Pacific Theatre Stages CRIME AND PUNISHMENT in Vancouver, Now thru 6/28

Pacific Theatre's Playground Series opens this year with the thrilling one-act adaptation of a classic piece of Russian literature, CRIME AND PUNISHMENT. Taking the entire novel and distilling it down to three characters to tell the story of Raskolnikov's inner struggle and search for peace, the playwrights have accomplished what the New York Times has called "a feat that rivals the construction of the Hoover Dam."

Raskolnikov is caught between a police inspector hot on his trail, and a compassionate prostitute who is ever in his thoughts. He is torn between his own theory of certain people's right to commit crimes for the benefit of humanity, and whether he is, in fact, one of these "extraordinary people." The guilt of his actions overcomes him, but will he make the ultimate decision of releasing his ideas and accepting forgiveness?

Kate Muchmore, who received an MFA in directing from the University of North Carolina Greensboro, and is now a directing professor at Trinity Western University, says about her local directing debut that Raskolnikov: "is utterly lost and conflicted because of this horrible thing he has done, and he embarks on a journey seeking absolution, while fighting against the forces trying desperately to bring that to him, including his own conscious." Raskolnikov struggles with believing in a God that could allow absolutely horrible things to happen to the world He is supposed to love, "and I think that's a struggle every human being has," says Muchmore, "That's a question we all have to answer at some point."

Directed by Kate Muchmore, Crime and Punishment features Ryan Scramstad (The Foreigner), Mercedes de la Zerda (The Seagull, Ubu Roi) and Steve James (The Old Curiosity Shop, Never the Sinner). Set design by Mikaela Fuqua. Lighting design by Lawren Stewart. Costume consulting by Florence Barrett.

Stage Management by Matthew Wigmore and Jenessa Galbraith.

CRIME AND PUNISHMENT by Marilyn Campbell and Curt Columbus will run today, June 26-28, 2014, Thursday-Saturday at 8pm with a Wednesday, June 25 Pay-What-You-Can Preview, 8pm. All performances play the Pacific Theatre, 1440 W 12th Ave (at Hemlock), Vancouver, BC. Tickets: $15 (incl taxes and fees). Available at www.pacifictheatre.org, 604.731.5518.