Carey Perloff

"With THE COLOSSUS OF RHODES, a bold theatrical exploration of Victorian England’s Cecil Rhodes, Carey Perloff can add playwright to her resume without blushing.

The first play from the current artistic director of San Francisco’s American Conservatory Theater and former a.d. of New York’s Classic Stage Co., it was originally written at least 15 years ago. Substantially rewritten for its White Barn Theater premiere, it wears its Brechtian and Stoppardian influences obviously, but its subject matter is fascinating and Perloff clearly has the right theatrical instincts and the ability to write dialogue that springs to life."

–– MARKLAND TAYLOR, VARIETY

THE COLOSSUS OF RHODES

by Carey Perloff


Workshopped at the O’Neill National Playwrights Conference,

Directed by Elizabeth Diamond

Premiered at Lucille Lortel’s White Barn 2002

Directed by Loy Arcenas

A.C.T. 2003, Directed by Carey Perloff

"A fascinating human portrait of the multiple legacies of imperialism"

–– ROBERT AVILA, SF BAY GUARDIAN

" Colossus of Rhodes is part history, part romance and part vaudeville song and dance with a Brechtian influence. The songs, written by Catherine Reid with lyrics by Ms. Perloff, are very effective and they move the story along. The simple, multilevel set by Hisham Ali is exceptionally lit by Nancy Schertler. The whole drama is very skillfully staged, mostly as individual scenes that flow smoothly into each segment of the capitalist's life."

––  RICHARD CONNEMA, TALKIN' BROADWAY


Cecil Rhodes

THE COLOSSUS OF RHODES Script Excerpt