A Hard Heart

[lapsedmodernist]

If you are in the Boston area and like theater, you should go see "A Hard Heart" by the British Marxist playwright Howard Barker that Whistler in the Dark theater is putting on now. I really liked it--it's very much *my* sort of play--Brechtian, allegorical, taking place in an unnamed mythical/archetypal location, with characters named things like Praxis and Riddler, not just cerebral but very smart--but I think even if that isn't especially appealing to you, the acting is fantastic, and it is especially noticeable how good it is because the set is entirely minimalist.

It's about a war or War, or the war--and hubris and all that other fun stuff. Here are some press stills I took for it on Sunday:

Comments

[bromius.livejournal.com]

I saw this in New York back in October. Yes, an utterly fantastic play, and eerily timely given that it was written in 1991. The set for the production I saw was a gigantic wooden and metal barricade with trash strewn around it; doors and panels would open or unfold to reveal scenes. I think the biggest difference is probably the casting; Kathleen Chalfant played Riddler. She was utterly remarkable, and looks to be at least 25 years older than the actress playing her here.

[lapsedmodernist.livejournal.com]

yeah, everyone in this theater company is pretty young...the set you describe sounds amazing, and perfect for the play.

[isolt.livejournal.com]

That last picture is incredibly hot, and the second incredibly disturbing. Would that I were in the Boston area, because I'm curious now.

[lapsedmodernist.livejournal.com]

you can always read the play I suppose...not the same, of course, but will satisfy your curiosity.

[lapsedmodernist.livejournal.com]

was she your girlfriend in elementary school?

[boobirdsfly.livejournal.com]

did you take these shots ? they are spectacular.

I very much love Howard Barker.

[lapsedmodernist.livejournal.com]

Thanks! Yeah, I took them--I shoot their press stills for some of their productions, although haven't in a little while before this because of the baby business.

unrelatedly

[mashuta.livejournal.com]

just in case you haven't seen the john edwards on the colbert report (http://thefreak.livejournal.com/799793.html)...