Potomac Theatre Project presents Howard Barker's 17th-century British civil war drama updated to the present day. A sexy, brazen, and funny examination of a society rife with competing ideologies. More…
'Pity in History' focuses on the overthrow of the old regime by an insurgency with a rigorous and severe view of the world. Art as religious representation and inspiration is challenged as a tool of possibly demonic privilege. Originally produced as a teleplay by the BBC in 1985, this production marks the script's professional stage premiere. Running in repertory with 'Arcadia.'
See it if Intellectually challenging satire about the necessity and folly of art and war, and the people that pursue them. Witty and deep.
Don't see it if You are looking for more of an emotional connection to the characters.
See it if think that one can solve the problems of war.Better than I expected. Great talent
Don't see it if were looking for a fun musical. Clever work but only 65 minutes
See it if You love everything from the BBC & want to see on of their tele-plays on stage. You like shows about big ideas.
Don't see it if You want a play w/a traditional plot or characters: it's a series of scenes where characters spout philosophies & ideologies.
See it if Another Barker artist trying to deal with authority -- this time with an Army officer and a chaplain. Written for TV, just over an hour
Don't see it if you don't like gunshots, violence and torture. Fine acting and staging of a war drama. Very grim, though Tindle as the dying cook is a riot.
See it if you are trying to understand today's political environment and the conflicts between art and ideology
Don't see it if you don't like dark comedy and satire
See it if you are interested in a powerful message about the evils of war, with some humor thrown in.
Don't see it if you want a linear plot, that is easy to follow without much thought.
See it if your a fan of British war history.
Don't see it if you are looking for a fast moving drama with interesting character development..
See it if You are ok with big ideas and abstract concepts discussed on war, religion, art, and greed.
Don't see it if You need a strong narrative style and clear ideas
See it if an intellectualized take on what conditioning and propaganda can do to a societys' way of thinking
Don't see it if forceful dialogue (not always discernible because of heavy accents) and not a cheerful play
See it if You want to see a production whose process is more interesting than its message
Don't see it if You are looking for something light
See it if if you like black comedy
Don't see it if you like musicals
See it if the wars we are getting into don't make sense
Don't see it if you think God and country are always on our side
Also John Lennon's song "Imagine" would be a good musical accompaniment
See it if You're interested in a script that draws a heavy allegory between two historical times other than our own
Don't see it if You're looking for something light, low-rhetoric, and action-heavy
See it if You want to see a play with tremendous mordant wit, performed by a sold ensemble with a brilliantly effortless central performance.
Don't see it if You're looking for light entertainment.
See it if You don't mind wading through a lot of dielect to get to the play. It wasn't bad...but it seemed to take forever to not get very far.
Don't see it if You want a clear play that touches on subjects relevant to today, this does that but in so much metaphor that it mostly got lost on me.
See it if enjoy shows with good acting that deal with relevant issues such as art, politics, class, war and fanaticism.
Don't see it if don't like shows that are loud, both difficult to understand and obtuse and somewhat pretentious.
See it if you think about whether "We need art to know who we are" and current societal elements through historical lens, apprec. Barker/British plays
Don't see it if you can't understand British dialect, humor and historical references, sit 90 min. w/out interval, focus and think critically/open-mindedly
See it if you're interested in the writing of playwright Howard Barker; are an alum of Middlebury's drama department, have a friend in the cast.
Don't see it if you are expecting a strong historical drama with good acting, dislike "updating" a play inconsistently
Also This was originally a radio drama. While I don't think the script is t... Read more Read less
See it if You will go to anything of Howard Barker, like me. You will be content with some very witty dialogue
Don't see it if You will be annoyed to not understand some of the dialogue (poor delivery) or elements of the plot (the playwright, the direction?)
See it if you want to see & cheer on a repertory company of mainly young (undergrad) actors regardless of a seemingly aimless production of 65 minutes
Don't see it if you need a clear, compelling plot or dialogue, or you're looking for something light, humorous, or with elaborate production design