THE TRIALS OF HARVEY MATUSOW
“Y'know, the thing about McCarthy – the thing they never tell you – is this: Joe McCarthy was a
son of a bitch; but he was the nicest son of a bitch you ever met.”
son of a bitch; but he was the nicest son of a bitch you ever met.”
England, the late ’60s. Harvey Matusow is a long way from home. Home, for the record, is New York, but it’s been a while since he was welcome there.
Still, he keeps himself busy.
In fact, there’s barely a moment when Harvey isn’t writing, broadcasting, playing the Jew’s harp, organising music festivals, inventing toys or burying pianos in the garden (his wife’s an avant-garde musician).
In fact, Harvey never really stands still.
Perhaps he’s afraid to stand still.
Perhaps if he did he’d have time to reflect on the events of the previous decade, when political flirtation with such as Joe McCarthy led his younger self from national fame to national infamy to jail – and finally into exile.
Click pic to watch
The Trials of Harvey Matusow was the result of 12 months’ research in the archives of the University of Sussex, where Harvey Matusow’s papers are held. Directed by Ralf Higgins, the show was premiered at the 2010 Brighton Festival, picking up a Best Male Performer nomination at the Latest Awards and later going on to be honoured with the FringeReview Outstanding Theatre Award.
Online resources include a mini documentary, Harvey Matusow: Robert Cohen Tells Most, and a Facebook page. Extended versions of the reviews below can be accessed via links to the Matusow Reviews page or to original web pages.
Online resources include a mini documentary, Harvey Matusow: Robert Cohen Tells Most, and a Facebook page. Extended versions of the reviews below can be accessed via links to the Matusow Reviews page or to original web pages.
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“The best one-hander I have seen this year”
Plays International More “A five star acting performance... It's almost impossible for one man to hold an audience for 90 minutes, but he achieves it.” Latest 7 magazine See original review **** “The script is compelling... chillingly informative, cuttingly funny.” Fringe Review See original review |
“A fascinating story of both the man and the paranoid country desperately looking for enemies within..”
Brighton Argus More “What is unequivocal is the sheer powerful brilliance of Cohen’s script... And then there’s the performance – pitch-perfect, adroit, vivacious and charming. Harvey’s the kind of guy you’d lend your last dime to, even if you knew damn well he’d betray you with it.” FringeGuru See full review |
