Conquest of the North Pole

From: "will stackman" profwlll@yahoo.com

Subject: Quicktake - "The Conquest of the South Pole" by Manfred Karge

Date: Fri, Apr 6, 9:43 AM

Quicktake on THE CONQUEST OF THE SOUTH POLE

     Molasses Tank, one of CWT's resident Theatre's, has mounted a darkly comic version of German filmmaker/playwright Manfred Karge's "The Conquest of the South Pole," an allegorical romp in the Brechtian tradition. This 90 minute play has a small group of unemployed men, who all feel like losers, reenacting Admundsen's epic journey in an attic. Written before the fall of the Berlin Wall, the play centers around one Slupianek, who's desperate to release them from their round of pinball, snaps, and trips to the unemployment office. This pivotal role is played by versatile Jason Beals, last seen playing Prospero in 11:11's under-rehearsed "Tempest." He's also canoodling with the wife of his friend Braukmann, played by George Saulnier III, the only one of the group to have a job, albeit an unsatisfactory one. La Braukman is done by Janelle Mills with admirable energy. The rest of the motley crew includes William McGregor as gruff Buscher, who emigrates at he end of the play, and suicidal Seiffert, played by quirky Bob Musset. There's also Frankieboy (Mike Budwey) who thinks he's a dog.

     The play is an excellent example of contemporary Continental writing, which blends heightened language, mixed metaphor, and bravura style in an adventurous manner not practiced much in the U.S. Director Steve Rotolo, who's also doing a cameo opposite Ashley Kelly, gives it a staccato interpretation on an interesting set by Christopher Allison. Matt Breton's lighting is appropriately non-realistic.
    Molasses Tank has mastered this style, which is worth the trip over to Charlestown. CWT is only three blocks from the Sullivan Sq. T stop, with street-parking a short ways down the hill.

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"The Conquest of the South Pole" by Manfred Karge, Mar. 29 - Apr. 14

Molasses Tank at Charlestown Working Theater

442 Bunker Hill St., Charlestown, (866) 811 - 4111
Molasses Tank