Maryland Ensemble Theatre (MET) continues its seventeenth Mainstage season with the satirical dark comedy "The Arsonists" by Max Frisch, and translated by Alistair Beaton. Inspired by the Communist takeover of Czechoslovakia in 1948, this absurdist allegory satirizes the way in which people can be manipulated into accommodating their own destruction. In the play, fires are becoming something of a problem, popping up all over town, but Mr. Biedermann has it all under control. A respected member of the community, he tries to live a life of blameless middle-class decency. It is this sense of bourgeois propriety that renders Biedermann defenseless when two strangers finesse their way into his home and settle in. But when they start filling his attic with petrol drums, will he help them light the fuse?
The play was originally produced at London's
Royal Court Theatre in 1961 under the title "The Fire Raisers". This translation of the play by
Alistair Beaton entitled "The Arsonists", was first produced in 2007 at the
Royal Court Theatre and featured
Benedict Cumberbatch. This was the first major revival of the play in the United Kingdom since its 1961 premiere.
Playwright,
Max Frisch, was a Swedish novelist known for representing German-Language literature after World War II. In his works, Frisch explores issues related to problems of identity, responsibility, and political commitment. He was awarded the Neustadt International Prize for Literature in 1986. The translation is by
Alistair Beaton a Scottish political satirist, journalist, radio presenter, novelist and television writer and one-time speechwriter for British Prime Minister
Gordon Brown.
Maryland Ensemble Theatre's production will be directed by Gerard Stropnicky. A multi-faceted theatre artist (director, writer and actor), he graduated from Northwestern, studied with Alvina Krause, and in 1978 co-founded Bloomsburg Theatre Ensemble (BTE), where he worked for the next 34 years. In Appalachia, the Deep South and Pennsylvania, he has used local story to create original large-scale, site-specific performances in communities facing crisis, transition, or change. For this work, as well as for his role in co-founding the national Network of Ensemble Theaters, Jerry was honored as a United States Artists Fellow in 2010. The USA program was created by the Ford, Rockefeller, Prudential and Rasmusen Foundations to identify and support "America's greatest living artists." With his wife Kathy Baas, he is also founder and director of CampEmerge, a camp for families touched by autism. This is his first time directing for Maryland Ensemble Theatre.
The Arsonists' talented cast will feature MET's Artistic Director
Tad Janes,
Lisa Burl, Katie Rattigan,
Clay Comer,
Tim Seltzer, Tom Majarov,
Vanessa Strickland,
Caitlin Joy,
Thomas Scholtes, Madison Dowell, Giovannia Kavota and Emily Bigelow. They will be ably assisted by a design team including set designer Ira Domser, lighting designer Tabetha White, costume designer Jennifer Adams, sound designer Jerry Matheny, props designer
Lia Seltzer, music composer
Thom Huenger and Callan Holderbaum, and choreographer
Julie Herber.
"The Arsonists" will run every Thursday through Sunday from February 13 through March 8 at MET, located in the historic FSK Hotel at 31 W Patrick Street. Thursday, February 12 there will be preview performance at 8pm and tickets to that show are $10 (cash only at door/no reservations). The first Sunday performance will be preceded by a reception hosted by MET Board Members Dan Kuebbing and
Marty Erlichman and sponsored by Giant Eagle.
Tickets to "The Arsonists" are $16.50 through $25.50 and can be purchased at
301.694.4744,
marylandensemble.org or in person at the Maryland Ensemble Theatre box office. This show is made possible in part through the support of MET's season sponsors including Comcast, The Frederick Gorilla, Key 103, Eagle 106.9, Ausherman Family Trust, Mark A Pitts Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery, The Frederick News Post and both the Frederick and Maryland
Arts Councils.
For more information on the MET's production of "The Arsonists" or any of the MET's other programs including The Ensemble School, The Fun Company or The Comedy Pigs you can visit
marylandensemble.org
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