This Friday, Sept. 27, is opening night for Marblehead Little Theatre’s production of “The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui” by Bertolt Brecht. Directed by Marblehead resident Greg Mancusi-Ungaro, the play will run for three consecutive weekends with both night and matinee performances available.
“The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui” is the allegorical tale of the rise of fascism set in the backdrop of 1920s Chicago. Arturo Ui is a gangster whose plans to take over the vegetable market lead him to commit many acts of corruption and criminality. Though usually considered a satire, director Mancusi-Ungaro defines the play as a very, very dark comedy. Moments of humor are often followed by unsettling twists.
In an interview with the Current, Mancusi-Ungaro commented on what a rewarding experience directing has been.
“It’s been astonishing to me to come to grips with the effort everyone in the show is making.”
After decades of acting as a technical designer for shows across the North Shore, jumping back into a directorial role was a change. Mancusi-Ungaro has been blown away by the inventiveness and commitment displayed by the actors. Numbering at around 20, the cast has been rehearsing since mid-July.
According to Mancusi-Ungaro, directing “The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui” is no small feat. From the elaborate stagecraft and costuming to the sheer amount of lines required for each actor to memorize, the cast and crew have been extremely busy for the past few months.
“It’s like putting on a Shakespeare,” he remarked, speaking to the breadth of such an undertaking.
Mancusi-Ungaro intends to take advantage of the small theater space to create a sense of intimacy and get the viewers involved in the play. Brecht’s theatrical philosophy, according to Mancusi-Ungaro, is that the more a show reveals its inner workings to the audience, the more they believe.
“This show has a journey,” he said. “And the audience takes the journey with the show.”
