Performance Lab 115's
THE VERGE

November 5--21

“The production has such zing and visual cohesion…we never forget Reagan’s or the ensemble’s thrilling potential: Not even two hours of Brecht could alienate us from them.” –Helen Shaw, Time Out New York, on PL 115's Caucasian Chalk Circle (2009)

By Susan Glaspell
Directed by Alice Reagan

Claire, along with Tom, Dick, and Harry, are locked inside Claire’s greenhouse as she races to create a new botanical species, Breath of Life. Will Claire’s new creation be her salvation? Who will she destroy in the process? Performance Lab 115 strips Susan Glaspell’s proto-feminist behemoth of a play in order to reveal the dark, dangerous soul of The Verge. In PL115’s hands, this 1921 comedy of manners turns brutal and disturbing as Claire destroys everyone she loves in her quest to reach the essential in herself. This chamber piece dispenses with any sense of naturalism, locating the action in an all-white “harrowing room” where Claire’s journey of self-discovery turns violent and mad.

Performance Lab 115 is an actor-driven experimental theater company dedicated to creating works that explore the depth and fragility of human connection. Blending classical themes with a contemporary sensibility and modern theatrical experimentation, they strive to make theater that challenges their audience on an intellectual, spiritual and visceral level. Founded in 2005, PL115 has since developed and produced 7 plays and 4 multimedia projects, including the award-winning plays God's Waiting Room (Outstanding Play, FringeNYC 2005), A Small Hole (Best Set, FringeNYC 2006) and Mourn the Living Hector (Best Playwriting, FringeNYC 2008). Their work has been performed in various New York venues, including P.S. 122, HERE Arts Center, Galapagos, Dance New Amsterdam, CSV, The Kraine, chashama, and collective:unconscious, as well as the Merlin International Theater in Budapest, Hungary. Most recently they performed Brecht's Caucasian Chalk Circle as part of The Chocolate Factory's spring 2009 season. For more info on Performance Lab 115: www.pl115.org

November 5--8, 12--15, 17, 19--21 at 8p.m.
Tickets: General $17/Student $14
Purchase in advance here or by calling 212-352-3101. Cash only at the door.