Desdemona and Zoo Story
by Paula Vogel and Edward Albee
May 9-16, 2014
Two pillars of American drama, one explosive night of theatre.
Friday, May 9, 2014 at 7.30 pm
Saturday, May 10, 2014 at 7.30 pm
Sunday, May 11, 2104 at 2 pm
Friday, May 16, 2014 at 7.30
Derry Opera House, Derry, NH
Desdemona’s frantic search for her infamous missing linen sparks Vogel’s search for what it means to be a woman. Struggling valiantly against class barriers, sexual repression and dirty laundry, can Desdemona chart her own course? In this smart, sexy, funny behind-the-scenes take on Shakespeare’s Othello, Pulitzer Prize-winner Paula Vogel gives us a glimpse of “real” life on Cyprus and what really goes on behind closed doors while Othello is being destroyed by his jealousy. Desdemona pines for a better life without the restrictions of traditional society, all the while egging on her pious maid, Emilia. When Bianca, the town whore, shows up and reveals a secret or two, things start to fall apart as we careen towards the dramatic finale that brings Desdemona together with Othello.
The Zoo Story is the play that launched the career of one of America’s most celebrated playwrights, three-time Pulitzer Prize winner and recent recipient of the Edward MacDowell Medal, Edward Albee. It tells the tale of a chance meeting between two men on a bench in the middle of Central Park. Peter is a complacent executive comfortably reading in the park when Jerry, an aggressive loner who has just come from the zoo, badgers him into conversation. An innocent conversation turns to deal with human isolation, loneliness, class differences, and the dangers of inaction within American society.
Show Details
Desdemona: a play about a handkerchief
by Paula Vogel
Directed by Wanda Strukus
Desdemona….. Carey Cahoon
Emilia….. Amy Agostino
Bianca….. Rachael Longo
The Zoo Story
by Edward Albee
Directed by Matthew Cahoon
Peter….. Peter Josephson
Jerry….. Wayne Asbury
Audience Reaction
“”Aaaand theatre KAPOW kills it again with Desdemona and Zoo Story. Excellence, all around. Give these people a hand!”
“This was a really super performance of a very provocative script. The trio ensemble was excellent in their portrayals and engaging in their relating of life tensions. Super show.”
“Thank you for an amazing experience. I’ll be thinking about it days. REALLY, really good work. My heart is full of disturbing love, if that makes any sense.”
“Jerry’s (Wayne’s) twitches at the top of the play – especially the right hand fingering his pocket – masking (or foreshadowing?) what was in that pocket, and that 18-page monologue, delivered haltingly, furiously, and with every other adverb in the English language…wow. Peter’s ( Peter Josephson) laughing hysteria that just mounted and mounted and mounted…I cannot say enough good things about these performances. Great performances, truly. Like, spooky great.”
“Last night was a great, unforgettable theatrical tour with a provocative script by Edward Albee and breathtakingly realistic duet performances by Peter Josephson and Wayne Asbury. Peter portrayed, with a depth of uncommon realism, a character that seemingly had it all and yet was desperately unhappy. Even though he had settled for his life, the chance meeting with a stranger brought his emotions to an urgent explosion. Peter is a master of portraying interior dilemma even with a cool exterior. Wayne entered as a puzzling stranger with questions that were too familiar, stories that were too unnerving, and mannerism that underscored perfectly his delusional, disturbing state of mind. Some moments I sympathized with the character and some moments I was anxious to be in the same room. A powerful evening and a powerful team.”
“If I may add to my earlier gushing.. sitting where we were , Wayne often had his back to us, but every twitch, move, tic etc.. that he made was so intentional and so complete that it didn’t matter if we could see his face or not, we completely got that character… it was a terrific performance.”
