Heading into At Home at the Zoo...

One of my favorite things about working in a theatre like Theatre 810 is seeing the sets go up and down, up and down.  In a matter of days, there is a entirely different world than the one that was there just a week ago.  Right now, we have a set in the space that, in fact, creates two worlds - for Albee's At Home at the Zoo - the pairing of acts Homelife and The Zoo Story.

Here is what critics have to say about the work:

"An essential and heartening experience…If Homelife is an openhanded slap, The Zoo Story is a gut punch with a closed fist. Edward Albee is a voice unparalleled in American theater." —NY Times

 "Tense, truthful, and hypnotic" —New York Daily News

"Albee has dared to write a prequel to the play that made his reputation . . . . Improbable as it sounds, the new stuff doesn't just hold up next to the famous bench encounter—it's better. . . In a sure sign of a writer in full command of his powers, the dialogue gets more matter-of-fact as the subjects grow more perverse—like watching a Balthus canvas come to life." —New York

Really, I can not wait.  I have seen several productions of The Zoo Story, but have not had the opportunity to see it as Albee prefers it produced (with Homelife), and the Gremillion/Helm duo is the team to do it right.  Here is all of the info that you need to come support smart, innovative theatre in Lafayette.  It's a team sport, ya'll.


**This play contains mature language and content. Only those 17 and older will be admitted. Thank you.**



Theater 810
January 25 & 26 @ 7:30 pm
January 27 @ 2pm
February 1 & 2 @ 7:30pm
February 3 @ 2pm

Tickets are $12 ($10 for students and seniors) and will be available at the Theater 810 box office and online at http://athomeatthezoo.eventbrite.com/
 
Cast/Crew
Ann..........................Katryn Schmidt
Peter........................Scott Gremillion
Jerry.........................Cooper Helm
Stage Manager.........Erin Segura
Costumes................Angela Thomas
Publicity...................Hope Garrett Cook
Artwork...................Erin Broussard


Directed by Cooper Helm
Produced by Scott Gremillion
 
At Home at the Zoo, a play by Edward Albee, began in 1958 as an award winning one act called The Zoo Story. Peter, an unsuspecting bookworm, is accosted by Jerry in Central Park. Jerry, a "permanent transient," lives on the fringe of society and reality. He seems intent on breaking Peter out of his shell and pushing him to his limits. Jerry regales Peter with tales wondrous and incomprehensible, both explaining and concealing his true purpose.

Nearly fifty years later, Edward Albee returned to this world with the prequel one act, Homelife. We find Peter, before he leaves for the park, reading at home. His wife, Ann, interrupts him with three dreaded words, "We should talk." Peter is unresponsive and Ann is distracted, soon forgetting what she wanted to talk about. Or has she?

The two acts, performed together, comprise At Home at the Zoo, an exceptional play about the complexity of human relationships both old and new. It strikes at the underlying currents of the subconscious through characters extraordinarily absurd, hilarious, loving, respectful and irreverent.