The Altruists

by Nicky Silver
directed by Billy Ferrer

February 3-5, 8pm
February 4 & 5, 2pm

Little Theater, Oberlin College

Ronald and his friends, a slew of quirky young New Yorkers, are saving the world, one protest at a time—or so they think. These activists march for gay rights, women’s rights, and AIDS funding. They attend protests against welfare cutbacks and arts cutbacks. Whatever the cause, Ronald and his friends crusade with firebombs, stink bombs, and passion. Yet, their supposed dedication to the public comes into question when Ronald’s sister, Sydney, commits an act of unthinkable violence and the group faces a colossal moral dilemma. Directed by Billy Ferrer ’12, Nicky Silver’s dark comedy, The Altruists, begs the question, “How much are you willing to sacrifice to a cause, and why?”

Tickets

$3 In Advance
$5 At the Door

In Person
Tickets can be purchased in person at the Central Ticket Service in Hall Auditorium Lobby.
Hours of Operation: Monday through Friday, 12pm to 5pm

By Phone
Contact Central Ticket Service at: (440) 775-8169 or 1-800-371-0178
Hours of Operation: Monday through Friday, 12pm to 5pm

Seating in Little Theater is limited and there is no late seating.

Little Theater is located in the annex of Hall Auditorium  [Get Directions to Little Theater]

This production is presented by the Oberlin College Theater and Dance Program. 

Artistic & Production Credits

Cast

Production Notes

“I think a major problem with Americans is that they’re unwilling to laugh at themselves,” says director Billy Ferrer. The Altruists provides an entertaining outlet for the liberal-minded Oberlin community to laugh at itself, all while raising questions about the nature of self-sacrifice and self-righteousness.

Ronald, a gay social worker and activist, invests all his time and energy into the community but, nonetheless, feels estranged and unfulfilled. He remains isolated and miserable until a short encounter with an entirely apathetic prostitute, in which he discovers what he believes to be love. However, his hopes are quickly shattered when his sister Sydney, a shallow, unethical, soap-opera actress, commits an act of violence in a frenzied rage. Sydney comes running to Ronald for help, and the group makes decisions that seem to go against the very values preached by Ronald and his activist companions.

When picking out this play, Ferrer thought a great deal about the G20 protests and Mountaintop Removal, causes that Oberlin students have been involved in for years. “Every year, it seems Oberlin students are somehow engaged in activist culture and sometimes it’s more successful than others,” explains Ferrer.

Although the typical Oberlin student is politically active and politically conscious, there is often distance between Oberlin students, and the causes they support. “We have a lot of loud voices in the Oberlin community,” Ferrer states, “but sometimes Oberlin students preach to the choir so much that it’s hard for their actions to be as significant, as let’s say something such as Occupy Wall Street, which is engaging a different subset of the American community.”

Nicky Silver’s dark comedy, The Altruists, approaches protest culture with humor and wit. Packed with outrageous one-liners from eccentric characters, this play is a “must-see.”

Bios

NICKY SILVER (Playwright) graduated from the NYU theatre program and began writing shortly after. His work, often compared to that of Oscar Wilde, Joe Orton, and Christopher Durang, has premiered at noteworthy venues such as the Vineyard Theatre and Playwrights Horizons. In 1994 and 1995, he received Drama Desk Award nominations for Outstanding Play. Mr. Silver also wrote the new book for Broadway’s revival of The Boys From Syracuse, A Rodgers and Hart musical. Plays include Pterodactyls, The Food Chain, Raised in Captivity, Fat Men in Skirts, The Maiden’s Prayer, Fit to be Tied, The Eros Trilogy, The Altruists, and Beautiful Child.

BILLY FERRER (Director)is a fourth year Theater major and Dance minor from New York City. Previous directing credits include the self-written Busty for the 2011 OSTA Fall Showcase and A Dead Man's Apartment for the 2010 Directing II One Acts. Previous acting credits include The Dickening (2011 Midtown International Theater Festival, dir. Ben Ferber), King Lear (Ovalhouse Theater, dir. Ian Wooldrige) and Intimate Apparel (Oberlin Mainstage, dir. Caroline Jackson-Smith). Billy is a former student of the British American Dramatic Academy Fall 2010 London Theater Program. He would like to thank his cast and crew for another amazing experience, and his professors for teaching him practically everything he knows.

Media

All media inquiries can be directed to Ellie Philips at 440.775.8171 or ephilips@oberlin.edu