Theatre Artists Studio Opens THE UNEXPECTED MAN 2/10

Most people would find a lack of playwright directions daunting when staging a play, especially when the work examines the inner thoughts of characters and there are only two of them. Such was not the case, however, for Carol MacLeod, Artistic Director of Theatre Artists Studio, who wanted to direct Yasmina Reza's The Unexpected Man specifically because it lacked such input.

"The play has no character descriptions, no stage directions, no pauses," says MacLeod. "The challenge and gift of the play is that the director and actors go on a journey of process, experiencing the words as keys, lifting them off the page, translating them intellectually and emotionally to build an imagined reality." In order to take advantage of this unique creative challenge, MacLeod and actors Drea Pruseau and Steven Mastroieni spent four months on the exploration and development of the work, a rare luxury these days, when most theaters must condense the rehearsal process to one month or less to mount as many shows as possible in a given season.

MacLeod's history as an acting instructor spans over 40 years, beginning at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York City. She wanted to take the extended time to create this production because, as she puts it, she's in the "twilight" of her career and really feels that this process will validate THE process she's been teaching for the last four decades. In addition, it "allows the actors to work in ways they're not used to experiencing, creating both their characters and the characters' realities throughout the rehearsal period."

The Valley's "Reza-thon" began with Life X 3 at Theatre Artists Studio last October, followed by Arizona Theater Company's production of God of Carnage, recently released as the feature film Carnage. While the Reza plays presented so far this season had couples in witty sparring matches, The Unexpected Man examines the inner thoughts of two people who want to speak to each other but aren't quite sure how to go about it.

While traveling on a train, a woman ends up sitting next to an author she admires. What will she do? Will she speak to him? Will she take out and read her copy of his book in hopes of grabbing his attention? Instead of launching into dialogue, the play takes us inside the travelers' minds, as they look for ways to break the ice and speak to one another. Reza beautifully captures the nervous energy of two strangers struggling to find a way to make conversation, and skillfully builds and reveals her characters before they are allowed to speak. "The audience will see two lonely people who have so much in common that we root for them to speak to each other," said MacLeod, "and when they do....what will happen?"

A review in The New Yorker said of this engaging play, "Reza's artful play may persuade you there is nothing of greater value in all the world than a brief encounter between strangers on a train."

The Unexpected Man runs from February 10 through February 26 at Theatre Artists Studio, 4848 E. Cactus Road, Suite 406, in Scottsdale, Arizona, just south of Cactus Road off of Paradise Village Parkway East. Show times are Friday and Saturday nights at 7:30 pm and Sundays at 2:00 pm.

Tickets are $20 for General Admission; $10 for Students 25 & Under and $15 for Groups of 10 or More, Seniors 65 & Over & Members of the Military (both active and retired). Tickets can be obtained by calling the box office at 602-765-0120 or online at: www.thestudiophx.org.

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