In Who’s Afraid Of Virginia Wolf, you take a journey with four people who have no idea this incredible evening is going to happen. The show is a Tony Award-Winning masterpiece that has been shocking audiences sine 1962 while making them laugh at the same time. This dark comedy by Edward Albee examines the breakdown of George and Martha’s marriage as they try to entertain a young couple who they met at a college faculty party earlier in the evening. The young couple, Nick and Honey, get pulled into George and Martha’s frustrated relationship as the night grows darker and the early morning hours arrive. The dialogue in the first act is hailed as some of the greatest in all of the American Theatre. Be warned however, the language and content of this show earn it an “R” rating not to be taken lightly. Most theatres, including Onstage In Bedford, are strongly advising 17 and up only. This is theatre brilliance, but absolutely for adults only.
Edward Albee’s words are magnificent, but it is the performances from Rose Anne Holman (Martha) and Seth Johnson (George) that truly bring the vitriol and bitterness to the surface. They paint for us the ultimate portrait of a crumpled marriage. Martha and George have a life built on the misconception that they can be happy based on political and social standards, but now, in their middle age, both feel the weight of their inactions and prejudices. Their invited guests, married couple Nick (Brandon Loera) and Honey (Robin Clayton), spend the entire night caught in a web of Martha and George fighting and degrading sick and twisted games. The play is about faith in love, and the decay of a relationship that needed to end years ago.
OnStage In Bedford continues to raise the bar for local and regional theatre. With this production I am reminded that not all theatre experiences are Rodgers and Hammerstein – and that’s OK. You don’t always need to walk out of a theatre with a song you can hum. Occasionally, you are lucky enough to see a show like OnStage In Bedford’s “Who’s Afraid Of Virginia Wolf” and be given food for thought. I personally walked away from this incredible piece of work with a new perspective on just how healthy, loving and stable a marriage I have! I also left the theatre completely blown away by the stellar performances of all four actors. An especially deep tip of the hat to Seth Johnson who stepped in to take over the part with less than a week’s notice or rehearsal. He was on book (using the script) throughout the show, but it was very well camouflaged and in no way at all distracting.
Set and lighting designers Kevin Brown and Michael B. Winters bring the cluttered 1962 living room and life of Martha and George to life with exacting details. This effort, along with those of Properties Designer Kristen Burgess, made me forget it was September 2, 2016 outside the walls of the theatre.
The show will run weekends September 2 -18. Tickets can be purchased online at onstageinbedford.com. By visiting the website, you can also find out about auditions, backstage opportunities, show times, learn about volunteering or make a donation. This is absolutely a local theatre where you can play a part!
