A Man’s a Man

Giant Squid Productions presents Bertolt Brecht’s A Man’s a Man as part of the 10th annual New York International Fringe Festival. The play’s book and lyrics are by Eric Bentley with music by Arnold Black. Leah Bonvissuto directs.

It is 1925 “and left is right, and right is mostly wrong.” Join His Majesty’s Recruiting campaign in Mr. Brecht’s India where men are replaceable, war rages and whiskey is never hard to find! Love your country? Join the army at the recruiting booth in the lobby or, if you like, come up onstage and join publicly! A Man’s a Man tells the story of Galy Gay, who is meticulously transformed from a porter into a Human Fighting Machine. The audience will enter into a punk-rock vaudevillian circus where they will be encouraged to leave their identity at the door! Live music, bright lights and a less-than-perfect elephant will fill the theater as we show you how easy it is to change one man into another.

Bertolt Brecht was commenting on the German state during the Weimar Republic and the rise of the Nazis by using the British occupation in India, reflecting on the “King’s” desire for oil and the soldiers’ treatment of the people there. A Man’s a Man shows the glorification of the soldier, making a hero of the man who can kill the most while leaving his heart (and identity) behind.

Schedule

Friday August 11th at 6:00 p.m.
Saturday August 12th at 2:30 p.m.
Sunday August 13th at 3:45 p.m.
Saturday August 19th at 4:45 p.m.
Sunday August 20th at 12:30 p.m.
Tuesday August 22nd at 3:15 p.m.
Wednesday August 23rd at 7:45 p.m.