Cutting Ball's Ubu Roi frolics in kitchen sink surrealism
Father Ubu (David Sinaiko) preps for battle in "Ubu Roi".
PHOTO BY SARAH ROLANDTHEATER Alfred Jarry's Ubu Roi is probably better known for its riotous Parisian opening (back in 1896) than for the play itself. The profanity it leveled against the city's crème de la crème, beginning with its famous opening incantation, "Merdre!"— not exactly a word but dirty-sounding enough to precipitate a violent revolt long before the final curtain — broke open the doors of the WC on so-called polite society. As it turned out, no one was really keen or able to close them again.Read more »