The Man in the Newspaper Hat – 2009

by Hayley Heaton
Performed: - New York City, Mar 05 - Apr 01, 2009
Category:

Inspired by Elizabeth Bishop’s poem “Visits to St.Elizabeths“, the play is a fictionalized portrayal of Bishop’s visits to Ezra Pound in her function as Consultant to Poetry of the Library of Congress between 1949-1950.

Pound, founder of Modernist Poetry and mentor to a generation of poets, but infamous for his pro-fascist and anti-semitic rants over Radio Rome during WWII, was remanded to St.Elizabeths after having been declared unfit to stand trial for high treason. Each scene builds upon aspects of the poem, as Bishop meets with Pound, seeking the writer, the poet under the rubble of his disastrous political theories.

They discuss and disagree on what makes a good poem, how important is poetic lineage, dreams, and the work. As Pound slowly loses his religion, Bishop begins to find the Man, the poem, her poem.

Creative Team:
Direction/Producer: Katrin Hilbe
Associate Producer/Stage Manager: Arienne Pelletier*
Dramaturg: Oliver Conant
Scenic Design: Elisha Schaefer
Costume Design: Meredith Neal
Lighting Design: Joan Racho-Jansen
Sound Design: Andy Evan Cohen
Press Agent: Kampfire/Antonio Minino

Cast:
Elizabeth Bishop: Anne Fizzard *
Ezra Pound: Angus Hepburn *
Dr. Overholser (Voice-over): Oliver Conant
* Members of AEA




Press

"This show works for everyone, including those who are not prior fans of either Pound or Bishop. The artful way Heaton has crafted her play has me looking forward to the work she does next."
Sheri Rase, QonStage.com

"Hepburn picks up on the poet's warmth (Pound was a fiercely generous advocate of his peers' artistry) and resists reducing the character to either inflammatory zealot or lovable lunatic."
Li Cornfeld, offoffonline.com

“Short but intense, Newspaper is a challenging look at a devilishly difficult man to take full stock of.”
Joe Bindel, JBSpins

“Katrin Hilbe's Many Tracks has a fresh perspective. This new venture's mission is discovering "Many Tracks to Making Theatre" and Hilbe's direction of Heaton's most excellent play realizes that mission well.”
Sheri Rase, QonStage