Custom Made Theatre Co. presents the Bay Area Premiere of LIFE SUCKS
By: Rebecca Russo Mar. 30, 2019
Custom Made Theatre Co. presents the Bay Area Premiere of Aaron Posner's comedy "Life Sucks" which runs May 2nd through June 1st at Custom Made Theatre, 533 Sutter St. in San Francisco, just one block north of Union Square.
In this brash reworking of Chekhov's "Uncle Vanya," a group of old friends, ex-lovers, estranged in-laws, and lifelong enemies gather to grapple with life's thorniest questions-and each other. What could possibly go wrong?
Incurably lustful and lonely, hapless and hopeful, these seven souls collide and stumble their way towards a new understanding that Life Sucks! Or does it?
Posner's follow-up to his "Stupid F*cking Bird" (seen at SF Playhouse) is Mel Brooks meets Chekhov: lowbrow, dirty, passionate, and unexpectedly tender.
"Life Sucks" directed by Custom Made's Executive Artistic Director, Brian Katz, recipient of the Critic's Circle award for Best Director in 2017 (for his adaptation of "Mother Night" which was also presented off-Broadway at 59E59 Theatres) and who has directed over 40 productions for the company including the regional premieres of Kurt Vonnegut's "Slaughterhouse Five", Will Eno's "Middletown", and Adam Rapp's "Red Light Winter" (with Daveed Diggs.)
"[LIFE SUCKS] is altogether wise, profoundly humane, hilarious, quirky, endearing and, in countless clever ways, brilliantly faithful to its source...Posner has managed to find his own voice in the process, bringing a playful, far from cynical, fourth-wall-piercing originality to the story..." -Chicago Sun-Times.
"...adrenaline-fueled, hyper-aware...[Posner] sticks lovingly close to Chekhov's plot...[He] gives huge and equal bearhugs to Chekhov's absurd comedy and touching pathos while leaving room to banter with the audience...sassy yet heartfelt..." -The Washington Post.
"...[a] delightful Chekhov riff...The play defies traditional categories like 'comedy' or 'drama,' so let's just settle for calling it 'fantastic.'" -Time Out Chicago.
"Comic gold...Filled with laughs and anarchic asides...Posner's ear for comedy is reminiscent of Mel Brooks in his prime." -BroadwayWorld.com.
About playwright Aaron Posner
Aaron is an award-winning playwright, director, teacher, and former artistic director of two LORT theatres. His Helen Hayes award-wining play, "Stupid F*cking Bird", was one of the ten most produced plays in the country in 2015. Other plays include "Life Sucks" and "No Sisters" (both re-inventions of Chekhov), "District Merchants" (inspired by "The Merchant of Venice"), "Who Am I This Time? & Other Conundrums of Love" (adapted from Kurt Vonnegut), "The Chosen" and "My Name Is Asher Lev" (adapted from Chaim Potok), "Sometimes a Great Notion" (adapted from Ken Kesey), and several more. He has directed more than 150 productions at major regional theaters across the country, and currently lives outside of D.C. with his wife, actress Erin Weaver, and his amazing daughter, Maisie.
Show Times and Tickets
Previews: May 2, 3, 4 at 8:00 pm
Runs: May 9- June 1, 2019. Thurs-Fri 8:00 pm, Saturday 2:00 pm and 8:00pm. No Sat 2pm show May 4 or 11.
Tickets: $20-45
Learn more & buy tickets at (415) 798-CMTC (2682)
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