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In 1981, history was made in Vancouver theatre with the longest running sell out show to date. Though a controversial and dark tragedy of the Nazi persecution of gays, Bent filled the old Seymour St. Arts Club Theatre for four solid months, and was only cut short by a serious car accident that laid up actor Alan Gray. Bent by Martin Sherman is the first production of Meta.for Theatre’s 2007/2008 season, the year of the 70th anniversary of Kristallnacht, a seminal event in the chronology of the Holocaust. We suggest that the underlying principles of hatred, whether fuelling single outrageous events of violence or leading to a holocaust, are fundamentally the same. This drama will remind us that we must be as vigilant against prejudice and hatred in 2007/2008 as the world should have been in 1937/1938. First produced in 1979, Bent was nominated for both a Pulitzer and a Tony award in 1980. Bent has not had a professional production in Vancouver for 26 years. Meta.for is taking their own kind of risk producing such a legendary play, but it is a very important script to bring to the stage for many to revisit, and even more who will discover Bent for the first time. Essentially a love story, Bent follows Max on his journey from the hedonistic Berlin of the early1930’s to his death in Dachau concentration camp. It depicts the two great loves of his life: Rudy, a somewhat hapless dancer who is murdered on a Nazi transport train for being “intelligentsia” (he wore glasses) and Horst, a fellow prisoner at the camp. Max contrives to become a “yellow star” in Dachau rather than wearing the pink triangle that demarcates him as being homosexual. The covert romance that develops between Max and Horst defies the dehumanizing reality of the concentration camp and proves that survival is more than simply keeping oneself alive. Past productions by Meta.for Theatre include Crossing (2004), Never Swim Alone / Warriors (2005), and Broken (2006). Meta’s mission is to challenge our audience and existing theatrical boundaries by employing innovative staging techniques, intelligent and thought provoking material, and brave artists and artisans, and to provide opportunity for emerging artists within all aspects of theatre production. Featuring Sean Allan, Sean Cummings, Ryan Hesp, Sebastian Kroon, Joshua Lewis, Billy Marchenski and Thrasso Petras. Directed by Amanda Lockitch. Set Design by Niki Boyd, Lighting Design by Mélissa C Powell, Costume Design by Krista Sung, Sound Design Carolyn Orazietti, and Fight Choreographer Jeff Fisher.
Time: Tuesday - Saturday at 8pm & Sunday at 2pm Tickets $25/$20 at www.ticketstonight.ca
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