Redevelopment
Translated by James Saunders from a literal translation by Marie Winn
Directed by Grant Neale
Produced by Nomad Theatrical Company
November 4 - November 25
Presented at the Ohio Theater
The government has declared that a beautiful old castle should be redeveloped to be something more socially constructive. Protestors and petitioners are jailed. Meanwhile, the architects continue to plan, hoping that there are people left who, unlike them, are idealistic enough to care.
Cast:
Second Woman: Sarah Bell
First Woman: Margaret Catov
Zdenek Bergman: Joseph DiSalle*
Ulch: Erik Gratton*
Luisa: Tracy Hostmyer*/Hillary Spector*
Mrs. Macourkova: Elda Luisi
Special Secretary: Mark E. Macken*
Kuzma Plekhanov: Aole T. Miller
First Delegate/First Inspector: Shad Ramsey*
Second Delegate/Second Inspector: Ric Sechrest*
Albert: Patrick Zeller*
Renata: Tessa Zugmeyer
Production:
Co-producers: Grant Neale and Hillary Sector
Dramaturg: Karen Lee Ott
Set designer: Grant Neale
Costume designer: Hillary Spector
Sound designer: Katie Down
Stage manager: Mikajlo Rankovic
Assistant director: Glenn DeKler
Production history
Written in the time of Perestroika, this play critiqued what Havel saw as the same oppression with a different name. It was the first full length play of his that he was able to see after he became President. He saw it in Iceland, at the Plodlejkhusid Theater, en route to his first official visit to the United States. He is said to have enjoyed the performance, though he does not speak a work of Icelandic.