AmericanTheaterWeb Original News & Reviews

From October 15-19, P.S. 122 will preent The Society, a new work from Norway's Jo Strømgren Kompani at the Abrons Arts Center on Manhattan's Lower East Side.

In this piece, a society of sworn coffee drinkers gather for their daily ritual, but the harmony is broken by a horrific incident: the discovery of a used teabag. As the investigations unfold the questions become more complicated. Do they have a domestic traitor among them or is the teabag a symbol of a much larger global scenario? How far will they have to go in order to track the traitor down, smoke him out, and bring this evil act to justice?

Jo Strømgren Kompani mirrors the macro-world by scrutinizing basic elements of contemporary phenomena: in our turbulent times the average citizen is ever more tempted to accept torture, suppression of minorities, and other violent means in order to restore order and avoid a clash of civilizations. Can theatre contribute to change this? JSK neglects any responsibility to join that debate. Rather, they pursue their signature fart-in-the-universe quest to pinpoint utterly sad human behavior.

Jo Strømgren Kompani has created its own international niche through its long-term research on abstract text. Each production performed by JSK involves a completely new linguistic alias, inspired by a specific culture or region. Worldwide success in 45 countries has proven this nonsensical language manifesto to be more than just a temporary funny idea. For all audiences - don't panic, the performers do not even know what is being said on stage.

The Society runs Wednesday, October 15 – Sunday, October 19 at the Abrons Arts Center (466 Grand Street). Performances are Wednesday through Saturday at 8:30pm and Sunday at 6:30pm. Tickets from $25, $15 (students/seniors) and can be purchased online at www.ps122.org or via phone at (212) 352-3101.