"The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui" Directed by Christopher Gallu Catalyst Theatre Company 545 7th St., S.E. Running through Nov. 4
Grade: A
The Catalyst Theatre's newest production, "The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui" directed by Christopher Gallu, is a satire of Adolf Hitler's rise to power that compares it to that of mobster Arturo Ui in Chicago. Written in 1941 by German playwright Bertolt Brecht, the play was influenced by gangster movies of the time. The play is humorous but also teaches a valuable lesson of action against corruption.
The acting in this play is amazing. A mere eight actors portray more than 30 distinct roles, with three actors also playing instruments and singing between scenes. The most important aspect of the set is a series of movie clips that roll after each scene: a collection of photographs taken throughout Hitler's regime paired with small blurbs comparing the play's last scene with a part of Hitler's life.
The play's warning is one of political inaction. It cautions that danger can occur when citizens passively allow corrupt activity to evolve. It discourages people from sitting idly by, assuming someone else will rectify wrongdoing. As the actors came out to take their final bow, Scot McKenzie (who plays Ui) told the audience that "the womb in which this villain was born is still alive, and this is where our attentions must turn."
The performance opens with the narrator giving the audience an inside look at the world of mobsters. She shows how Ui and his group of thugs, once top hit men, have lost status because they have not been in the papers for months. She describes the poverty of the local shopkeepers, which contrasts nicely with the next scene depicting a group of wealthy businessmen in the vegetable industry discussing ways to increase their sales by illegally placing their assets under the mayor's control to avoid paying taxes.
In a neighborhood bar Ui and his gunmen hear of the illegal deal and offer the mayor their protection, but he refuses. However, when the racket falls under question by the police, the mayor is forced to ally himself with Ui. The two are seen in public together and Ui's name begins to get printed again.
The mayor soon mysteriously dies, and Ui takes his place as mayor. Ui tries to gain the trust of other vegetable traders and when a fire starts at a warehouse belonging to one of Ui's opponents, many of the vegetable traders realize the need for Ui's protection. The racket grows larger from there and expands into other cities, as more people are tricked or forced into aligning themselves with Ui.
This play is an example of the wonderful theatre that can be had in the District at a low cost. All tickets to shows by the Catalyst Theatre Company cost a mere $10, making the company one of the best theatre bargains in D.C., according to Washingtonian magazine.
"That's theatre for the cost of a movie," said Scott Fortier, the artistic director of the company.
He stressed the importance of getting college students interested and involved in theater and hoped this ticket initiative will help achieve that goal.
"The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui" runs Thursday through Sunday until Nov. 4.
