Blasted Opens Off-Broadway at Soho Rep Oct. 9

By Adam Hetrick
October 9, 2008

Marin Ireland, Reed Birney and Louis Cancelmi star in the New York premiere of Blasted, which officially opens Off-Broadway Oct. 9.

Late playwright Sarah Kane's darkly controversial work began performances Oct. 2 and plays a limited engagement through Oct. 26. Additional performances of Blasted have been added for Tuesdays, Oct. 14 and 21.

Soho Rep artistic director Sarah Benson directs the production in which "Kane's startling imagery and bleak humor forge a potent theatrical vision of destruction, collapse and, ultimately, redemption and love," according to production notes.

The work, with scenes of brutal rape and cannibalism, was met with condemnation upon its 1995 London premiere. Playwrights Harold Pinter, Caryl Churchill and Martin Crimp all came to the defense of Kane, who committed suicide in 1999.

Blasted was originally slated to conclude the 2007-2008 season at Soho Rep, but was rescheduled to accommodate the schedule of Ireland and to provide the Obie-winning company sufficient time to locate a new executive director.

Designing the production are Louisa Thompson (set design), Tyler Micoleau (lighting design), Theresa Squire (costume design) and Matt Tierney (sound design).

For tickets to Blasted call (212) 941-8632 or visit www.sohorep.org. Soho Rep is located at 46 Walker Street in Manhattan.