Thursday February 9, 2012

BELLOWS FALLS -- Karl Marx comes back to life in Bellows Falls this Saturday.

Sort of.

What’s really happening is that Karl Marx look-alike Jerry Levy is performing the one-man play "Marx in Soho."

"Marx in Soho"was written by historian and activist Howard Zinn and is a one-man play about Karl Marx and his ideas. It is presented as a benefit for the non-profit organization Making the Most of I.

"Making the Most of I is a very worthy organization," said Levy. "I enjoy doing benefits for causes I believe in. I’m a Socialist myself. It’s a good way of integrating politics, theater, education and philanthropy."

In the play, Levy performs not only as Marx but also as other characters such as Marx’s family members and people from the English society.

"A one-man play is difficult to perform since you are the only character," said Levy. "You are the only one on stage. It is running the marathon of theater, and you have to pace yourself."

The play takes place after the fall of the Soviet Union at a time when Marx’s ideas were rejected. From the afterlife, Marx hears this and it pisses him off. He wants to return to his home in Soho, London, to defend himself, but through a mistake, he ends up in Soho, New York.

"He tells about why he became a revolutionary and his ideas, and he attacks the United States," said Levy. "It shows his life, his ideas and his family."

Levy

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is a teacher of sociology at Marlboro College and an internationally known actor. He has done more than 200 performances of "Marx in Soho" around the world since 2002. He has also done performances with the Actors’ Theater of Brattleboro since 1975. His performances have even taken him on tours through Europe.

"European tours went way beyond my fantasies," Levy said. "Performing ‘Marx in Soho’ around the world was an extraordinary change to my life, and it made me the performer I always wanted to be. It made my 60s the best decade of my life."

Levy thinks Marx’s ideas are very relevant today.

"Times seem to be as bad as they’ve ever been, in terms of the instability and irrationality of global capitalism."

Making the Most of I is a non-profit organization based in Saxtons River which serves more than 1,200 low-income women in transition in various locations throughout the state. It was founded in 1998 by Nancy Clingan.

"Marx in Soho" will be performed at Stone Church Arts, 20 Church St., in Bellows Falls on Saturday Feb. 11, at 7:30 p.m. Tickets will be sold at the door, and prices are $12 for general admission and $10 for seniors/students and children. Refreshments will be served, and there will be a 50/50 raffle.

For more information, visit www.levyarts.com, www.makingthemostofi.org or call Nancy at 802-869-2456.

Nicole Greenia is a senior at Hinsdale High School who is earning classroom credit at the Reformer through an innovative program offered in New Hampshire.