27 Jul The Art of Lost Art

The Potomac Theatre Project/NYC is performing the intriguing play, Pentecost, at the Atlantic 2 Stage. This bold play written by David Edgar and set in 1991 uses a recently discovered mysterious fresco painting in the wall of an old abandoned church in unnamed south-east European country as a backdrop to explore questions of determining the validity of found antiquities, political government strife, terrorism and hostages, culture, the fall of communism and the hope for a better life in a country not of your birth.

As Mr Edgar states in his notes,

Behind what I tried to do with this story is a dialectic which accepts the failure of the universal Communist utopia, but questions whether the only cultural alternative is a return to the exclusive national and religious fundamentalism of olden times.

Leading a stellar cast is my colleague, Jonathan Tindle, portraying an art historian, who interacts with an enriching blend of international characters each with their own unique motivations and perspectives, giving a wide berth to countless points of view and food for thought.

This is a piece you must listen to closely as the sounds are a heady mix of many dialects and accents that are a rare treat for the ears and beautifully rendered by the cast as more and more of the fresco is revealed in all its beauty and, ultimately, authenticity.

See Pentecost before it closes on August 11.