On The Border at the Medicine Show Theatre

The Medicine Show Theatre Ensemble presents On The Border, by Howard Pflanzer, opening at the Medicine Show Theatre on 24 Nov 2007, following previews from 15 Nov and running through to 2 Dec 2007.

On The Border: A dream play that explores German-Jewish cultural critic Walter Benjamin's final night on earth. The time is 1940, the place a seedy hotel in Port Bou on the Spanish-French border. Benjamin has travelled here in a desperate bid to escape the Nazis, only to be denied passage across.

Sick, alone, and teetering on the border between life and death in a dream-like state, Benjamin imagines final visits by the people who influenced his life and work, including dramatist Bertolt Brecht, author Franz Kafka, thinker Hannah Arendt and Death himself. Intermingled with these apparition-like visitors are vivid memories of German anti-Nazi cabaret jokes and songs, including a shocking one from the period entitled 'Blame It On The Jews.' As memories and dreams collide, Benjamin's only means of escape becomes tragically clear.

Directed by Barbara Vann, On The Border features Elaine Evans, Felix Gardan, Mike Lesser, Lauren LoGiudice, Monica Lynch, Vince Phillip, Charles J. Roby, Lutin Tanner and Alok Tewari.

The creative team comprises of Jospeph T. Barna (sets & lighting), Uta Bekaia (costumes) and Dieter Riesle (choreography).