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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: October 23, 2002
Media Refer: Dianne Weinrib / Amy Stewart DW
Communications
416-703-5479 Fax: 416-703-5465 E-mail:
dwc@total.net
Alianak Theatre Productions and
Mainstage Productions
present
The
Death of Socrates
based on Plato's
Apology
Adapted and performed by Nick Mancuso
Alianak Theatre Productions (triple Dora winner for
The Walls of Africa last season) and Mainstage
Productions are proud to present noted veteran film and
television star Nick Mancuso in the world premiere
of The Death of Socrates, Mancuso's own
adaptation of the famous Apology, a report of
Socrates' final speech to the Senate at his trial, as
remembered by his pupil Plato. Socrates' defense of
his right to free thought and free speech is as riveting and
as relevant today as it was over 2400 years ago. Directed by
Alianak Theatre Productions' Artistic Director Hrant
Alianak, The Death of Socrates previews
from November 13, opens Friday November 15 and runs
to December 1 at Artword Theatre, 75 Portland Street. Box
Office: 416-504-PLAY (7529)
400 years before the birth of Christ, a man was executed
for speaking the truth. A poor stonemason, a soldier, a
father to three children, a husband; a human being whose
only crime was the ability to think for himself. Socrates
was condemned to death by a jury of 600 Athenians by only 30
votes for heresy against the city gods and the corruption of
the youth. 2400 years later, his execution continues to
reverberate in the history of the world. Mancuso's
adaptation gives a fresh and modern insight into the
first-ever recorded courtroom drama, a courtroom drama at
its suspenseful finest.
 "I
became fascinated by the philosopher Socrates as a very
young man, when as a student of sculpture I made a bust of
him as I imagined him to be. A man who claimed to know
nothing - a humble and simple stonemason whose mind shot a
beam of white light into the darkness of the world. Who was
he? What was he like? Why was he murdered by the enlightened
Athenian State? These questions have haunted me; how human
freedom and the ability to be a free-thinking, unfettered
and fearless man of enquiry is at the core of the Living
experience." ----Nick Mancuso
In
The Death of Socrates we witness the stirring and moving
presence of a great and human mind that revolutionized the
way we think about the world. What is at stake here is not
only whether a man will die, but whether human freedom can
be destroyed by the dark forces of dishonesty and
brutality. The Death of Socrates queries the very
nature of what it means to be a human being. It is the story
of whether the light of civilization can continue in a world
that is swayed by propaganda, lies, and the bottom-line of
unabashed greed.
Nick
Mancuso is an internationally recognized face and name
that spans a thirty-year career in film, television and on
stage. A member of the original "underground theatre" of
Toronto in the early 70's, his talent shot him to prominence
in Hollywood, landing him his first leading role for
Columbia Pictures, Nightwing, directed by Arthur
Hiller. He has worked steadily since then, garnering along
the way several prestigious acting awards including Italy's
Polifemo F'argento at the Taormina Film Festival, the
Canadian Genie for Ticket to Heaven and best actor
award from the Houston Film Festival. In the mid 80's, Mr.
Mancuso starred in his own prime time series for NBC, in the
popular action show Stingray, which made him a
household name. He later starred in another series,
Matrix. Other credits include Heartbreakers, Wild
Palms, Under Siege, Motherlode, Nightmagic and the tv
series Call of the Wild. Although primarily known as
an actor, Mr. Mancuso is also a writer and director. He
recently directed True West at the Alumnae Theatre
and was last seen on stage in Toronto in 1999 in his own
play Hotel Praha, co-produced by Alianak Theatre
Productions. Mancuso is soon to be seen starring in the
film A Time Of Fear, to be released in the
spring.
The
Death of Socrates set and lighting design is by the
acclaimed Droege Designs, music is composed by
Dennis Patrick, sound design is by Terry Crack,
sound effects is by Joe Mancuso (Dora Award for
The Walls of Africa) and costume design is by Angela
Thomas. The stage manager is Karen O'Brien.
Alianak
Theatre Productions continues to push the envelope of
innovative and thought-provoking theatre with an
all-Canadian season. The rest of the line-up includes the
world premiere of Adam Nashman's explosive new
play Crimes in January 2003; and the remount
of the triple Dora Award winning 2001 production of
The Walls of Africa by Hrant Alianak in
March, 2003.
The
Death of Socrates, adapted and performed by Nick
Mancuso, directed by Hrant Alianak, previews from
Nov. 13, opens Friday, November 15 and runs to Dec. 1
at Artword Theatre, 75 Portland Street.
Performances: Tuesday - Saturday at 8pm, Sunday at
2:30pm. Prices: Previews: $15; Tues.-Thurs. $21;
Fri.-Sat. $28; Sun. mat: first 30 people are
PAY-WHAT-YOU-CAN, the rest are $15. ($2 Discount for
Students, seniors, Equity members) Box Office:
416-504-PLAY (7529).
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