As far-right authoritarians gain power around the world (cough, cough), artists in our community have been seeking ways to produce works that meet these unprecedented times.
Petaluma’s Mercury Theater has chosen a play by German playwright Bertolt Brecht. He saw the writing on the wall in Germany and fled his country before World War II. While waiting in Finland to immigrate to the United States in 1941, Brecht expanded on one of his earlier works. That work became The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui.
It’s refreshing to see Brecht’s somewhat-obscure allegory about Hilter’s ascension being produced locally and with such a dedicated cast. This saga of a mobster on a despotic tear, directed by Keith Baker, runs through Nov. 16 at the old Cinnabar Theater in Petaluma.
Kevin Bordi, as the titular villain, doesn’t act or play his role. He simply embodies it. His multi-layered performance demonstrates how a truly skilled actor incorporates every inch of themself into a character. There’s no self-service other than the story. This was quite simply one of the best performances I’ve seen on a local stage.
He has enthusiastic support from his fellow ensemble members, especially Mercedes Murphy (who never takes a scene for granted) and Be Wilson (whose comedic clowning develops into something more innately sinister), as well as John Browning, Zane Walters and Lisa Flato, all who excel at creating deft and dynamic characters. Norman Hall almost steals the show as a washed-up Shakespearean actor who shows Ui how to act more polished for the public.
The actors are immersed in the story with keen focus, and the audience very quickly becomes attuned to that energy as well as the horrifyingly prescient script.
Standout scenes include a bonkers kangaroo court interlude, as well as the finale, which along with a sobering end to the first act, serves as a warning on what’s to come if people don’t stand up to corrupt power.
Sets (Keith Baker), costumes (Tracy Hinman), lighting (Missy Weaver), audio design (Jared Emerson-Johnson) and projections (Chuck Starzenski) all enhance the production, giving it a cartoonish vibe which surreally punctuates how very serious the message is. I felt increasingly anxious as each scene unfolded.
Want to be jolted awake by how quickly history can repeat itself? Go see this play.
Take heart, however, for the moral of this tale is embedded in the title: Resistible.
Mercury Theater presents ‘The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui’ through Nov. 16 at 3333 Petaluma Blvd. N., Petaluma. Thurs 11/06, Fri & Sat, 7:30pm; Sun, 2pm. $20–$35. 707.658.9019. mercurytheater.org.
