Arts & Entertainment
Red revolution
Historical play gets brisk, brave local production
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āLes Justes (The Just Ones)ā
Through March 11
WSC Avant Bard
Artisphere, 1101 Wilson Blvd., Rosslyn
$25-$30
888-841-2787
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James T. Majewski in the WSC AvantBard production of āLes Justes.ā (Photo courtesy C. Stanley Photography, courtesy WSC AvantBard).
āTerror is not for the tender,ā says Stepan, a hardened revolutionary in WSC Avant Bardās tight production of Albert Camusā āLes Justes (The Just Ones).ā When young Yanek (James T. Majewski) balks at blowing up the Grand Duke because the Russian royalās entourage includes two children, Stepan (John Stange) sneers. Itās better to kill blue-blooded parasites no matter the age, and save the starving masses. According to him, Yanek is too soft.
Based on the true story of a group of Russian socialist-revolutionaries who assassinated the Grand Duke Sergei Alexandrovich (uncle to the Tsar) in 1905, āLes Justesā ā in true Camus fashion ā grapples with matters of morality, in this case the ethics of revolution. While most of the action takes place offstage in the muddy streets of Moscow, the audience is primarily privy to the interior of the terror cellās apartment headquarters ā a shining world of ideas beautifully imagined by set and lighting designer David C. Ghatan as a bright white hexagonal platform encircled by four suspended white woodcut panels that allude to the socialist struggle.
Itās here that the groupās philosophies are heatedly debated and forged. Yanek, a poet who gave up a cushy life to join the revolution, yearns to be accepted by his fellow rebels as a true militant. Their decision to assassinate the Grand Duke presents an opportunity for Yanek to prove himself. He argues with Stepan and others about the best way to carry out the plan. He also debates love with sweet but dour Dora (Nora Achrati), a young chemist whoās been recruited to make bombs. Rounding out the opinionated crew are its leveled-headed leader Annenkov (Frank Britton) and a more tremulous member, Voinov (Theo Hadjimichael), who ashamedly admits he is unfit for violent rebellion, opting instead to join the budding partyās propaganda wing.
A second (and more successful) assassination attempt lands Yanek in prison where he meets cellmate Foka (Brian Crane), a convicted murderer/hangman who believes justice is reserved for the afterlife. Yanekās visitors include Skuratov (Graham Pilato), a private investigator who comes seeking a confession; and the aristoās widow, the Grand Duchess (Karen Novack) whose burgundy gown (compliments of costume designer Jen Bevan) contrasts sharply with the revolutionariesā black-and-white period costumes. She conveys to Yanek that while her late husband was no saint, he wasnāt entirely bad either. Neither Camusā terrorists nor his tyrant come off as villains.
Translated and adapted by D.C. actor/director Rahaleh Nassri, the productionās script remains faithful to the 1949 source while sounding completely contemporary. Director Jay Hardee (whoās gay) puts the diverse nine-person cast through the paces in this brisk 90-minute production. Here and there, performances might ring a little one note in their intensity, but overall theyāre more nuanced than not.
A winner of the Nobel Prize for Literature, Camusā works reflect his life experience, and what he, no doubt, questioned in his life. A product of French Algeria, Camus joined the French Communist Party in a reaction to the inequalities between Europeans and indigenous Algerians. During World War II he joined the French Resistance. Long after his death (a car crash in 1962), Camusā questions about political murder feel as relevant as ever.
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The 2024 New York City Pride Parade wound through the streets of Manhattan and past the historic Stonewall Inn on Sunday, June 30.
(Washington Blade photos by Daniel Truitt)
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The fourth annual Fredericksburg Pride march and festival was held at Riverfront Park in Fredericksburg, Va. on Saturday, June 29. The event began with a march around downtown Fredericksburg beginning and ending in the park.
(Washington Blade photos by Michael Key)
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Covering Fredericksburg Pride for @WashBlade . City Council member @WillMackintosh speaking: pic.twitter.com/tDdVD2IVsM
— Michael Patrick Key (@MichaelKeyWB) June 29, 2024
Photos
PHOTOS: Goodwin Living Pride
Senior living and healthcare organization holds fourth annual march at Falls Church campus
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The senior living and healthcare organization Goodwin Living held its fourth annual community Pride march around its Bailey’s Crossroads campus in Falls Church, Va. with residents, friends and supporters on Tuesday, June 25. Following the march, a drag brunch was held with performances by drag artists of SADBrunch: Crimsyn, Sapphire Dupree and Evon Dior Michelle.
(Photos courtesy of Goodwin Living)
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