‘Threepenny Opera’ coming to North Central College

“The Threepenny Opera,” a musical from the early 20th century, will take center stage for four performances this month at North Central College in Naperville.

“Threepenny” will be presented at 7:30 p.m. May 10-12 and 2 p.m. May 13 in Madden Theatre at the Fine Arts Center, 171 E. Chicago Ave. Tickets are $10 for adults and $8 for students and seniors and available by calling the North Central Box Office at (630) 637-SHOW or visiting northcentralcollege.edu/showtix.

Based on Elisabeth Hauptmann’s German translation of John Gay’s “The Beggar’s Opera,” the play asks the question, “Who is the greater criminal: he who robs a bank or he who founds one?”

The play’s social critique of capitalism remains controversial nearly 85 years after the production’s 1928 Berlin premiere. The translation for this production is by Robert MacDonald and Jeremy Sams.

Kelly Howe, assistant professor of theater, says the classic musical overlaps the philosophical mindset of the present.

“We’ve chosen to set this production of ‘The Threepenny Opera’ at an encampment of the Occupy Movement,” Howe says. “At the heart of both the play and that contemporary movement lies a deep concern that the prevailing financial systems of their day are making it difficult for people to (a) behave humanely with each other and (b) survive.”

The production contains adult language and situations and is intended for mature audiences only.