Lamplighters Theatre

January 10 - February 9, 2020

Taking on Yasmina Reza’s acrid and hilarious script presented me with several new and exciting challenges: a small cast, a realistic set, and crafting a comedy.

The ensemble dove in to the script, mining it for humor, nuance, and character. Having broken down the script into 180 scene units (changes in intention, mood, subject, character, etc.), the key, for me, was the keep the pace tight and the cast constantly fighting for their particular point of view. The cast was a true ensemble - they played with the script and their characters as if they were in a mixed doubles tennis match - serving and volleying, each keeping a keen eye open for an opportunity to score a point.

Thanks to the hard work of our set and lighting designers, the wide and narrow stage was transformed into a stylish living room in a Brooklyn brownstone. The set dressing, which the script leaves up for interpretation, calls for a plethora of books around the space, but leaves the rest up to the imagination of the director and designers. By selecting a specific interior design style (mid-century modern) as the jumping-off point, we were able to build all elements of the look-and-feel of the set organically.

I was very specific about how I saw the promotional materials for the show - to convey the childishness of the characters and the nature of their conflict, I wanted a child’s drawing as the inspiration. My son did the initial sketch (after I described the characters and their conflict) and then I built off of that, including the style of the text. It was exciting to see that element realized in the posters and programs.

Photo Credit.

Photos courtesy of Chuck Lapinsky.