Lyle Kessler says that most of his plays are about “family, and the extreme emotions of a family pushed to the edge.” That certainly holds true for his newest work,
House on Fire
, which receives its world premiere at Palm Beach Dramaworks on Friday evening, December 7. PBD Producing Artistic Director William Hayes directs the play, which runs through December 30 with specially priced previews on December 5 and 6.
As he did in his internationally renowned play
Orphans
, Kessler uses magic realism in this moving and funny parable of love, resentment, and redemption. Colman returns home after a self-imposed, decade-long absence upon learning from his brother, Dale, of their father’s death. Despite the presence of the Old Man’s lifeless body, Colman is not convinced he’s actually gone. Before long, all three men are battling for dominance. Then two uninvited guests arrive, and lives are changed forever.
House on Fire
features, in alphabetical order, Hamish Allan-Headley, Rob Donohoe, Christopher Kelly, Taylor Anthony Miller, and Georgia Warner. Scenic design is by Bill Clarke, costume design is by Brian O’Keefe, lighting design is by Donald Edmund Thomas, and sound design is by David Thomas. Esther Flaster is the associate director and Lee Soroko is the fight director.
Lyle Kessler is the director of the Playwright/Directors Unit of the Actors Studio in New York, is a member of the Labyrinth Theater Company, and is former artistic director of the Sundance Screenwriters Lab. In addition to
Orphans
, his plays include
The Watering Place
,
Collision
,
Possession
,
Robbers
,
First Born
, and
Unlisted
.
Perp
will have its world premiere in New York in March, produced by the Barrow Group. His films include
Orphans
,
The Saint of Fort Washington, Gladiator
, and
Touched
(in which he also co-starred).
Palm Beach Dramaworks is a non-profit, professional theatre and is a member of the Theatre Communications Group, the South Florida Theatre League, Florida Professional Theatres Association, and the Cultural Council of Palm Beach County.
Evening performances are Wednesday, Thursday, and select Sundays at 7:30PM, and Friday and Saturday at 8PM. Matinee performances are Wednesday, Saturday, and Sunday at 2PM. Post-performance discussions follow Wednesday matinee and Sunday evening performances. Individual tickets are $75, with specially priced preview tickets at $55 and Opening Night tickets at $90. Student tickets are available for $15, and Pay Your Age tickets are available for those 18-40. Tickets for educators are half price with proper ID (other restrictions apply). Group rates for 20 or more and discounted season subscriptions are also available.
The Don & Ann Brown Theatre is located in the heart of downtown West Palm Beach, at 201 Clematis Street. For ticket information contact the box office at (561) 514-4042, or visit
www.palmbeachdramaworks.org
.
