Local theater company to perform ‘Waiting for Lefty’

The economy is in the tank, the debacle in the Middle East continues, the layoff rate is at its worst since the Great Depression, the future of overtime pay hangs in the balance, and services for children with special needs (among many other services) are being eliminated. What do we do? ?Strike, strike, strike,? says the Earth and District Theatre Company.

As the inaugural show of the Theatre Space Project, the EDTC charges on to downtown St. Paul?s fostering theatre scene with Clifford Odets? play, ?Waiting for Lefty.?

The plan runs Nov. 13 to 16; 20 to 23; and 28 to 30 at the 4th St. Theater, 4th St. and Minnesota Ave. in downtown St. Paul. For show times and more information, visit this website, www.MNTopTalent.com/EDTC.htm

Inspired by the New York City cab drivers? strike of 1934, this play speaks of strength in numbers and calls on people to come together in union if they want to effectively challenge the autocratic power of ?big business.? Harold Clurman, one of the influential founders of the Group Theatre to which Odets belonged, said, in essence that ?strike? was ?Lefty?s? lyrical message, not only for a few extra pennies or for shorter hours, but strike for greater dignity, for a bolder humanity, and for a full stature of man.

Though the play speaks out against the corporations of the 1930s, ?Lefty?s? message is still relevant, even today.

?There is an amazing universality to Odets? colloquial words,? says EDTC?s artistic director Scott MacKenzie. ?Even so, with today?s conditions, especially here in Minnesota, parallels between then and now are rather easy to draw. And, because of this universality, I believe this play?s voice calls out past the blue collar men and the Jewish Community to women and other minority groups.?

To supplement the evening, EDTC will let its own members? voices be heard. ?We have poets and we have playwrights with something to say. We want them to be heard,? says MacKenzie.

Odets wanted to belong to the largest group of humble struggling people prepared to make a great common effort to build a better world. ?So do we,? agrees MacKenzie. ?And the more people who show up, the more things which will get done. EDTC is the cheering section for the underdog, the friend of the least popular, the voice of those afraid to speak and the listener to those to whom nobody listens.?

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For more information
Visit www.MNTopTalent.com/EDTC.htm

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