Eugene Ionesco and The Economic Apocalypse

Palm Beach Dramaworks discovered something important this season: that playwrights named Eugene had a bead on this whole capitalist apocalypse thing long before anyone else. Dramaworks’ first Eugene play (by Eugene O’Neill) spoke of the depths of depravity to which a man can tumble if he thinks he might lose...

By Brandon K. Thorp

December 18, 2008

[
        {
          "name": "GPT - Billboard - Slot Inline - Content - Labeled - No Desktop",
          "component": "16971022",
          "insertPoint": "2",
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "2"
        },{
          "name": "Editor Picks",
          "component": "15769925",
          "insertPoint": "4",
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "1"
        },{
          "name": "Inline Links",
          "component": "16575154",
          "insertPoint": "8th",
          "startingPoint": 8,
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "7",
          "maxInsertions": 25
        },{
          "name": "GPT - Rectangle 2x - Slot Auto-select - Labeled",
          "component": "15782206",
          "insertPoint": "8th",
          "startingPoint": 8,
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "7",
          "maxInsertions": 25
        },{
          "name": "Inline Links",
          "component": "16575154",
          "insertPoint": "8th",
          "startingPoint": 12,
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "11",
          "maxInsertions": 25
        },{
          "name": "GPT - Leaderboard to Tower - Slot Auto-select - Labeled",
          "component": "15782207",
          "insertPoint": "8th",
          "startingPoint": 12,
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "11",
          "maxInsertions": 25
        }
      ]

Palm Beach Dramaworks discovered something important this season: that playwrights named Eugene had a bead on this whole capitalist apocalypse thing long before anyone else. Dramaworks’ first Eugene play (by Eugene O’Neill) spoke of the depths of depravity to which a man can tumble if he thinks he might lose his house. The second one, Eugene Ionesco’s The Chairs, opens tonight. It shows how people might behave if they’ve finally figured out the meaning of life, but only after some hideous cataclysm has already carried off the whole rest of the world. We’re not there yet — there are still people, after all, and even Icelanders haven’t yet resorted to naked cannibalism in the streets. Still, you might want to take notes.

See Eugene Ionesco’s The Chairs at 8 p.m. tonight and through February 1 at Palm Beach Dramaworks (322 Banyan Blvd., West Palm Beach). Tickets cost $40 to $42. Call 561-514-4042, or visit palmbeachdramaworks.org.
Fri., Dec. 19, 2008

KEEP NEW TIMES FREE... Since we started New Times, it has been defined as the free, independent voice of South Florida, and we'd like to keep it that way. Your membership allows us to continue offering readers access to our incisive coverage of local news, food, and culture with no paywalls. You can support us by joining as a member for as little as $1.