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PEOPLE & ARTS Saturday 5 January 2019
Opera based on Sarah Kane's last play gets US premiere

By MIKE SILVERMAN the Baruch Performing Arts
NEW YORK (AP) — Depres- Center, where the opera
sion, rage, suicide: These opens Saturday for six per-
are the dark ingredients of formances. "So it's not just
the last play written by Sar- monologue or dialogue.
ah Kane before she killed Some of it isn't even verbal
herself at age 28. Now an text. It's doctors' notes, or a
operatic version, as daz- list of numbers, not neces-
zling as it is disturbing, is sarily to be spoken.
having its U.S. premiere. "You can divide it how you
"4.48 Psychosis," composed like, which gives you amaz-
by Philip Venables and ing flexibility musically," he
adapted from the play of said.
the same title, premiered He chose to write it for
to critical and popular ac- six female singers, two of
claim in London and will whom sometimes take on
be performed here at the the roles of patient and
annual Prototype festival therapist. "The text clearly
dedicated to promoting has a polyphony of voices,
new work. like opposing voices in your
"I was immediately taken head," Venables said. "I
with the piece," said Beth wanted to render that into
Morrison, one of the direc- real musical polyphony.
tors of Prototype. "Is it de- This photo provided by Royal Opera House shows Mezzo Lucy Schaufer and soprano Gweneth- That's why I chose to have
pressing? Of course it is. It's Ann Rand in a scene from the London production of Philip Venables’ opera “4.48 Psychosis.” six voices onstage."
sobering, difficult. ... But we Associated Press The orchestral score calls
look to works like this to ex- for saxophones, violas, an
press the human condition, explicit sex and violence. and have a period of lu- narrative, barely any stage accordion, bass, flute and
and the things that we suf- "4.48 Psychosis" premiered cidity before needing her directions. For Venables, piccolo. There are also
fer with as humans and as in 2000, a year after Kane next dose of medication at that provided enormous what Venables calls "bits
a society." hanged herself. The play's 6 a.m. challenges but also a wel- and bobs" of percussion
Kane burst onto the scene title seems to refer to the The play's structure is come freedom. instruments — including a
in 1995 with her first play, precise minute when the unique: no list of charac- "It has this huge range of dif- wood saw. Plus pre-record-
"Blasted," which shocked troubled playwright would ters, no indication who ferent text modes," he said ed sounds of static and "el-
audiences because of its spontaneously awaken speaks which lines, no clear in an interview this week at evator music."q

Bob Einstein of Super Dave and "Curb" fame dies at 76

By LYNN ELBER On the comedy, Einstein when he was starring in the
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Bob played annoying pal Marty series "Super Dave's Las Ve-
Einstein, the veteran com- Funkhouser to Larry David's gas Spectacular" series.
edy writer and performer equally difficult character. Einstein recounted Super
known for "The Smothers In a statement, David said Dave's origins on a 1970s
Brothers Comedy Hour," he'd never seen an actor variety show.
''Curb Your Enthusiasm" and enjoy a role more than Ein- "I came up with the idea of
his spoof daredevil charac- stein did playing Marty. a daredevil who's going to
ter Super Dave Osborne, "It was an amazing, unfor- go upside down, in a met-
has died, according to his gettable experience know- al car, at 90 mph, and it's
brother, filmmaker Albert ing and working with him. never been done before,"
Brooks. Einstein was 76. There was no one like him, Einstein said then. "I get into
Einstein will be "missed for- as he told us again and this metal car, I'm strapped
ever," Brooks said in a post again," David said Wednes- in. You pull back, and it's
Wednesday on his verified day. "We're all in a state of a roller coaster at Magic
Twitter account. shock." Mountain, with kids and In this June 27, 2018 file photo, Bob Einstein arrives at the Los
"R.I.P. My dear brother Bob Einstein created and nuns and everything else! Angeles premiere of "Robin Williams: Come Inside My Mind" at
Einstein. A great brother, played Super Dave, a stunt- "I pass out while everybody the TCL Chinese Theatre.
father and husband. A bril- man who was far more am- else is having a wonderful Associated Press
liantly funny man," tweeted bitious than he was agile time," he said.
Brooks, 71. and looked the part in an Over time, Super Dave karkus and later played him and a second Emmy in
Details of Einstein's death eye-catching white jump- even made it into commer- on the big screen. 1976 for Dick Van Dyke's
were not immediately suit. Super Dave appeared cials for clothes and ath- Besides Albert Brooks (his "Van Dyke and Company"
available. Representatives on comedy-variety spe- letic shoes. Einstein said he stage name), Bob Einstein's variety series.
for him and Brooks did not cials and series, most re- never tired of his alter ego. siblings include Clifford Ein- Comedian David Steinberg
immediately respond to cently "Super Dave's Spike Einstein was born in 1942 in stein. recalled on Twitter that he
calls or emails. Tacular" in 2009. Los Angeles to actress Thel- Bob Einstein won an Emmy and Einstein started out
Einstein was scheduled to "This character allows me to ma Leeds and comedian for writing on the 1960s se- together on the Smothers'
be part of the 10th season do anything I want, come- and actor Harry Einstein, ries "The Smothers Brothers show.
of "Curb Your Enthusiasm," dically, and get away with also known as Harry Parke. Comedy Hour," on which "What a mind! What a great
but his health barred him it," the comedian told The He gained radio fame as he also played opposite friend. Brilliantly funny al-
from filming, HBO said. Associated Press in 1995, the character Nick Parkya- Tom and Dick Smothers, ways," Steinberg posted.q