Potomac Theatre Project (PTP/NYC)
in association with Middlebury College
presents

PENTECOST

Written by DAVID EDGAR
Directed by CHERYL FARAONE

Featuring
ALEX DRAPER, JAKE SCHWARTZWALD, TOSCA GIUSTINI, JONATHAN TINDLE,
CHELSEA MALONE, LAWRENCE NATHANSON, CHRISTO GRABOWSKI,
NICHOLAS HEMERLING, MARTINA BONOLIS, MATT BALL, CAITLIN ROSE DUFFY, RISHABH KASHYAP, ERICA FURGIUELE, NINA SILVER, AUBREY DUBE, TOM BEYER, JOSEPH VARCA, MARI VIAL-GOLDEN, LILLI STEIN, & LILY BALSEN

Scenic Design: MARK EVANCHO
Lighting Design: HALLIE ZIESELMAN
Original Costume Design: JULE EMERSON
Co-Costume Design: ADRIENNE CARLILE
Sound Design: AUBREY DUBE
Press Representative: DAVID GIBBS/DARR Publicity

Atlantic Stage
330 West 16th Street
New York, NY 10011
(866) 811-4111 or www.PTPNYC.org
July 16 through August 10, 2014

David Edgar’s PENTECOST takes on Communism and Eastern Europe in the early 1990s. A 13th century fresco has been rediscovered, bricked-over and forgotten in an abandoned church in an Eastern Bloc country. If it predates the frescoes of the Italian artist Giotto, it could rock the art world’s accepted notions about European art. An American art expert, an Italian art expert, and the local government are at odds over what to do with this find. They all are on alert for each others’ secret agendas and sneaky tricks.

The second half of the play becomes a sort of second play. A group of heavily armed refugees storm the church and barricade themselves inside with the art historians. The invaders’ focus is on poverty, displacement, homelessness, loss, resentment, and violence. They care nothing for “art”. They are seeking freedom and will fight to the death for it. The church is now their fortress. Fragile post-Gothic art and bombs do not mix well. The desperate, angry refugees don’t want an art history lesson. Until they realize they can use this painting as a bargaining chip. Neither side will relent. A violent conclusion is inevitable, the details of which cannot be foretold. The end will come when it comes, as it comes.

PTP/NYC’s mandate is to present thought-provoking work of contemporary and social relevance. This play was first presented in 1994, and reflects the issues of that time, including the breakup of the former Yugoslavia. Sadly, today has the same issues, the same refugees, the same violence. The countries’ names may have changed, political parties have shifted, but it’s all about ancient grudges and an inhuman lust for revenge. The play is perhaps overly long and detailed both in the first and second halves. TMI, as they say. The bounty of historical data begins to overwhelm as the play goes on. But it is quality writing and quality acting that keeps the audience engaged until the final destructive moment.

-Karen D’Onofrio-