You are the only man among the rhinoceros.”. Ionesco wrote in 1940, “The police are rhinoceros. Written in the aftermath of the Second World War and with the backdrop of the rise of the Iron Guard in Romania, Ionesco uses the play and the symbol of rhinoceros to showcase the fall of individuals to totalitarian regimes. The play has elements of absurd and avant-garde theatre, but more significantly, the play provides a political commentary on the rise of mass hysteria, fascism, and totalitarianism. CAP supports the creation, presentation and critical dialogues vital to the ongoing innovation and expressive potential of artists whose work, whether vibrantly emerging or internationally acclaimed, forms the dynamic and evolving heritage of contemporary performance.Rhinoceros is a play by Eugene Ionesco written in 1959. Performed in French with English supertitles.Ĭenter for the Art of Performance at UCLA (CAP UCLA) is dedicated to the advancement of the contemporary performing arts in all disciplines - dance, music, spoken word and theater, as well the emerging digital, collaborative and cross-art platforms inspired by today's leading artists and creators. Only Bérenger transforms from indifference to an empowerment-becoming an individual determined to fight against the tyranny of the collective. The square is soon overrun with townsfolk joining the herd.

'Rhinoceros' begins in a small French town square where Ionesco’s semi-autobiographical everyman Bérenger apathetically witnesses a rhinoceros running through the square while his fellow citizens react with shock and, later, conformity. 'Rhinoceros' is considered by many to be his finest work and revered as a gripping piece of the Theatre of the Absurd era of theatre history. The story of protest and conformity is reflective of Ionesco’s personal and emotional reaction to the rise of Fascism and French collaboration with the Nazis. Ionesco’s metaphorical cautionary tale takes aim at the powerful grip of social and political ideology and its power to eclipse the identity of the individual and strip away intellectual pursuit. premiere of Ionesco’s 'Rhinoceros' is performed by the same troupe that debuted it at Paris’ Théâtre de la Ville in 2004, where Demarcy-Mota was named director in 2008.

Looking at the famed playwright in a new framework, this restaging and U.S.

Performances Friday, Septemand Saturday, September 22, 2012Ī cast of performers continues their award-winning exploration of Eugene Ionesco’s work-with 'Rhinoceros,' under the direction of Emmanuel Demarcy-Mota.

Rhinoceros by eugène ionesco