SOLUS Productions is staging a production of BLACKBIRD by David Harrower, starring Marc Clement & Monica Lapka, produced by Marc Clement, and directed by Tony Knight, at Holden Street Theatres.
A distressing, nuanced two-hander about the dangerous influence and magnetism of traumatic events.
At his workplace, 55-year-old Ray Brooks is shocked to be visited by a young woman, 27-year-old Una Spencer. Fifteen years earlier, they had a sexual relationship for three months when Una was twelve and Ray was forty; subsequently, Ray had been jailed for three years for statutory rape.
Ray takes Una to the office break room, where the two engage in a long and difficult confrontation involving Una’s continuing struggles to understand and come to terms with the abuse and her intensely conflicting emotions, which pivot between anger, curiosity, confusion, and even a persistent attachment to Ray, whom Una loved – and she believed that he loved her. The fearful Ray, who is himself trying to forget the past and the potential feelings he had for Una, parries her demanding questions and descriptions of her feelings and experiences, all the while uncertain of her intentions.
“ The gifted David Harrower’s intense Blackbird promises to be the most powerful drama of the season… masterly, mesmerizing… extraordinary… a miracle.” – The New York Times
FOUR STARS! “This haunting, powerful, incendiary work is the sort of faring theater far too absent from our stages these days.” – New York Post
“A provocative, shocking and worthwhile new play. Playwright David Harrower is definitely a name to watch.” – New York Daily News
“A fascinating and unnerving ninety-minute cat-and-mouse tale of revenge and sexual intrigue, with genuine theatricality and undeniable shock value.” – Associated Press
“It’s a wonderfully engaging intellectual conflagration with a very slow burn… a dark and beguiling play which stays with you… a remarkable play.” – CurtainUp
“An Ibsenite inquiry into the past… psychological insight, creation of characters and nice sociological detail… Poignant.” – Evening Standard (London)Stay tuned…
BLACKBIRD is at The Studio at Holden Street Theatres at 8pm from Tues 2 Apr until Sat 13 Apr. Book at Holden Street Theatres or click HERE to purchase your tickets.
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