Pictures From a Revolution
by Tino Caspanello
Translated by Haun Saussy
Directed by Philip Boehm
Upstream Theater
January 24, 2025
Andre Eslamian, J. Samuel Davis, Lizi Watt, Isaiah DiLorenzo
Photo by ProPhotoSTL
Upstream Theater
Protest and revolution are on stage currently at Upstream Theater, along with a strong dose of cynicism, satire, and character study, with a backdrop formed by classic works of art. Pictures From a Revolution, from playwright Tino Caspanello–translated by Haun Saussy and directed by Upstream’s Philip Boehm–is an intriguing look at revolutionary fervor and idealism, power dynamics and greed, and how human nature can affect even causes whether noble, nebulous, or nefarious. At Upstream, this fast-moving but reflective play features impressive production elements and a strong cast of local performers for fascinating–and often surprisingly hilarious–evening of theatre.
The setting is in an unnamed city in an unnamed country, where three holdouts of an essentially dying revolutionary movement–rebelling against an unseen oppressive government–keep watch over their base at an abandoned stadium. These three men are known by their numbers rather than names. There’s the leader of the group, 892 (Isaiah DiLorenzo), who holds on to the group’s rulebook and touts it with insistent fervor; along with the group’s oldest member, 584 (J. Samuel Davis), who is also devoted if somewhat weary; and the youngest, 137 (Andre Eslamian), who is earnest and determined. Although the three are still dedicated to their somewhat nebulous cause, a sense of distrust has begun to show in their relationships with one another, especially for the increasingly suspicious 892. Soon, after 584 is sent out to catch a cow for food, he returns having apparently caught a Woman (Lizi Watt) by accident. Or is it really an accident? As the Woman insinuates herself into the group, apparently supporting their cause, the men become more an more suspicious of one another, and elements of the group’s history are revealed and the story marches steadily toward a seemingly inevitable conclusion.
The action is presented essentially in a series of tableaux based on famous works by artists such as Rembrandt, Manet, Caravaggio, Van Gogh, and others, and punctuated by hummed snippets of “The Internationale” between scenes to maintain the “revolutionary” atmosphere. The staging is striking, with a vivid set by Patrick Huber–featuring scenic painting by David Schuman–that manages to evoke both the idealism and the futility of the movement, along with excellent mood lighting by Steve Carmichael and evocative sound design by Boehm and Huber. Michele Friedman Siler’s costumes are also memorable, reflecting the characters and the dystopian world they live in with appropriate vividness. The pacing is timed well, with moments of reflection, waiting, and urgency as needed, and the the characters are richly drawn.
Those characters are impeccably played by a strong cast, with DiLorenzo, Davis, and Eslamian all having their memorable moments as the three zealous devotees who try to keep their cause alive, but struggle with lack of resources, rejection by their former allies, and that growing sense of distrust amongst themselves, which is further encouraged by the addition of Watt, who is terrific as The Woman, whose motives aren’t always clear–by design. DiLorenzo, as the fiery, increasingly suspicious 892, gives a dynamic performance, and he’s matched by Davis as the well-meaning but weary 584, and Eslamian as the somewhat goofily earnest 137. The relationship dynamics between all four cast members are terrific, bringing out a good deal of humor as well as a growing sense of tension.
Pictures From a Revolution isn’t a long play–running about 90 minutes with no intermission. Still, there is plenty of time here for a fascinating, fast-moving examination of the conflict between utopian idealism and the realities of the baser aspects of human nature. It’s certainly food for thought, and the focus on the paintings gives it an artistic flair that provokes even more thought and reflection. It’s another intriguing St. Louis premiere from Upstream Theater.
Isaiah DiLorenzo, Lizi Watt, J. Samuel Davis, Andre Eslamian
Photo by ProPhotoSTL
Upstream Theater
Upstream Theater is presenting Pictures From a Revolution at the Marcelle Theatre until February 9, 2025