Melancholy Play
By Sarah Ruhl
As part of our ongoing process of discovering new plays, bagg theatre runs frequent exploratory workshops. These involve spending an intensive weekend working on a play with a group of interested actors, and, occasionally, designers, musicians and other theatre practitioners.
In February 2008, we ran an exploratory weekend on Melancholy Play by the brilliant modern American writer, Sarah Ruhl. The five actors were Annabel Capper, Nick Fletcher, Rebecca Kenyon, Al Parker and Lucy Thatcher.
We then presented the piece in an informal rehearsed reading at the Old Vic to a select audience of invited friends, gathering valuable feedback in the process.
Melancholy Play
A contemporary farce
Melancholy Play by Sarah Ruhl is a funny, absurd, poetic and profoundly theatrical drama that explores the Jacobean notion of ‘melancholy’ in present-day Illinois.
Tilly is melancholy. Hers is a sexy sort of melancholy that makes people fall in love with her. People like Lorenzo, her psychiatrist; Frank, a tailor; and Frances, his long-lost twin. But what will happen to their love when Tilly gets happy?
Sarah Ruhl
Sarah Ruhl’s plays have been performed all over the United States. Her hit play The Clean House was a Pulitzer Prize Finalist and she has won various awards including the Fourth Freedom Forum Playwrighting Award and the Helen Merril Emerging Playwrights Award.
Sarah Ruhl is less well-known in England than in her native America, but her fame is spreading as the second UK production of The Clean House begins touring here in spring 2008, starring Patricia Hodge and Eleanor Bron.
bagg theatre hopes to work on more of Sarah Ruhl’s plays in the future.
A SELECTION OF AUDIENCE FEEDBACK ON THE REHEARSED READING OF MELANCHOLY PLAY
“Fabulous acting!”
“Yes, yes, yes!! We need plays like this! Thought the music worked really well.”
“I enjoyed it very much – it was funny, surreal without being too quirky. The music worked well to set the mood. I didn’t learn much about sadness, but I am hungry for almonds.”
“Loved the music!”
“Beautiful, especially the mixture of poetry, music/songs & just totally absurd but absolutely enjoyable text.”
“Joyous. Life affirming.”
“I really enjoyed it, and laughed all the way through pretty much.”
“VERY exciting work.”
“Very seductive, funny & nicely pitched performances; great musical interjections. Beautifully directed.”
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