Afterplay
by Brian Friel
Directed by Stephen Drewes
| Afterplay is an original work featuring two Chekhovian characters who meet twenty years later. Sonya from Uncle Vanya, "re-animated and re-conceived," and Andrey Prozorov from The Three Sisters meet in a shabby Moscow café just after 1920. They are now middle-aged but, despite all they have experienced, have kept almost all their youthful characteristics. Sonya is still hard-working and hopelessly in love, trying to save what can be saved from the family estate in new and unkind times. The dreams and fantasies of both characters keep colliding with cruel reality, and even though they realized long ago that they have spent their lives in the waiting room of life, they can't do anything but collect pieces of consolation that help continue the illusion so that, for a while, they can live again. |
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Mary Samson, Aaron Murphy |
Aaron Murphy |
Mary Samson |
Cast and Crew for Afterplay |
Sonya | Mary Samson |
Andrey | Aaron Murphy |
Set & Props | Abbie Zimmerman |
Graphic Design | Amie Leeking |
Stage Manager | Cynthia Brinkman |
Costumes | Courtney Conley |
Lighting and Sound Design | Tyler Null |
Reviews of Afterplay
San Francisco Bay Timesby Albert Goodwyn |
The first production by new theatre company (Spare Stage) successfully mounts two difficult one-acts at the EXIT. Ashes to Ashes is typical of Harold Pinter's circuitous dialogue and obscure characterizations. Brian Friel's Afteplay borrows characters from Anton Chekhov. Both are staged with the same two actors on simple sets…… These actors (Murphy/Samson) and Director Stephen Drewes have fully realized the production, and given an admirable treatment of challenging subject matter. The sheer, inscrutable complexity of both plays is an intellectual exercise for the audience as well." |
San Francisco Bay Guardianby Nicole Gluckstern |
Overall, if this production has a fatal flaw, it's that it is only being mounted for a two-week run. |