The Last Supper was ARC's 10th production and was performed at the Open Stage, Melbourne University, Grattan St, Parkville.

If you met Adolph Hitler when he was just a struggling cartoonist, would you have done the world a favour by murdering him?" That philosophical question is the linchpin of this black comedy, written by Dan Rosen and adapted for the stage by Denise Gientke. The Last Supper is guaranteed to make you think twice about accepting your next invitation to dinner.

Performance season

The performance season consisted of 5 shows over one week:

• Wednesday 13th November at 8pm
• Thursday 14th November at 8pm
• Friday 15th November at 8pm
• Saturday 16th November at 2pm (matinee) & 8pm

Synopsis

Paulie, Jude, Mark, Pete and Luke are five graduate students who participate in small-scale activism, are confirmed members of the political left and share a house in Iowa City, Iowa, USA. One night, Pete is stuck in the middle of nowhere and Zack, a truck driver, gives him a lift home. The housemates are about eat dinner and invite Zack to join them as an expression of their gratitude. As the dinner conversation develops, Zack presents his philosophy that Hitler 'had the right idea.' The mood quickly turns sour and Zack's views are silenced forevermore. This event prompts much discussion amongst the housemates and poses the question "If you met Adolph Hitler when he was just a struggling cartoonist, would you have done the world a favour by murdering him?" This provides the linchpin of the play. The students decide that the world is better off without the likes of Zack and the further removal of such hate-mongers would improve society even more. Before long the weekly dinner party becomes a life or death trial where controversial guests including an anti-environmental activist, a right-wing religious leader, a sexist who doesn't believe in rape and a teenager campaigning against sex education in schools are invited to defends their beliefs. As the story progresses, the tomato garden flourishes and Iowa City's missing persons list grows ever longer.

Director

Mark James

Cast

Producers (ARC Committee)

Production Team