written by amy freed
directed by sharon ott
co-produced with south coast repertory
main season | thrust stage
may 15–june 28, 2009
world premiere production
Running time: 2 hours and 10 minutes,
including one 15 minute intermission
the play
In a new comedy from local writer Amy Freed, not only does Nero fiddle while Rome burns, he fills the Colosseum with an incendiary mix of sex and decadence. The egotistical emperor commands a washed-up scribe to create an extravagant show which flatters his regime. But to stage the script he must survive the real spectacle at the palace, where his mother, his mistress and an entourage of eunuchs play an elaborate game of deceit and seduction. Sharon Ott directs this smart and sassy show, as beloved actor Danny Scheie portrays the preposterous king. In You, Nero, Freed lets loose the tigers on a crumbling empire obsessed with shallow celebrities, violent sports and sensational entertainment. When Rome unravels like it’s reality TV, everyone wants to get in the emperor’s new clothes.
the players
Amy Freed, an artist-in-residence at Stanford University, has delighted local audiences with clever comedies like The Beard of Avon and Restoration Comedy. Her script Freedomland was nominated for the Pulitzer Prize.
In her 13 years as artistic director of Berkeley Rep, Sharon Ott led the company to new artistic heights, national prestige and a well-deserved Tony Award. During her tenure, she directed memorable productions of Heartbreak House, Twelfth Night, Twilight: Los Angeles 1992, The Woman Warrior and Yankee Dawg You Die.
the buzz
“Gloriously funny!”—New York Times
“Two hours of almost uninterrupted delight…You can’t help loving that despicably cute monster Nero. Not the way Danny Scheie personifies him in a tour de force of murderously comic, canny and catty derangement…Scheie rules the stage in leopard briefs, flipping in an instant from preening prima donna to bloody tyrant, charming artiste, cutting critic or sensitive egomaniac…Nero is a romp, but one that works on many levels, leavened by some serious concerns about the politics of art.”—San Francisco Chronicle
A “gleefully apocalyptic comedy about the fall of the Roman Empire…Revels in gloriously madcap juxtapositions of period and theme that land the laugh as well as make the point…genius for marrying shtick and subtext gives Nero its over-the-topical depth charges of wit and warning…Danny Scheie’s flamboyance as the title emperor fuels the outrageousness…He came, he saw, he conquered this production from start to finish. Half academic, half imp and all camp, Scheie lights up the stage like a fireworks display.”—San Jose Mercury News
A “wildly hilarious tale of the wretched excesses of Emperor Nero…The show will keep you riveted and laughing until the end with what is a tour de force performance by Danny Scheie.”—Bay Area News Group
“The funniest play that I’ve seen in years”—KGO-AM
“Berkeley Repertory Theatre ends a spectacular 41st season with local playwright Amy Freed’s You, Nero…In a theater world that seems to be contracting and cowering, Berkeley Rep continues to prove its mettle by challenging and rewarding audiences at every turn…Danny Scheie solidifies his reputation as one of the Bay Area’s best, most original actors as the title character…This sharp, thoughtful comedy is definitely on the ascendant.”—Chad Jones’ Theater Dogs
“Freed has a striking comic voice that is dark but exhilarating and honest…she shows a hunger for drama and a divine spark of wit [with] a gift for antic detail.”—Los Angeles Times
multimedia
Watch the B-roll—three minutes of excerpts from the show
plan to arrive early
When in Rome, do as the Romans do. Our research indicates that the Romans arrived early to enjoy bubbly beverages in the courtyard! Go for a Roman Holiday, or whet your whistle with a white peach bellini. Decadently delicious!
Press Photos
season sponsors
This production is the recipient of an Edgerton Foundation New American Plays Award.