Bertolt Brecht’s The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui opened yesterday at Theatre UCF. The play is a parable of Hitler’s rise to power, and follows fictional mobster Arturo Ui and his attempt to dominate the cauliflower trade of 1930s Chicago.
Matt Palm of the Orlando Sentinel was able to review the final dress rehearsal.
Director Christopher Niess frames the play as a classic Chicago gangster film and follows the characters of the story as they make a film. “We watch a boom mic held over the actors, observe the smoke breaks and between-scenes chitchat of the performers and stage crew, and hear the soundstage bell indicating a take has been captured,” says Palm.
“Audrey Casteris has created a nifty and versatile set for the concept, which is bolstered by Stevie Bleich’s dramatic lighting and Tim Brown’s projections, adding energy with their celluloid-like flickering.”
The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui will be at Theatre UCF through February 12.