A&E

Race to Cité des Arts

by Anna Purdy

David Mamet's provocative play Race will be produced at Cité des Arts next month by the Eavesdrop Theatre Company.

David Mamet's provocative play Race will be produced at Cité des Arts next month by the Eavesdrop Theatre Company.

Race was written and directed by Mamet and premiered for the 2009-10 Broadway season after a run of nearly 300 performances. The plot revolves around two lawyers who are hired to defend a wealthy white man accused of raping a black woman. The crux of the piece lies in the new young litigator brought in and her influence over the case. Originally a black woman filled this role - no telling if Eavesdrop will keep with this theme of echo as yet.

Mamet is unquestionably one of the most influential contemporary American playwrights. He won the Pulitzer for Glengarry Glen Ross and won multiple awards and critical accolades for his plays, TV writing, film scripts and books.

Eavesdrop Theatre was first founded in 1974. Between its genesis and 1986 more than 200 plays by nearly 100 local writers were produced. After a lull the company hopes to produce more theater. Loren Farmer directs this retelling of Race.

Cité des Arts is located in downtown Lafayette at 109 Vine St.

Performances are at 7:30 p.m. Feb. 3, 4, 10 and 11. Matinees are held at 2 p.m. Feb. 5 and 12. Tickets are $10. Buy tickets by called 291-1122 or at citedesarts.org.