Arts, Dining & Entertainment

National Theatre Live continues at Woodstock Town Hall Theatre

Courtesy of Pentangle Arts Council

“Behind the Beautiful Forevers” tells the story of a mother and her son Abdul (above) who live in an Indian slum, that have an aim at collecting enough recycling to sell in order to purchase a home of their own.

Wednesday, Feb. 17 at 7:30 p.m. — WOODSTOCK — Pentangle Arts Council continues its National Theatre Live screenings at the Woodstock Town Hall Theatre on Wednesday, Feb. 17 with “Behind the Beautiful Forevers,” a new play by David Hare based on the book by Katherine Boo.

Meera Syal (“The Kumars,” “Goodness Gracious Me,” “Rafta Rafta at the National”) returns to the National Theatre, directed by Rufus Norris (Broken, London Road).

Pulitzer Prize-winner Katherine Boo spent three years in Annawadi recording the lives of its residents. From her uncompromising book, winner of the National Book Award for Non-Fiction 2012, David Hare has fashioned a tumultuous play on an epic scale.

India is surging with global ambition. But beyond the luxury hotels surrounding Mumbai airport lies a makeshift slum, full of people with plans of their own. Zehrunisa and her son Abdul aim to recycle enough rubbish to fund a proper house. Sunil, twelve and stunted, wants to eat until he’s as tall as Kalu the thief. Asha seeks to steal government anti-poverty funds to turn herself into a “first-class person,” while her daughter Manju intends to become the slum’s first female graduate. But their schemes are fragile; global recession threatens the garbage trade, and another slum-dweller is about to make an accusation that will destroy herself and shatter the neighborhood.

Screening run time is 170 minutes and  includes a 20-minute intermission. Tickets are $20 for  adults; $19 for seniors; $12 for youth (5-17); and $18 for members. Woodstock Town Hall Theatre is located at 31 the Green, Woodstock. For more info, visit pentanglearts.org.

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