Marx in Soho
Written by Howard Zinn
Iron Age Theatre
With Bob Weick
Imagine if Karl Marx could return from the grave — but only for one hour — to answer the 120-plus years of bad press since his death. This is the concept of the Howard Zinn play Marx in Soho.
Written by Zinn, and produced and performed by Bob Weick, Marx in Soho is educational theatre aimed at students, teachers and community members.
The play is a one-person show, where Marx the man shares his reflections on history and philosophy as he retells the very human and personal story of his life in Soho. The play is more than just a political discussion; it is the experience of the life and mind of Karl Marx.
Zinn shows his characteristic gift of accurately humanising but not sentimentalising Marx. Zinn's dialogue doesn't preach. Rather it is full of mischievous humour. US education, the US's super-rich ruling class, corporate mergers, prisons, political chicanery and the media are some of the timely issues Marx takes on during the course of the play.
Zinn is the US's leading progressive historian. He is best known for his book A People's History of the United States.
Marx in Soho has toured high schools and campuses in the United States to a great reception. Producer and actor Bob Weick would like to bring it to Australia, but needs sponsorship to be able to do so. Individuals, groups or theatre companies wanting to assist, or to find more information, can contact the producer at <bomabesa@earthlink.net> or <http://www.ironagetheatre.org/marx.html>.
From Green Left Weekly, March 1, 2006.
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