Theatre Exile will open their 12th season with the Philadelphia premiere of dark play or stories for boys by Carlos Murillo, directed by Deborah Block, dark play is a psychosexual cyberspace drama that explores the search for human connection in our disconnected world. Based on a true story, dark play ensnares the audience in the web of fantasy and deceit between two adolescent boys. When Adam looks to make a real connection online, he meets Nick, who brings him into an intricate online world filled with flirtatious girls, sex-crazed jocks and covert government agents. But when the stakes are raised, Nick creates the ultimate blurring of fantasy and truth where the consequences are all too real. dark play premiered in 2007 in the Humana Festival and quickly developed a cult following. Following in the footsteps of Red Light Winter and Mr. Marmalade, Exile's season opener dissects the heart of loneliness with razor-edged comedy. Robert DaPonte returns from Exile's celebrated Mr. Marmalade to lead another ensemble of Philadelphia's best young actors.
Leaving the cruel world of adolescence and moving into the treachery of adulthood, Theatre Exile brings the Philadelphia premiere of David Harrower's Blackbird directed by Joe Canuso as their second show of the season. Blackbird redefines the power struggle between desire and innocence, and the consequences that lie in the aftermath. One of the most poignant and raw plays written in the past decade, Blackbird pushes through our preconceptions of predators and victims to find the human need that lies beneath. Fifteen years ago, 41 year-old Ray and the prepubescent Una began an affair that changed both of their lives irrevocably. A chance picture in a trade magazine has led Una back to Ray, meeting face-to-face for the first time since his arrest. But is it for answers, reconciliation or revenge? Blackbird was the winner of the 2007 Olivier Award in London for Best Play. Pearce Bunting returns from Exile's Barrymore Award-winning Killer Joe to join Exile new comer Julianna Zinkel to take on what promises to be two of the season's most daring performances.
Exile closes their season with
American Buffalo directed by Matt Pfeiffer.
David Mamet's classic
American Buffalo pries apart the American Dream to see what has fallen between the cracks.
American Buffalo immerses the audience into a dusty pawn shop, crammed full of bits and pieces of forgotten artifacts from times long past. Lording over the memorabilia is Don, who has enlisted his ex-junkie protégé Bobby, and long time associate and veteran grifter, Teach, to help him steal a valuable buffalo head nickel. The heist acts as a catalyst to bring into question the hustlers' loyalties as well as their status in their imagined crime world. We become witness to the impossibility of success for these men who believe enterprise is equivalent to scam.
American Buffalo was the winner of the New York Drama Critics' Circle Award in 1977. Exile's own Joe Canuso takes the stage as Don with long-time Exile friend and Philadelphia favorite, Pete Pryor, as Teach.
Theatre Exile has proven to be a place where local artists can take their biggest risks. We match challenging scripts with Philadelphia's top talent, continually bringing immediate and dangerous performances to our audiences. Theatre Exile approaches our craft with a no-nonsense, no-holds-barred approach to acting. The stories that Exile brings to our audiences demand that our actors live in a moment of truth, despite the peril and the violence that such honesty demands. Armed with our bare-knuckled acting style, Exile attacks these three stories, digging deeper into our desires, promising to deliver our most dangerous and exhilarating season yet.
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