The Sandra Feinstein-Gamm Theatre (The Gamm) is presenting Red Noses, Peter Barnes' wickedly funny, award-winning black comedy about the Black Death through the end of February. This zany, irreverent, stunt-filled play features a cast of 22 actors portraying the best and worst of human behavior in the face of tragedy.

We go back now to 1348. Auxerre, France. Plague ravages Europe and "one-third of Christendom lies under sod." The pope trembles in fear inside a glass-walled chamber in Avignon, while flagellants, lepers and scavengers ravage the countryside. Enter a desperate epileptic monk and his ragtag band of blind jugglers, one-legged dancers, disgraced nuns and others, all on a sacred mission to bring cheap laughs to the suffering masses.

The Guardian calls this Olivier Award winning comedy "a brilliant play… a tremendous life-affirming piece".

"Red Noses harnesses the unique communicative power of theater in a way unmatched by almost any play I know of," says Gamm Artistic Director Tony Estrella. "Barnes' joyous, silly and compassionate masterpiece is a testament to forgiveness and generosity in the face of unceasing brutality. It's epic, incendiary, heartbreaking and hilarious. It's populist, and intellectually stimulating theater for everybody."

New York and regional set designer Michael McGarty has reconfigured The Gamm's performance space to create a unique 14th-century environment in which Father Flote (Estrella) and his oddball circus troupe unleash their silliness.

"Michael has reshaped the theater into a dynamic setting that evokes plague, desolation, cathedral and carnival alley all in one," says Director Peter Sampieri. "All of us working at The Gamm feel lucky to collaborate with a designer that has created such a textured playground for us to work in."

Here are the details:

Red Noses: A black comedy by Peter Barnes
Directed by Peter Sampieri
Set Design by Michael McGarty
Costume Design by Marilyn Salvatore
Lighting Design by Richard Van Voris

Original Music Composed by Charles Cofone

Fight & Stunt Choreography/Technical Direction by Normand Beauregard

Stage Manager, Stef Work; Assistant Stage Manager, Karen Carpenter; Props Master/ASM, Rachel Capotosto; Dramaturge, Jennifer Madden; Dance Choreographer, Angelica Vessella; Set Painter, William P. Wieters; Assistant Costume Designer, Carol Ann Simone; Wardrobe Assistant Tray Gearing

Cast (in order of appearance) Tom Epstein (Viennet/Pellico/Papal Guard) Scott Winters (Moncriff/Charles Rochfort) Georgia Cohen (Evaline/Marie) Paul Scharf (Bonville/Lefranc) Wendy Overly (Madame Bonville/Archbishop Monselet/ Mother Metz) Sam Babbitt (Dr. Antrecheau/Pope Clement VI) Matt Furtado (Flagellant/Pierre Frapper) David Rabinow (Flagellant/Jean Le Grue) Anthony Estrella* (Father Flote) Jed Hancock-Brainerd (Flagellant/Charlie Bembo) Steve Kidd (Grez) Andrew Morissette (Scarron) John Lincoln (Druce/ Jean Mistral) Ben Johnson (Sonnerie/Papal Guard) Chris Byrnes (Father Toulon) Jen Swain (1st Attendant/Papal Herald/Leper/Patris)Normand Beauregard (Brodin/Papal Guard) Jeanine Kane (Sister Marguerite Delair) Casey Seymour Kim (Camille/Leper) Ashley Burgess (Boutros Sister One) Courtney Edge (Boutros Sister Two) Kelly Seigh (Sabine Patris/Leper)

The Gamm Theatre is at 172 Exchange St., Pawtucket, RI. it was founded in 1984 as Alias Stage, the nonprofit Sandra Feinstein-Gamm Theatre performs great works of the classic and modern theater in an intimate setting that fosters the vital relationship between author, actor and audience. As the cornerstone of The Arts Exchange at the Pawtucket Armory, The Gamm seeks to engage and enrich the community through affordable entertainment and educational programming.

Tickets to Red Noses are $21 & $24. Discounts for subscribers, groups of 10 or more, seniors and students. For single ticket sales, call 723-4266. Or purchase tickets at www.arttixri.com.

Top Photo: Gamm Artistic Director Tony Estrella plays Father Flote. Photo courtesy of NBC 10 Ladder Photo: Actor Ben Johnson practices one of many stunts. Photo courtesy of Peter Goldberg Photography

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