ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Thursday, May 23, 1996 TAG: 9605230010
SECTION: EXTRA PAGE: 3 EDITION: METRO
DATELINE: ABINGDON
SOURCE: PAUL DELLINGER STAFF WRITER
"The Angel's Share," a new play performed so far only in Russia, will open at Barter Theatre on Friday and will run through June 16.
The play by Joseph Kline, who wrote last year's popular "On the Third Day" for Barter, was specifically commissioned by Barter's Artistic Director Richard Rose. It premiered in Russia in March with American actors. Now it's coming home.
"The Angel's Share" was part of a cultural exchange which brought members of the Rybinsk Municipal Theatre from Russia to Virginia earlier this year. "This is a story which needs to be told," Kline said. "It is a story of men and women, of science and morality, of potatoes and angels."
Its title comes from the practice on the Island of Medeiros, Italy, of leaving grapes on vines after harvests, allowing the angels to take their share of the bounty. Its subject matter comes from Russian history and has only been openly discussed during the past two years.
The story is set during the siege of Leningrad by the Nazis in World War II. Hundreds of thousands of people died from starvation, but the work of dedicated botanists working in laboratories in the bombed city survived the devastation.
The actors who took the play to Russia, visited the institute where the events of the play occurred, where scientists worked on experiments that would improve growing conditions of wheat, corn and beans while bombs fell all around them. Experiments on seeds and grains are still going on there today.
The play is directed by Rose, and stars Jay Apking, Victoria Bothby, Susan Boulle, John Hardy and Randall Rapstine.
Reservations and further information are available by calling 628-3991 or (800)-368-3240.
LENGTH: Short : 44 lines ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO: "The Angel's Share," opening Friday at the Barterby CNBTheatre, features Susanne Boulle, John Hardy and Victoria Boothby