of the silver-haired Mr. Dogsborough. Sophomore Ryan Charles Henry played Givola, senior Brandon Richardi (THE WILD PARTY) was Giri, and sophomore Will Stewich was Roma, Ui’s right hand man and best friend. Bella Bosco, a WCSU freshman from Ohio, took on the role of Clark; I could easily see community theatre actress and WCSU senior Erin Shaugnessy (Miss Honey in MATILDA at Landmark, THE LION IN WINTER at TBTA) as the understudy for this important (presumably male) role.

Sophomore Robert J. Knipple, Jr. played Caruther, junior Liam McGrath was Butcher, junior Brian O’Sullivan played Flake. Junior Joey Taylor played shipping tycoon Sheet until he was knocked off early in the first act, then covered the role of a gunman, a bailiff, and a grocer from Cicero. Freshman Luis Jordan played Mr. Bowl and a Cicero grocer. Sophomore Logan Farley (SPELLING BEE) played the younger Dogsborough and junior Liv Heaton was an armed bodyguard. Senior Heather Conti-Clarke (THE WILD PARTY) played very well the role of Dockdaisy.

Junior Bailey Nickerson (choreographer for STARCATCHER) was a butler, sophomore Olivia Kirby played Chairman O’Casey and sophomore Zane Bendici (STARCATCHER) appeared both as a judge and a pastor. Junior Camry Young was strong as a public defender of an audience member acting as the accused, with sophomore Sydney Campbell in the role of the prosecutor. Sophomore Colleen Callahan gave a strong performance as the bereaved Betty Dullfleet, with sophomore Corey Stanley as her journalist husband. Sophomore Ashley Raymond (JOSEPH...DREAMCOAT at ACT of CT) played Inna, junior Jordan Cowan (who has served as assistant stage manager at Sharon Playhouse) was the Short Gunman, junior Leo Silva Demoraes played the character named Hook and grocers were played by Ms. Shaugnessy, dramaturg and WCSU junior Jenna Castonguay and Christina Adonia Vlamis, a sophomore from Prospect who appeared in FOOTLOOSE at Seven Angels.

Prof. McDaniel did everything possible in her role of director/producer to make the action up close and personal, even for those of us sitting in the last row. Some actors awaited their entrance seated at the sides of the stage, and several came out and sat/stood near the stage as patrons took their seats for a strong presence before the action began, both before the show and during the intermission. The well-lit signs that opened each scene helped guide us through the action. Lighting design by Scott Cally made the most of the stark set designed by Maureen Freedman that fit the tone, as did the period costumes designed by Joni Johns-Lerner. The great zoot suits gave a tough look to Ui and his henchmen who wore them with their hats; more business-like suits were worn by the Chicago business leaders.

There were loud sound effects designed by Silvio Sweet, including gunshots (not surprisingly) and strobe lighting to set the frantic moods.

Connecticut Critics Circle member James V. Ruocco commented to me that “No one does this show. But it’s so good.” I predict that this WCSU production of this challenging work will make a strong showing at the university level competition.

Nancy Sasso Janis, writing theatre reviews since 2012 as a way to support local venues, posts well over 100 reviews each year. In 2016, her membership in the Connecticut Critics Circle began and her contributions of theatrical reviews, previews, and audition notices are posted not only in the Naugatuck Patch but also on the Patch sites closest to the venue. Follow the reviewer on her Facebook pages Nancy Sasso Janis: Theatre Reviewer and Connecticut Theatre Previews and on Twitter @nancysjanis417 Check out the NEW CCC Facebook page.

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