Brits Off Broadway kicks off with Good With People this year

Scotland Week celebrations kick off at 59E59 Theaters with the US premiere of David Harrower’s GOOD WITH PEOPLE, launching the 2013 Brits Off Broadway festival

New York, New York February 21, 2013—59E59 Theaters (Elysabeth Kleinhans, Artistic Director; Peter Tear, Executive Producer) is thrilled to launch the Scotland Week celebrations with NY premiere of GOOD WITH PEOPLE, written by David Harrower (Blackbird, A Slow Air) and directed by George Perrin (Terre Haute). GOOD WITH PEOPLE launches the 2013 Brits Off Broadway festival at 59E59 Theaters, and is produced by the Traverse Theatre Company and Datum Point in association with Paines Plough. GOOD WITH PEOPLE begins performances on Wednesday, March 27 for a limited engagement through Sunday, April 21.  Press opening is Wednesday, April 3 at 7:15 PM.  The performance schedule is Tuesday – Thursday at 7:15 PM; Friday at 8:15 PM; Saturday at 2:15 PM and 8:15 PM; and Sunday at 3:15 PM and 7:15 PM. Performances are at 59E59 Theaters (59 East 59th Street, between Park and Madison Avenues). Tickets are $35 ($24.50 for 59E59 Members). To purchase tickets, call Ticket Central at (212) 279-4200 or go to www.59e59.org.

This haunting two-hander from one of Scotland’s most acclaimed writers, starring Blythe Duff (Beautiful Burnout at St. Ann's Warehouse) and Andrew Scott-Ramsay (Yellow Moon at Brits Off Broadway, 2008), traces the path of personal and political destruction in Helensburgh, Scotland.

Evan returns to Helensburgh, home to Britain's nuclear defense program and once a thriving holiday resort. And a place he’s been trying to avoid. Haunted by his past and afraid of his future, he finds Helen working at the Seaview Hotel. Linked by a single event from their past, will their meeting trigger an explosion?

Called "razor sharp" and "a tremendous piece of work" by The Guardian, GOOD WITH PEOPLE comes to NY as part of the Traverse Theatre's 50th anniversary celebrations. The Traverse Theatre is committed to producing and presenting the best in new writing from Scotland. GOOD WITH PEOPLE was first produced and toured by Paines Plough and Òran Mór as part of their 2010 season of A Play, A Pie and A Pint. The Brits Off Broadway run of GOOD WITH PEOPLE, which also launches Scotland Week in New York, is supported by Creative Scotland and Made in Scotland.

Slow Air: The Moving Tale of an Estranged Brother and Sister

Slow Air @ 59 E59 Theaters

The Scottish Week Theater celebration, at 59E59 Theaters, has brought in an unexpected and wonderful play, Slow Air.  It is a two person, story-telling play – where the actors address the audience directly instead of each other.  The device allows the characters to open up about emotions and insecurities, which they can’t do face to face with others.  It allows the audience to share their introspection and, in this case, builds tension for what will ensue.

Susan Vidler as Morna, and Lewis Howden as her brother, Athol in SLOW AIR

The two characters here are Athol and Morna, adult siblings who haven’t spoken in 14 years.  Athol, played by Lewis Howden, is the stable brother.  He has grown up, built a floor tiling business and raised a family with his wife.  They have moved to Glasgow, made friends with their neighbors and settled into a comfortable life.  Mr. Howden beautifully brings to life the pleasant and unassuming Athol.  A man perfectly suited to his current situation, but uneasy when his emotional boundaries are tested.

. 

And his sister, Morna, excels in testing Athol’s boundaries.  Susan Vidler brings the hyperkinetic Morna to life, demanding attention even when sitting still.  Morna hasn’t traveled far from home, living in Dalry with her son, Joshua.  It is the unseen Joshua who provides the catalyst for Morna and Athol’s story.  On his 21^st birthday, Joshua goes to visit the Aunt and Uncle he hasn’t seen in 14 years.

.

Slow Air explores the ties of family and community, and how seemingly random coincidences affect those ties.  Ultimately, Slow Air is wistful and hopeful story.  It is not so much a tale of “love wins out”,but a more truthful “love gives us a chance”.

.

David Shea handles the lighting design expertly, always critical in a show where the focus transitions between monologues.  David Harrower, the writer and director, brings the story to life gently and slowly, opening up the story in bits to make a satisfying whole.  It is a tentatively happy tale – which is the perfect tone, without ever becoming saccharine.  

----------

Slow Air at 59E59 Theaters

Playwright: David Harrower

Director: David Harrower

Cast: Lewis Howden, Susan Vidler

Through April 29th (website)