A rare theatrical exploration of socialist and feminist contradictions. You won’t look at Marx the same way again.

Servant of the Revolution premieres at the Mechanics Institute Performing Arts Centre in Brunswick Tuesday 21 July. Based on historical records, the play explores the feelings of the person made invisible by conventional sources — Lenchen (played by Julianne Donovan), the servant of the Marx family and mother of the illegitimate son of Karl Marx. This secret was hidden because his collaborator, Frederick Engels (played by Ray Tiernan) pretended to be the father. The director, Brenda Addie, breathes a postmodern absurdist tone into this nineteenth century drama by drawing out the commedia dell'arte that lies in the characters that Nelson has chosen to tell the story. Marx does not strut the stage, rather Lenchen and Engels dominate while the appearance of Marx's youngest daughter, Tussy (played by Clara Pagone) offers a clear insight into the Marx family neurosis. Interestingly this irreverent interpretation add rather than detracts from the poignancy of the realist dialogue. The play has a challenging vibrancy. You are unlikely to view Marx the same way again.

DATES and TIMES: 8 pm Tues to Sat. 21 to 25 July and 28 July to 1 Aug, and 6 pm on Sunday 26 July VENUE: Mechanics Institute Performing Arts Centre, Brunswick (Sydney and Glenlyon rds cnr) TICKETS: $25 (full) $15 (concession) $20 (groups over 10) BOOKINGS: 0420 933 101 and servantrevolution@gmail.com