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I saw "SWEEPERS" last night. It is playing only through Saturday, tomorrow,
May 18 (Urban Stages Theatre, New York City) and was extended once or twice.
For portrayal of Italian American sensibility of its time - the end of World
War II - it was superb. Sensitively wrought characters and terrific acting.
I spoke with John Picardi, the playwright, who was in the audience,
during
the intermission. He intends this to be the first of a series
of plays, a la August
Wilson for the African American community, each reflecting IA sensibility
during various post WWII decades. If The Sweepers is typical
of what he can
do, we are all in for a treat.
The audience, by the way, seemed equally non-IA and IA, which is just
right,
because both the rest of the world and we ourselves all need to be
educated or
reminded of the complex sensibility of IAs. I hope The Sweepers
can get
produced again at some time in the near future.
[Any Theatrical Impressarios in Chicago, San Francisco, etc, interested??]
(The artistic director thanked the Calandra Institute for its assistance
on historical research.)
