The Balcony

With a new translation by director Barbara Vann, Medicine Show Theatre Ensemble presents Jean Genet’s provocative political drama The Balcony. This controversial portrait of power and intimacy is set in an unnamed monarchy on the brink of a bloody revolution. But life is sweet at the Grand Balcony, a brothel and “palace of illusions” where men come to indulge their secret fantasies.

Inside, the Madame and her girls assist customers in play-acting a variety of roles: a judge inflicting punishment on a beautiful thief, a bishop dealing with a sinner, a general meditating on his relationship with his horse (played by a bridled actress). Fantasy and reality become intertwined when the exploding revolution claims the lives of the country’s leaders and the Police Chief replaces them with their counterparts from the brothel.

Featured in the cast are: Karen Amatrading, Sara Copeland, Mark Dempsey, Sean Dill, Ron Dreyer, Ilona Farkas, Mark Gering, Felix Gadron, Lauren LoGiudice, Louise Martin, Tassos Pappas, Charles J. Roby, Jose Ramon, Jonathan Roufaeal, Peter Schmitz and Barbara Vann.