Memories are fragile, powerful and poignant. They recall promises from earlier times, hold the specter of wounds left unhealed, and have the ability to direct the course of one's life, as shown in Stacey Lane's comedy-drama A THOUSAND VARIATIONS ON A LIE TOLD ONCE. Directed by Brad Fryman and presented by the Oberon Theatre Ensemble, A THOUSAND VARIATIONS will begin performances on July 19th at the Dorothy Strelsin Theatre, located at 312 West 36th Street, as part of the Ninth Annual Midtown International Theatre Festival.
On Christmas Eve, 56-year-old Abby nervously awaits the arrival of her three estranged daughters. The girls believe Abby is spitefully hiding letters written almost two decades earlier by their father when he was dying and are convinced this is the night when the truth will come out, one way or the other. Over the intervening years, the daughters have elevated the memory of their father to something just shy of sainthood, even if Abby doesn't quite remember things that way.
Abby has invited her children over so they can meet Patrick, her 48-year old fiancé, but the daughters are in no mood to welcome a man who seems to be looking to take their father's place, even if he does bake a mean pie. Abby desperately wants her family back, but can she get Patrick, a man who abhors any sort of dishonesty, to go along with a plan that involves creating a lie that may last forever? And if he does agree, will there still be a place for him at the table when all is said and done? Meanwhile, just why does Abby have this giant collection of frog pictures, statues and figurines all over her house?
The cast of A THOUSAND VARIATIONS ON A LIE TOLD ONCE features Linda S. Nelson*, William Laney*, Laura Siner*, Diánna Martin, and Jane Cortney*. This production is an Equity Approved Showcase.
Stacey Lane's plays have been seen from coast to coast in the U.S., as well as in Canada, England, and Australia. Previous works include Rainbow Sprinkles, The Naked People Play, Stalemate, Hiccup, Jews in My Basement, Shoebox, Dirty Laundry and Caged to Perfection, and Residue, among others. Lane is published with Playscripts, Inc., Smith and Kraus, and Manhattan Theatre Source. She is the recipient of a 2008 Helene Wurlitzer Foundation of New Mexico playwriting fellowship. StaceyLanePlaywright@yahoo.com.
Brad Fryman is one of the founders of The Oberon Theatre Ensemble and its current Artistic Director. As such, he has helped produce over 40 full-length plays, over 55 staged readings, and a plethora of fundraisers and special events. His directing credits include 2007's The Merry Wives of Windsor. Oberon acting appearances include Shakespeare's The Taming of the Shrew, King Lear, A Midsummer Nights Dream, The Winters Tale, Twelfth Night, Measure for Measure and The Tempest. Other Oberon appearances include Three Sisters, Ghosts, The Physicists, Moonchildren (OOBR Award Best Play) and an adaptation of The Miser. Film credits include The Followers, Restaurant, and the lead in the feature film Snakes and Arrows. Brad has his Master of Fine Arts in Acting from Ohio State University and a Bachelor of Arts in Theatre and Psychology from Wilmington College.
Producing theater in New York City since 1997, the Oberon Theatre Ensemble is a not-for-profit theatre group committed to cultivating and invigorating a diverse theatre community by confronting contemporary issues through classic and original works and the development of original material. Oberon has produced over 40 plays, including works by Shakespeare, Chekhov, Shaw, Ibsen,
Arthur Kopit, and
Michael Weller; as well as works by dozens of emerging playwrights. The company has won an OOBR award for excellence for its production of
Michael Weller's Moonchildren, been highlighted as a company to watch by nytheatre.com and has earned numerous accolades for its productions over the years. Additional information: www.oberontheatre.org
Running through July 30th, A THOUSAND VARIATIONS ON A LIE TOLD ONCE will be performed at the Dorothy Strelsin Theatre as part of the Ninth Annual Midtown International Theater Festival.
Show times are Saturday, July 19th at 6:45pm, Sunday, July 20th at 2:30pm, Wednesday, July 23rd at 6:30pm, Thursday, July 24th at 8:30pm, Saturday, July 27th at 12noon and Wednesday, July 30th at 8:30pm.
Tickets are $18.00, $15.00 for students and seniors. Reservations: 212-279-4200 or www.ticketcentral.com. Information: www.midtownfestival.org. The press is invited to all performances.
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