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directed by Nathan Linders
At Venables Theatre, Oliver February, 2019 |
Behind the Scenes
What's it About?This farcical comedy focuses on Prudence and Bruce, two Manhattanites who are seeking stable romantic relationships with the help of their psychiatrists, each of whom suggests their patient place a personal ad in the newspaper.
Bruce is a highly emotional bisexual who tends to cry easily, a trait Prudence sees as a weakness. Their first meeting proves to be disastrous and the two report back to their respective therapists — lustful Stuart, who once seduced Prudence, and eccentric Charlotte, who stumbles over the simplest of words, who references the play Equus as a good source of advice, and who interacts with her patients with the help of a stuffed Snoopy doll. Clearly the two therapists are more troubled than their patients. Charlotte suggests a revised ad, which once again attracts Prudence, but this time Prudence and Bruce manage to get past their initial loathing and discover they actually like each other. Complications ensue when Bruce's jealous live-in lover Bob decides to assert himself and do everything possible to maintain his status quo. Rehearsal January 10Our Director Speaks Out
This very funny script found me last winter, as we were all wearing our thinking caps trying to decide what we would stage for the season. I remember it was as funny as it was daring, and it was a real pleasure to share a summary with the board. Jen, our beloved treasurer, asked me if I was offering to direct it. I replied with a hasty “No.”
The idea rattled around in my head for a few weeks. Can SOAP take this kind of content to the stage? After all, in this age of reason, where acceptable behaviour demands we finally have a little respect and empathy for those among us who do not fit the nuclear family (i.e. ‘breeder’ unions) can we expect to get away with a show which features a same-sex couple, flirting with stereotypes and homophobic barbs? I realized that we had to take this excellent script to the stage. Indeed, I have heard from a few people in the know who felt the script was itself homophobic. Here’s the thing: Christopher Durang is a gay man who has probably been out longer than I have been alive. Despite the hostile social scape of the 80s, he has been in a monogamous same-sex relationship since 1986. I sincerely doubt Mr. Durang intends this work as homophobic; neither is this an activist piece. It is simply a story with some men who are gay. I invite you to enjoy this show for what it is: a story about relationships where some characters live outside the confines of a traditional family. We took care to preserve the story’s intent by not seeing it through the lens of 2019 norms. We invite you to be brave enough to enjoy this amazing comedy for what it is – not a homophobic story, but a story where some of the characters are homosexual. After all, there is no story without conflict, and until we are in a world where intolerance to the gay community would never happen, you should expect a story which includes gay men to include some of the conflicts they face every day. - Nathan Linders, Director |
Cast & Characters
Joel Browne plays BRUCE: A friendly, open-minded, highly emotional, bisexual man whose own American dream is that he can have a wife and kids...and occasionally, Bob.
Jenn MacNeil plays PRUDENCE: Reserved and structured, but has her insecurities. She hasn’t given up on the idea that she could find the perfect man… yet.
Trevor Leigh plays STUART: Prudence’s lecherous therapist who has slept with most of his patients. He has a macho exterior but suffers insecurity because he is no good in bed.
Diane Gludovatz plays CHARLOTTE: Bruce’s therapist - sweet and well intentioned, but completely scatterbrained and highly eccentric.
Craig Bjornson plays BOB: Bruce’s live-in lover who is extraordinarily jealous of Bruce’s desire to date and eventually marry a woman while keeping him on the side.
Tristan Duursma plays ANDREW: A waiter with a dark edge.
Behind the ScenesNo theatrical performance could be staged without the dedication and creativity of the production crew:
Producer ------------------------- Andrea Furlan
Director ------------------------- Nathan Linders Stage Manager ------- Jacqueline Brockholm Assistant S.M.------------------ Connie Mythen Backstage Crew ------------- Roberta Barens Set Design & Construction - Craig Bjornson Set Dressing -------------------- Andrea Furlan Props ----------------------------- Lyn Kaulback Costumes ----------------- Bernice Myllyniemi Wardrobe Assistant ------ Carolyn Bowering Make-up ----------------------- Lisa Gludovatz Hair -------------------------------- Becky Dezall Sound -------------------------------- Brian Hesje Lighting Design & Tech --- Denny Kaulback Publicity --------- Tom Szalay & Angie Stuart |
The Playwright
Christopher Durang (b. 1949.1.2) is an American playwright known for works of outrageous and often absurd comedy. His work was especially popular in the 1980s, though his career seemed to get a second wind in the late 1990s. His play, Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike won the Tony Award for Best Play in 2013.
Durang was born in Montclair, NJ, the son of Patricia Elizabeth, and architect Francis Ferdinand Durang, Jr. He grew up in Berkeley Heights, NJ where he attended Catholic schools as a child. He received a B.A. in English from Harvard and an M.F.A. in playwriting from Yale School of Drama. He lives in Bucks County, PA with his husband, actor and playwright, John Augustine.
Durang's work often deals critically with issues of child abuse, Roman Catholic dogma, culture, and homosexuality. While Durang's use of parody and his criticism of many social institutions might appear overly cynical at times, he states, "...when I say everyone is crazy that means it's a very bad day where the amount of crazy people in the world has spread out to the entire universe and it doesn't seem possible to cope with anything... I think we're all neurotic. And I do think relationships are certainly difficult. Nonetheless, those lines in the play do get a laugh, so there's something. It’s not as despairing as it sounds, but I don't not believe it."
Durang was born in Montclair, NJ, the son of Patricia Elizabeth, and architect Francis Ferdinand Durang, Jr. He grew up in Berkeley Heights, NJ where he attended Catholic schools as a child. He received a B.A. in English from Harvard and an M.F.A. in playwriting from Yale School of Drama. He lives in Bucks County, PA with his husband, actor and playwright, John Augustine.
Durang's work often deals critically with issues of child abuse, Roman Catholic dogma, culture, and homosexuality. While Durang's use of parody and his criticism of many social institutions might appear overly cynical at times, he states, "...when I say everyone is crazy that means it's a very bad day where the amount of crazy people in the world has spread out to the entire universe and it doesn't seem possible to cope with anything... I think we're all neurotic. And I do think relationships are certainly difficult. Nonetheless, those lines in the play do get a laugh, so there's something. It’s not as despairing as it sounds, but I don't not believe it."