Subversive Theatre

THE HAIRY APE
Scroll down to see the Cast in Action. Photography by Kurt Schneiderman*.

		*THE BIG OPENER* To start things off with a bang, our cast pours out into the lobby as members of the *"Burn 'Em and Bail 'Em Circus"* taking the show to a startled and bemused audience. Performers from left to right: Anthony Orlowski (juggler), Sarah Brown (baton twirler), Candice Kogut* (scarf juggler), John Vines and Mark Tattenbaum* (red striped jackets).

*ON WITH THE SHOW* Marshalling the audience into the theatre, "Ringmaster Bartholomew Wigglesworth" (Brian Zybala, far right) unveils the Big Top's main attraction -- the one and only "Hairy Ape"* (Leonard Ziolkowski in ape suit at center). The *"Ringmaster"* just can't resist telling the Ape's tale. Other performers from left to right: Sarah Brown, Candice Kogut*, Mark Tattenbaum, Betsy Bittar, Paul O'Hern, John Vines, and Patrick Cameron.

		*ANCHORS AWEIGH!* As the story of the Hairy Ape begins on board the *"H.M.S Deck-a-Dance,"* our cast uses a variety of interpretive movement techniques to embody different parts of the ship. Candice Kogut* (down left) and Patrick Cameron (down right) use fabric to represent to rolling ocean waves, Anthony Orlowski and John Vines (left) form the ship's stern while Paul O'Hern and Sarah Brown (right) form the bow. Monica Karwan* (standing center left) and Betsy Bittar (standing center right) embody the ship's smokestacks using scarves to create the suggestion of rising smoke. Mark Tattenbaum* and Drew McCabe* (both hidden from view) operate the puppet passengers on deck.

*THE IDYLLS OF THE LEISURE CLASS* Next our story joins obscenely wealthy heiress "Mildred Douglass" on the ship's upper deck seated atop a deckchair formed by human bodies (actor John Vines, left, and Drew McCabe, right) as her "Aunt"* (Betsy Bittar, far right) scowls disapprovingly.

		*LET THERE BE SMOKE!* With a wave of his hand, the "Ringmaster" (Brian Zybala, far right) conjures up a smokestack (formed by actors Anthony Orlowski, far left, Monica Karwan, left, and Sarah Brown, center left) for the amusement of parasol-wielding heiress *"Mildred"* (Candice Kogut*, center).

*HOW THE OTHER HALF SWEATS* In stark contrast to the life of ease on the upper decks, gruff proletarians toil below shoveling coal into the boilers that power the ship. A particularly truculent worker known only as "Yank" (Patrick Cameron, far right) stops working to bark insults at his supervisor . . . much to the delight of his fellow laborers (Anthony Orlowski, center, and John Vines, far left). Meanwhile actress Sarah Brown (center left) uses movement and scarves to represent the rollicking fire of the boilers behind them.

		*TWO WORLDS . . . THAT HATE EACH OTHER'S GUTS* Picking the worst possible time for a tour below deck, the ship's "Second Engineer" (Brian Zybala, far left) lead heiress "Mildred Douglass"* (Candice Kogut, center left) straight into the path of the "Yank"* (Patrick Cameron, center right) just as he erupts with rage. The worlds of the Haves and the Have Nots collide and both is sickened by the other. Meanwhile actresses Betsy Bittar (kneeling center) and Sarah Brown (kneeling far right) continue to portray the pulsating fires of the boiler room.

*NOT SO FAST!* Back in the laborers' quarters, "Yank" (Patrick Cameron, down center) boils over with hatred for the heiress. His bunkmates "Gondoli" (Puppeteer Mark Tattenbaum, upper left) "Revelli"* (puppet, up center), "Paddy" (Paul O'Hern, upper right), "Caraway" (puppet, middle left) "Long" (Anthony Orlowski, middle) and "German Joe" (Drew McCabe*, middle right) pin him down to stop him from getting in any more trouble.

		*APING UP THE AVENUE* Our story moves to New York City's Fifth Avenue. The one and only "Hairy Ape" is astonished by the conspicuous consumption in these opulent surrounding.
*PROLETARIANS KEEP OFF THE GRASS* The Yank (Patrick Cameron, up center left) and Long (Anthony Orlowski, up center right) are appalled by the doings of Fifth Avenue's upper class inhabitants. Portraying the privileged class from left to right in this scene's elaborate movement sequences: Paul O'Hern, Betsy Bittar, Drew McCabe, Sarah Brown, John Vines, and Monica Karwan.

		*ONE BIG UNION* Eager to put his new-found class consciousness to use, "Yank" (Patrick Cameron, center) goes to a meeting of the Industrial Workers of the World . . . only to find that he's no more welcome there than anywhere else. Making up the I.W.W. Members from left to right: Betsy Bittar, Drew McCabe*, John Vines, and Paul O'Hern.
*AN INGLORIOUS ENDING* As "Yank" (Patrick Cameron, right) and his misadventures swirl further and further out of control, he winds up back on the fairgrounds of the "Burn 'Em and Bail 'Em Circus" behind steel bars . . . or at least behind our low-budget symbolic equivalent of steel bars anyway! Actors Drew McCabe* (center) and Anthony Orlowski (right) play panthers who watch from the nearby cage in fascination.