Photo Flash: The Potomac Theatre Project's 21st Season

The Potomac Theatre Project (PTP) is presenting its 21st repertory season (and its first in New York), which includes three of Anthony Minghella's early works in an evening entitled Politics of Passion: The Plays of Anthony Minghella, and Howard Barker's provocative No End of Blame. Politics of Passion, directed by PTP's Co-Artistic Director Cheryl Faraone, began previews on June 20 and opened on June 26. No End of Blame, directed by PTP's Co-Artistic Director Richard Romagnoli, began previews on June 23 and opened on June 27. Both play the Atlantic Stage 2 (330 W. 16 St.) in NYC

"In a harsh, relentless ride through history, Playwright Howard Barker's No End of Blame: Scenes of Overcoming explores the role of the artist in society and the struggle for freedom of expression. Starting with a harrowing depiction of war with an attempted rape and a near execution in the Carpathian Mountains during WWI, the protagonist is the brilliant Hungarian political cartoonist Bela Veracek (loosely based on German cartoonist Victor Weisz). Running from Hungary at the end of the First World War to the newly emergent Soviet Union and then to a pre-WWII Britain, he's constantly at odds with the governments he lampoons and the newspapers that admire his talent but expect conformity and absolute submission. No End of Blame is a scathing commentary about the censorship of art," state press notes.

Politics of Passion: The Plays of Anthony Minghella will feature three of the playwright's early works: Cigarettes and Chocolate - "When Gemma suddenly stops talking, her circle of friends is confounded by her silence. What could possibly be her motivation for this radical act of social isolation? Gemma's deliberate silence compels them to funny, painful confessions of love, longing and shame;" Hang Up - "Two phones, one conversation. A couple negotiates the complexities, longings and mistrust in a relationship at a distance.  Sometimes love is a disconnect…;"  Truly, Madly, Deeply (selected scene from the film) -"In the time it takes to hop down a city block, could you reveal who you truly are to the person walking next to you?"

The cast for Politics of Passion includes David Barlow (Horizon/NY Theatre Workshop), Jesse Hooker (Some Men/Second Stage), Cassidy Freeman, James Matthew Ryan, MacLeod Andrews, Colby DiSarro, Michael Doyle, Tara Giordano, Laura Harris, Willie Orbison, Julia Proctor and Lauren Turner Kiel. The cast for No End of Blame includes Alex Draper (Terrorism/New Group, Get What You Need/Atlantic Theater) as Bela Veracek, Christopher Duva (Voysey Inheritance/Atlantic Theater) as Grigor Gabor, MacLeod Andrews, Bill Army, Megan Byrne, Alex Cranmer, Caitlin Dennis, Lucas Kavner, Jeanne LaSala, Julia Proctor, Peter Schmitz, Alec Strum and Sally Swallow.

Tickets are $18 and can be purchased by calling 1-800-838-3006 or visiting www.brownpapertickets.com. For more information on the company, visit www.potomactheatreproject.org.

Photos courtesy of Darr Publicity

Potomac Theatre Project's Co-Artistic Directors Cheryl Faraone and Richard Romagnoli

Cast members of No End of Blame - Megan Byrne, Alex Draper, Alex Cranmer and Jeanne LaSala

 
Cast members of Politics of Passion: the Plays of Anthony Minghella - Willie Orbison, Colby DiSarro, Laura Harris, James Matthew Ryan, Lauren Turner Kiel, Tara Giordano and MacLeod Andrews