Greenspan Pens Play as Part of 'On the Greeks' Series
By: BWW News Desk May. 15, 2007
The acclaimed arts institution The Kitchen presents Target Margin Theater as it continues its acclaimed 2006-2007 season "On The Greeks" with the world premiere of two newly adapted one-act plays, The Argument, based on Aristotle's Poetics, written and performed by David Greenspan, and Dinner Party, an adaptation of Plato's Symposium. Target Margin Founder and Artistic Director David Herskovits directs both plays. Performances begin June 14, 2007 at The Kitchen (512 West 19th Street, btwn 10th & 11th Aves) for a limited engagement through June 30, 2007. Opening night is June 16, 2007 at 7:30 p.m.
The Argument, based on both Aristotle's Poetics (c. 350 BCE) and the essays of Gerald F. Else, is a "passionate student's love-letter and farewell to his teacher -- reminding us of the personal pathos that binds us to the Greeks, and firing us up to capture that chimera, art. This new solo play is written and performed by the virtuosic David Greenspan (Some Men at Second Stage, Obie Award-winner for The Boys in the Band; author of The Home Show Pieces, She Stoops to Comedy)," as described in press materials.
Dinner Party, "an artful and loose adaptation of Plato's Symposium (c. 360 BCE), takes on love from every angle, delving into the original text with gusto to bring out the philosophy and lust, language and appetite, the abstract challenges to our dearly held prejudices -- not to mention the really good wine." The cast features Han Nah Kim, Diana Konopka, Mary Neufeld, Steven Rattazzi, Greig Sargeant, Stephanie Weeks, and Ian Wen.
The creative team includes Sarah Edkins (Scenery), Ásta Bennie Hostetter (Costumes), Lenore Doxsee (Lighting), Jane Shaw (Sound), and Kathleen Kennedy Tobin (Dramaturg). The Production Stage Manager is Arienne Pelletier.
According to Director Herskovits, "No other catalogue of work so completely marries burning personal passion with intellectual adventure. Plato's dialogue and Greenspan's Aristotle chase their philosophy through the jungle of the human heart. At Target Margin, we have taken delight in capturing their drama, thought and power. The Greeks remain stubbornly alien to us, but we insist on claiming their mantle; these ancient texts have never been more relevant."
The Argument and Dinner Party will play the following performance schedule: Thursdays - Saturdays at 7:30 p.m. at The Kitchen (512 West 19th Street, btwn 10th & 11th Aves). Tickets are $15 and may be purchased by calling The Kitchen Box Office at (212) 255-5793 x11. For additional information, please visit The Kitchen website online at www.thekitchen.org, or the Target Margin Theater website at www.targetmargin.org.
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