The Perry Street Theatre Company presents the World Premiere
TREASON
June 8-July 23
Written by Sallie Bingham, Directed by Martin Platt

He Betrayed his Country, his wife, his mistress, and his art …. or did he?

Ezra Pound was one of the most famous–and infamous–poets of his generation. He wrote operas. He translated works from Greek, Chinese and Japanese. He was instrumental in launching the careers of T.S. Eliot and James Joyce and counted among his friends Hemingway, Robert Frost, and Allen Ginsberg. He was also a womanizer, a racist, an absent father, and a traitor to his country.

Sallie Bingham’s compelling new play spans over twenty years of Pound’s life, exposing the man behind the genius through the eyes of the five women who loved him. Under Martin Platt’s direction, TREASON asks: did Ezra Pound betray his wife, mistress, girlfriend, daughter and his country – or in the end – only betray himself.

“Complex and richly ambitious…” – The New Yorker

“Superbly acted with an especially prize-worthy performance by Philip Pleasants” – The New York Times

“The Perry Street Theatre in Greenwich Village hosts its last play with the brilliant performance ofTreason. “Bingham’s Writing IsStellarAnd Platt’s Directing Is Intelligent” – broadwayworld.com

“The ensemble is strong, and Philip Pleasants, as Ezra Pound, is particularly engaging.” – Village Voice

SHYLOCK

Opened January 22nd, 2005 – March 27, 2005
by Gareth Armstrong

In a solo performance that was nominated for a 2004-2005 Outer Critics Circle Award, Gareth Armstrong lifted the veil from The Merchant of Venice. Putting the play both in the context of its own time and in the greater context of the history of the negative portrayal of the Jew both on stage and off, Armstrong delivered one of the most compelling performances of the season. Assuming the most unlikely role of Tubal, Shylocks’ best and only friend, SHYLOCK confronts and confounds the stereotypes of one of literatures most compelling characters and delivers a performance the Associated Press called: “nothing short of astounding.”

VARIETY:

“Armstrong’s performance invites empathy and awe . . . an actor of consummate craft.”

THE VILLAGE VOICE:

“. . . a taut exploration of Shylock’s legend and its legacy . . . Viewers disappointed by the current soggy, text butchered film adaptation of The Merchant of Venice are hereby urged to hie themselves to this stirring production, as is everyone else.”

ASSOCIATED PRESS:

“His ability to switch characters on the fly and perform multi-character scenes by himself is nothing short of astounding . . .

NY OBSERVER:

Gareth Armstrong’s virtuoso performance in his 80-minute Shylock—which he also wrote—is a marvelous exploration at the Perry Street Theater of the universally debated Jew . . . his actor’s instinctive understanding of the text has much of value to tell us. BACKSTAGE If you think you know Shylock from Shakespeare’s “The Merchant of Venice,” think again. This new solo show, written by and starring Gareth Armstrong, casts a comprehensive look at the controversial character in a behind-the-scenes style that is involving and insightful.

VIEW PHOTOS FROM THIS PRODUCTION: