'Endurance' is an entertaining evening of smart theater

ST. JOSEPH, Minn. - The College of Saint Benedict and Saint John's University's Fine Arts Series presents Split Knuckle Theatre's performance of "Endurance" at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Jan. 31 in the Gorecki Family Theater, Benedicta Arts Center at the College of Saint Benedict.

This inventive performance weaves the account of one of history's greatest leaders, British explorer Sir Ernest Shackleton, into the story of leadership in corporate America today. The result is a surprisingly comical and entertaining evening of theater.

Trapped in Antarctica with no hope of rescue, Shackleton kept 27 men alive for two years in the most inhospitable climate on earth. Ninty-five years later, insurance man Walter Spivey struggles to justify his recent promotion and save his employees' jobs in the wake of the worst economic meltdown since the Great Depression. The office of four, led by Spivey, attempts to draw inspiration from Shackleton and survive the ravages of the corporate world.

The Albany (N.Y.) Times Union newspaper praised "Endurance" for "combining language, motion and history into a compelling whole" and described the play as highly-entertaining and thought-provoking. Internet theater magazine Curtain Up called it "a splendidly physical and imaginative comedy-drama" performed by a phenomenal quartet.

Split Knuckle is a critically-acclaimed touring theater company that creates dynamic, visually-striking theater from simple materials, resulting in vivid characters and imaginative productions. The company actively develops innovative theater pieces and performs, directs, teaches and leads workshops around the globe. Split Knuckle practices devised theater, an unpredictable, experimental creative process gaining recognition in the field of performing arts.

Tickets to "Endurance" are $20, Senior $17, Faculty/Staff $10, and Student/Youth $10. For more information, contact the Box Office at 320-363-5777 or visit www.csbsju.edu/fine-arts.

This performance is made possible in part by the voters of Minnesota through a Minnesota State Arts Board Operating Support grant, thanks to a legislative appropriation from the arts and cultural heritage fund.