The Balcony at STAGEStheatre

Dates: (1/11/2012 - 2/16/2012 )

Theatre:

STAGEStheatre

400 E. Commonwealth Ave. Fullerton, CA 92832
Fullerton,CA 92832

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Phone: (714)-525-4484

Tickets: 10-20

Running Time: 3.25 hours (including two intermissions)

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First staged at a private club in London because it was considered too scandalous for Paris audiences in 1956, The Balcony is set in the Grand Balcony, a brothel in a contemporary European city aflame with revolution. The Grand Balcony is a palace of illusions where men come to indulge in their secret fantasies. Inside, prostitutes assist patrons in play acting a variety of roles: a judge inflicting punishment on a beautiful thief, a bishop dealing with a penitent sinner, a general meditating on his relationship with his horse. However, fantasy and reality become clouded when the insurgents in the street overthrow the Royal Palace and presumably kill the country's queen and her court. It is then that the Police Chief replaces these dignitaries with their counterpart from The Grand Balcony, including the bordello's Madame Irma assuming the role of Queen. As the masqueraders warm to their roles, they convince even the revolutionaries that the illusion created in the bordello is preferable to reality.

After directing a very successful production of his play The Maids several years ago and reading Edmund White’s painstaking biography of the thief, ex-con and political activist that became one of the greatest absurdist playwrights of all time, I’ve long wanted to direct this play. It wasn’t until earlier this year that I discovered the hilarious British script from the late 80s by Barbara Wright and Terry Hands, however, and I think it’s the most entertaining and bawdy of the available translations. The Royal Shakespeare Company used the script in its 1987 production, revising and restoring poetic and erotic moments from all three of Genet’s previous versions.

“Banned and censored throughout its production history, this epic three-hour play (two intermissions!) is loaded with sex, political comedy, beautiful woman, philosophy, murder, movement and revolution...all for a mere $20! More raunchy (and timely) than when it was written over 50 years ago; this is a unique opportunity for OC audiences to get a delightfully absurd peek at this acclaimed writer’s work,” says director Barton.

Authors

Jean Genet

Ages: Due to the Adult Themes and Content this play will not be suitable for all audience members. 18 years +

Cast and Creative team for The Balcony at STAGEStheatre

Starring in The Balcony are: Cynthia Ryanen, Rick Kopps, Katrina Klein, Sean Hesketh, Adam Poynter, Joey Walsh, Sabrina Zellars, Jack Millis, Austin McCoy, Jonathan Delamora, Scott Felver, Michele Greco-Lucchina, Evelyn Goode, and Wade Williamson.

Directed by Dave Barton and Jeremy C. Hohn

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