Goodman Theatre Presents Long-Awaited 2666
(© Dean La Prairie)
Robert Falls and Seth Bockley's world-premiere of 2666 begins performances tonight at Goodman Theatre.
Based on Roberto Bolaño’s epic novel of the same name, the show spans nearly 80 years, moving back in time from the 1990s to World War II. In five distinct parts, it moves from Spain to England to Mexico to Germany, beginning with the four European academics searching for a German author, Benno Von Archimboldi. From there, it travels to Santa Teresa, a fictitious Mexican border city, inspired by the real city of Ciudad Juárez, where hundreds of women have been mysteriously murdered. The adaptation mirrors the book’s effort to encompass the dominant themes of Bolaño’s work.
The five-hour (three-intermission) adaptation is the work of artistic director and Tony winner Robert Falls and playwright in residence Seth Bockley, both of whom direct the production. The 15-member ensemble cast, who play dozens of roles throughout the production, features Charin Alvarez, Janet Ulrich Brooks, Yadira Correa, Sandra Delgado, Alejandra Escalante, Sean Fortunato, Henry Godinez, Larry Grimm, Eric Lynch, Mark L. Montgomery, Adam Poss, Demetrios Troy, Juan Francisco Villa, Jonathan Weir, and Nicole Wiesner.
"2666 is the culmination of a deep collaboration between myself and Bob and between us and the novel. Bolaño asks everything of his readers, and this collaboration has asked a great deal of us," said Bockley. "This is an immense and ambitious book — by turns tragic, comic, horrific and transformative — in which Bolaño describes the contours of the universe of human experience. We are attempting to bring his novel's singular vision to the stage, using all the tools we have…The vagabond anarchist spirit of Bolaño is alive and well in the world; we are trying to honor it with a big, wild, faithful but free adaptation."
The creative team includes Walt Spangler (set design), Ana Kuzmanic (costume design), Aaron Spivey (lighting design), Richard Woodbury and Mikhail Fiksel (sound design and original music), and Shawn Sagady (projection and video design).
Performances will run through March 13.
