THE RESISTABLE RISE OF ARTURO UI (Lantern): 60-second review

Arturo Ai review
Anthony Lawton and Frank X in Lantern Theater Company’s production of The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui by Bertolt Brecht. Photo by Mark Garvin.

Lantern Theater’s production of The Resistable Rise of Arturo Ui is quick, masterful, and would make Brecht proud. The strong cast exudes power solely through voice, by turms embodying chilling and greasy gangsters and feeble Zanni-like grocers.

Anthony Lawton leads with his performance as an eerily charismatic and versatile Arturo. Christopher Colucci sets the scene with the music (bravely, I may add), using almost exclusively actual vinyl records to play period jazz songs throughout the play. Nick Embree uses a simple but effective set that opens action to the audience and includes great use of silhouettes across a screen. Director Charles McMahon’s work is obvious in the Brechtian devices and the highly stylized acting.

[St. Stephen’s Theater, 923 Ludlow Street] September 5–October 13, 2019; lanterntheater.org/

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