Marat/Sade

Marat/Sade ensemble. Photo by Cylla von Tiedemann.

Originally performed in German, Peter Weiss's 1964 play Marat/Sade or The Persecution and Assassination of Jean-Paul Marat as Performed by the Inmates of the Asylum of Charenton Under the Direction of the Marquis de Sade, is a violent and fascinating depiction of class struggle and human suffering which asks whether true revolution comes from changing society or changing oneself. This season, director Albert Schultz challenges Soulpepper audiences with a new adaptation of the provocative work performed by more than 20 members of the company.

Set in the historical Charenton Asylum after the French Revolution, Marat/Sade is mostly a play-within-a play in which the Marquis de Sade (the man after whom Sadism is named) directs his fellow inmates in a re-enactment of the assassination of the radical journalist Jean-Paul Marat (Stuart Huges) by his political enemy Charlotte Corday (Katherine Gauthier) while the writer is taking a medical bath for his agonizing skin condition. De Sade (played with extreme commitment by Diego Matamoros) stands by watching the plot unfold with detached amusement while advocating for his own individualist beliefs. Meanwhile, Coulmier (David C. Johnson), the director of the hospital and supporter of Napoleon's post-revolutionary government, tries to subdue the patients as they become increasingly less civil throughout the performance.

Performed behind a giant cage (protecting us, the bourgeois audience, from the animal behaviour within), this production of Marat/Sade is the definition of chaos contained. Schultz mines the comedy in Weiss' heady script, especially in the characters of Duperret (Gregory Prest) and the Herald (Oliver Dennis), while Ross's score offers a jolt of punk rock modernism that showcases the diverse abilities on stage. Two of the most energizing numbers are "Homage to Marat" and "Fat Monkeys," both of which highlight the brilliant ensemble as they pitch in to sing, play instruments, and tell a bloody entertaining story.

Marat/Sade unleashes powerful philosophical arguments that call to mind current global issues such as the the Syrian refugee crisis. Don't miss this unique production, on stage until October 17, 2015 at the Young Centre for the Performing Arts. Visit soulpepper.ca for more information and to buy tickets.