Theatre @ York's season opener: "Bankrupt!"

TORONTO, October 23, 2000 -- Theatre @ York launches its 2000-2001 on November 7 with Bankrupt! written by 19th century Russian dramatist, Alexander Ostrovsky, and directed by Max Hancock.

Bankrupt! is a darkly satirical tale about underhanded financial dealings, deceptions, phony transactions - issues that dominate the news today. But this play was written in 1850 Russia. As a civil servant in the Commercial office, the playwright, Ostrovsky, witnessed the ruthless nature of wealthy Moscow merchants obsessed with making money. His thinly-veiled account of a merchant successfully arranging a false bankruptcy to evade creditors was altogether too realistic. It brought about Ostrovsky's own dismissal from the civil service.

"All the characters in the play are struggling to keep their heads above water amidst the loss of their traditional values", says director Max Hancock. "There are so many parallels with the situation today where people in dead-end jobs are just getting by. Life forces you to make certain compromises; families and societies suffer as a result."

Max Hancock has experience as an actor, director and writer. His work has ranged from avant-garde installations to the classics, from summer stock to collective creations and dance performance. Most recently, Hancock directed his original play The Dress with a group of teenage actors for the inaugural season of the Brantford Young People's Theatre. He is currently pursuing a graduate degree in directing in York University's Theatre Department.

Theatre @ York productions showcases the performance, directing and production talents of students in the Theatre Department. The cast for Bankrupt! is drawn from members of the second-year Graduate Acting Ensemble. Sets are by Sean Gogarty, costumes are designed by Klarissa Fear-Firman, with lighting by Michael Rainey.

Bankrupt! previews Sun., Nov. 5 and Mon., Nov. 6, opens Tue., Nov. 7 and runs nightly to Sat., Nov. 11 in the Joseph G. Green Studio Theatre at York University, 4700 Keele St. Showtime is 7:30 p.m. except for Wed., Nov. 8 at 6 p.m. Matinees Wed., Nov. 8 and Fri., Nov. 10 at 1 p.m. Admission is $12, students/seniors $8, group rate $5. Previews are PWYC on Sun., Nov. 5 and $5 on Mon., Nov. 6. For tickets and information, phone (416) 736-5172 ext. 3.

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For further information, please contact:

Brigitte Kleer
Manager of Public Relations, Faculty of Fine Arts
York University
(416) 736-2100 ext. 77143