and I can tell you what it: Brecht’s Arturo Ui at the Classic Stage Company.
Director John Doyle understands the broad strokes and overt theatricality of Brecht and his anti-illusionism, pro-illusionism theater of alienation.
Brecht’s dramatic tract-a-clef was written in 1941 and charts the rise of a Hitler-like demagogue in the person of small-time thug Arturo.
Just so you don’t miss the point, the director frames it with voice- over loudspeaker announcements tick-tocking the steps in Hitler’s ascension to dictator. (That’s not in the original script, is it? I’ll have to check.)
As Brooklyn-ite Arturo, Raul Esparza deeze and doze like nobody’s business. And in his final, acceptance-of-dictatorship address, he allows himself a few pukka Trump hand flourishes.
It closes on December 22, and should be seen!