located in Waterford CT, 06385
The Duck Variations by David Mamet
This play dramatizes the old adage that people who talk the most with authority about something are the ones most likely to know the least about it. Two old men discuss the ways of ducks and life, making observations that are profoundly hilarious. "The most acute ear for dialogue of any American writer since J.D. Salinger."-- Village Voice.
David Mamet (author, essayist, playwright, screenwriter, and film director) is perhaps most known for his clever, terse, sometimes vulgar dialogue, arcane stylized phrasing, and for his exploration of masculinity. As a playwright, he received Tony nominations for Glengarry Glen Ross (1984) and Speed-the-Plow (1988). As a screenwriter, he received Oscar nominations for The Verdict (1982) and Wag the Dog (1997). He first gained acclaim for a trio of off-Broadway plays in 1976, The Duck Variations, Sexual Perversity in Chicago, and American Buffalo. His recent books include The Old Religion (1997), a novel about the lynching of Leo Frank; Five Cities of Refuge: Weekly Reflections on Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy (2004), a Torah commentary, with Rabbi Lawrence Kushner; The Wicked Son (2006), a study of Jewish self-hatred and antisemitism; and Bambi vs. Godzilla, an acerbic commentary on the movie business. (excerpted from Wikipedia)
State of the Art by Craig Abernethy
In the original script provided, Craig included this instruction: Programs should contain the following advisory: “SETTING: The writer’s mind. The set is a bare stage with black boxes, used as needed.” We found that wasn't the only advisory we should have received. For instance, the humor in this piece was surpassed only by the circular nature of the story, finding ourselves (as we thought) at the end, only to be still in the middle somewhere, or perhaps back at the beginning. And, we should have taken the red pill. Or was it the blue. Maybe green? ....... well..... where we're we?(pause)
Craig Abernethy was delighted an ambitious and vital company like the Intentional Theatre had selected “State of the Art” as part of its 2007 season. Other recent productions of his included “A View Unassisted” (’06 Fritz Blitz of New CA Playwrights), “The Sort of Happy Ending to the Sad Tale of Mr. Ali Ali, Or: The Lighter Side of Outsourcing Torture” (’05 Cruz the East Festival, Mosaic Theater Group, Santa Cruz, CA and 6th at Penn, San Diego), and “Absolutes” (’04 Fritz Blitz and OKtoberfest, NYC). Craig studied playwriting, acting, and directing at UC Berkeley; worked in a variety of backstage capacities at venues including the NY Shakespeare Festival, SF Opera, and LA Civic Light Opera; acted in productions at The Melrose Theatre and American Theatre Arts in LA; and is a member of the Dramatists Guild of America. For more information about the playwright and samples of his plays visit http://www.craigabernethy.com.