Janus to present 'Greatest Story'

The song "Mack the Knife" has become a part of popular culture.

Most everyone has heard the oddly violent ditty about an assassin that was popularized by Bobby Darin.

The song first appeared in a play called "The Threepenny Opera," written in the 1920s by Bertolt Brecht, a German playwright, poet and theatrical reformer. It's also the subject of the new production by Janus Theatre Company.

Written and directed by Sarafina Vecchio, the play "The Greatest Story eBertolt: A Brecht Review" is an adaptation of the writings of Brecht, one of the most prominent figures of 20th-century theater.

The play takes place in a rundown German café.

Six actors tell the story of Brecht's turbulent life through the revolutionary music, theater and poetry he wrote. They recall how Brecht was forced to flee his home country of Germany as a result of his strong opposition to Adolph Hitler, only to be victimized by U.S. Sen. Joseph McCarthy during the Red Scare of the '50s.

His writings were mostly of a political nature, influenced by socialism and Marxism in the 1920s, and focusing on his opposition to Hitler in the '30s, which resulted in his emigration from Germany to various European countries before landing in America.

"He settled in Los Angeles and was a playwright,' said Vecchio.

"He did films and musicals that were very popular -- and then in the late '40s, Sen. Joseph McCarthy got ahold of him and accused him of being a communist."

The experience sent Brecht back to his native Germany; he remained in Europe until his death in 1956.

Vecchio, who has worked as an actor and director for Janus on multiple occasions, was moved to adapt Brecht's works in one platform as a result of her deep admiration for him.

"I have such a love for Brecht because he's so into the state of the world, and I am into the state of the world," said Vecchio.

"I'm obsessed with politics and government and everything that goes along with that," she said.

"So when they (Janus) asked me to do this I thought, 2008 is an election year, and there's so many people who don't pay attention to what's going on; it amazes me."

Vecchio sees many parallels between Brecht's political times and our own.

"He wrote a lot about (how) the government is the wealthiest among us," she said.

"It's really impossible, in the political atmosphere, for a person who doesn't have a lot of money to go anywhere. The world is run by money."

The play is performed in the "epic style" of theater, which is used more as a forum than as an illusion.

"It's really fun to direct and act, because you can drop all the paranoia of being real and just do it -- and make a dramatic statement and be as big as you want," Vecchio said.

"The Brecht epic-theater style that he created, his point is: Don't make the audience think that you are anybody but an actor saying lines," she explained.

"The point is to make them know they were in the theater to listen to what the actors are saying, and to make a point about the world."

"It's telling a story but salt and peppering it with his work over the years," said Lori Holm, a first-time performer with Janus.

"It's really exciting how Sarafina is going about it."

Greg Peters, a truck driver who plans to become a teacher, participates in the production as an actor, and also playing guitar.

Originally, Peters was aware of Brecht mainly as the man responsible for "Mack the Knife."

"Discovering his political poetry and his themes was kind of like an awakening for me," Peters said. "When people see this play they're going to want to read Bertolt Brecht's work."

Rise Dawn Jones is making her debut as an actor in the production. Jones has performed as a singer in the past and is executive director of Hamilton Wings, an Elgin organization which supports children's leadership and academic development through the arts.

The themes of the production resonate with her as well.

"What he was writing a lot about was people being used as scapegoats, blamed for many of the ills of society," Jones said.

"Things that we believe out of fear can be addressed through really getting to the heart of the matter."

"I admire him," she added. "I admire anyone who is interested in taking words and challenging us to think deeper and harder and better about ourselves and others."

"We are frail in terms of our fears and insecurities, but we can move beyond that and not characterize, marginalize and segment people as different from us -- but recognizing that we as humans all want certain basic things," Jones said.

"That's a message we need to be reminded of."

"There's going to be people who come to see my show who might not agree with what's being said," Vecchio said. "I don't expect everyone to agree with his poetry. But it is art and it needs to be thought about."

If you go

What: "The Greatest Story eBertolt: A Brecht Review" featuring the work of Bertolt Brecht

Where: Elgin Art Showcase, 164 Division St., eighth floor

When: Runs May 2 -18. Shows are at 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, and 6 p.m. Sundays

Cost: Tickets are $15; $12 for students and seniors; $10 for groups of eight or more.

Info: Call (847) 931-0637 or visit www.janustheatre.org

"The Greatest Story eBertolt" cast

Batavia: Lori Holm

Carol Stream: Jocelyn Mills

Elgin: Rise Dawn Jones, Steve Macarus, Greg Peters

South Elgin: Jim Pierce