“Afascinating,funnyandevocativeplay....Ruhldevelopsthestorywiththeenticingblendofirreverenthumorandskewedrealism....It’sbeautiful.“-SanFranciscoChronicle“[This]breathtakinglyinventiveadditiontoRuhl’ssingularbodyofwork...hasthepotentialtobeamodernmasterpiece.“-LosAngelesTimesSarahRuhlmadeherBroadwaydebutthisfallwithherlatesteffervescentcomedy:aplayaboutsex,intimacy,andequality,setinthe1880s,whenenthusiasmfortheelectriclightbulbgaverisetoahandynewinstrumenttotreatfemalehysteria.ThestoryrevolvesaroundthemedicalofficeandhomeofDr.Givings,whoregularlyinduces“paroxysm“inhisoncehigh-strungpatientSabrina,allowinghertohappilyreturntoplayingpiano.Soon,Sabrinafallsinlovewiththedoctor’sassistantAnnie,andalsobefriendshiswifeCatherine,whoisdealingwithherownneuroticmisgivingsaboutnotbeingabletobreast-feedherbaby.Withthisnewwork,Ruhlonceagainusesplayfulsymbolismandlyricallanguageasshemakesseeminglyeffortlessthematicleaps--craftingaplaywithtremendouscriticalandaudienceappeal,inhersingulartheatricalvoice.SarahRuhl’splaysincludeDeadMan’sCellPhone,TheCleanHouse(aPulitzerPrizefinalist),PassionPlay,andEurydice,allofwhichhavebeenwidelyproducedthroughouttheUnitedStatesandinternationally.SheisarecipientoftheMacArthurFellowship.
GIVINGS NEXT SBEAUTIFUL PLAY ROOM SCELLPHONE
