It is hard to find fresh theatre events during this pandemic. As a playwright, pickings are thin but I submitted my recent short play, 2020 – A Perfect Year for Magical Thinking to the Old Library Theatre in Fairlawn, New Jersey. 107 scripts were received and 12 finalists were selected. The theatre gave those dozen scripts to seven selected directors and mine was luckily selected by Lisa Dascoli (more on that below).
You can view the result when the event is streamed tonight at 8 PM, Saturday, February 27, at 8 PM, and Sunday, February 28 at 2 PM. Tickets are between $10 and $15 and I hope you will treat yourself to see the performance. Tickets can be purchased at:
My show is first on the bill, so don’t start late or you’ll miss it!
You can access the digital program at:
Click to access OLT-10th-Annual-One-Acts-Program.pdf
I hope you get a chance to see the event and I would be interested in hearing what you think. Meanwhile a quick personal comment on this production:
Theatre is a collaborative art form. While based on the playwright’s script, the director, actors and designers putting together the production make each mounting a unique experience. I have seen many of my plays presented with different teams and no two are alike, even though they are based on the same script.
Sometimes, directors especially, take unauthorized and occasionally extreme liberties. Because of pandemic limitations I have not personally met the director of this production, Lisa Dascoli. But we had some terrific discussions via phone and email. I wrote a pretty straightforward two person play which depicted a household during lockdown which allows the audience to determine what is true and what is not. Ms. Dascoli’s approach takes it to another level.
As she put together the production she asked if she could use a particular “framing device.” No spoilers here, but to make it work she requested that I add a third actor and write a prologue and epilogue. I thought it was a brilliant idea and I was happy to write the additional material for her. It will add a different dimension to the piece without altering the heart of it. Keep all this in mind if you choose to buy a ticket and I think you will see what I mean. I have not seen the finished result and will view it for the first time when it is streamed. A great example of positive collaboration between a playwright and a director. I would be happy to hear your notes and thoughts when you see it.
Stay well, stay safe and hope you enjoy it…
Thanks…
Walter
As always you can find more at http://www.walterthinnes.com and on Twitter @walterthinnes
Walter Thinnes 