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Two Passes to Edward Albee's "The Zoo Story," Unicorn Theatre, Stockbridge, 7/19 - 8/26

PLEASE NOTE:  Two more passes to this same production are being auctioned off on this website.

"It's just that if you can't deal with people, you have to make a start somewhere. With animals. Don't you see? A person has to find a way of dealing with something. If not with people...something." Written by Pulitzer Prize-winning American playwright, Edward Albee (Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? and The Goat, or Who is Sylvia?), Edward Albee's At Home at the Zoo (Zoo story) delves deep into the complex concept of human loneliness and social disparity. Directed by Eric Hill (BTG: The Homecoming, Thoreau or, Return to Walden; Poe), Edward Albee's At Home at the Zoo (Zoo story) joins Albee's classic play, The Zoo Story (1959), the classic play which launched Albee's sensational career, with its prequel, Homelife (2004) written 45 years later. This production features David Adkins (BTG: Thoreau or, Return to Walden; Poe), Joey Collins (BTG: The Homecoming, Broadway: The Glass Menagerie) and Tara Franklin (BTG: The Homecoming, Lion in Winter, Equus).

Set in New York City, Act 1, Homelife opens with a look inside the isolated marriage of wealthy textbook company executive, Peter, played by David Adkins, and his articulate, Upper East Side wife, Ann, played by Tara Franklin. Unable to communicate their feelings to each other, the foundation of their marriage is built on unspoken agreements. Somehow, they find comfort in their boring relationship, yet, they are never truly on the same page. Act 2, The Zoo Story, follows Peter to Central Park. While sitting on a park bench, Peter encounters forlorn and forsaken stranger, Jerry, played by Joey Collins. This stranger, who appears desperate for human contact and connection, forces Peter to listen his stories, as he digs deep into Peter’s life, and his own.

Director Eric Hill says, "I was inspired by the opportunity to work on The Zoo Story again after many years, and to explore the new Albee one-act that is the first half of this evening (Homelife), to create Edward Albee's At Home at the Zoo (Zoo story). This new piece not only provides a brilliant backstory to The Zoo Story, but it also stands alone as a vintage piece of Albee, with all the gender tension of his great plays." In a 2011 interview with The Boston Globe, playwright Edward Albee states, “The Zoo Story is a good play...But it’s a play with one and a half characters. Jerry is a fully developed, three-dimensional character. But Peter is a backboard. He’s not fully developed. Peter had to be more fleshed out,’’ he continues, “it took me several years to get back to doing the proper first act, but it only took me a few weeks to write.’’

Contributed to the Massachusetts Broadcasters Hall of Fame Auction by WBRK Radio, Pittsfield, Cheryl Tripp-Cleveland, General Manager.