2010: Posibilidad, or Death of the Worker

Written by Michael Gene Sullivan (Too Big To Fail, Red State, Making A Killing)
Music & Lyrics by Pat Moran (Too Big To Fail, Red State, Making a Killing)
Directed by Bay Area favorite and Mime Troupe Amlumnus Wilma Bonet (Too Big To Fail)

POSIBILIDAD featured Mime Troupe veterans Velina Brown, Lisa Hori Garcia, Michael Gene Sullivan, as well as Brian Rivera (Doing Good), Rotimi Agbabiaka and Maggie Mason.

And band members James Mitchell, Pat Moran & Neil Wadhawan


View original playbill

View the full company's bios

View show photos

View YouTube Clip 1
View YouTube Clip 2
View YouTube Clip 3
Poster
Poster Design: Favianna Rodriguez
Poster Photography: DavidAllenStudio.com



A small U.S. factory is shutting down. All of the workers are losing their jobs, and to add insult to injury, they have also lost their last two weeks of pay and retirement funds, which were raided over the years to pay stock dividends. On the final day of work, a pregnant employee, suddenly overtaken with labor pains, sits down on the job. Interpreting this as an act of defiance, The Boss calls security. The situation escalates and before anyone has a chance to think, the Workers have accidentally occupied the Factory!

During the negotiation process, The Boss tries intimidation, patriotism, and Red Scare tactics, while the Workers just try to figure out what the heck they're doing. Some say wreck the place. Tea Baggers say it's all the government's fault. Others blame the Union. One Worker, an Argentine ex-pat, says they should consider running the Factory themselves and is immediately labeled a Commie. At night, as the occupying Workers entertain themselves with songs and stories, the Argentine comes forward again and tells the tale of a similar strike back home. As more of the Argentine's story unfolds, the parallel plights of the American and Argentine Workers play out side by side. While the Americans struggle to keep their factory occupation from becoming politicized, the Argentine strike is deeply political. In the end, both the American and Argentine Workers are victorious, but which resolution will ultimately keep the power in the Workers' hands?

Production Photo
Photographer: Fletcher Oakes
Pictured: (l-r) Lisa Hori-Garcia, Brian M. Rivera

Honors, Reviews and Articles:

Winner - Best Principle Female Performer, Velina Brown 2010 - San Francisco Bay Area Theater Critic's Circle

Nominated - Best Original Score, 2010 - San Francisco Bay Area Theater Critic's Circle
Nominated - Best Ensemble, 2010 - San Francisco Bay Area Theater Critic's Circle

"(Posibilidad, or Death of the Worker) ... is a brilliant work, combining tragedy and humor to make a very pointed argument for thinking outside the box on the state of Labor and jobs today."
The Huffington Post - 9/6/10

"the play's ambition is as impressive as its range"
SF Chronicle - 7/6/10

"'Posibilidad' was incredibly funny ... and just as willing to skewer the left ... as it is to question the assumptions about the economic basis of modern life."
Stark Insider - 8/8/10

"pointed and funny"
San Francisco Examiner - 7/7/10

"...a lot of fun...the audience has a great time...Between (the) entertaining script and the cast's deft performances, the characters are distinct and memorable throughout....if you're inspired to support your local worker-owned collectives, 'Posibilidad' demonstrates yet again that the Mime Troupe is one well worth supporting."
Marin Independent Journal - 7/7/10

"The Troupe's penchant for relentlessly and artistically questioning the status quo draws North Bay audiences year after year."
North Bay Bohemian - 7/7/10

"The group has nothing to do with those white-faced characters who perform in parks..."
The Sacramento Bee - 9/5/10


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