Two Writers, But Only One Success: Itamar Moses' The Four of Us Opens at MTC

By Kenneth Jones
25 Mar 2008

The Four of Us star Michael Esper.
The Four of Us star Michael Esper.
Photo by Joan Marcus

What happens when your best friend's dream comes true, and it's also your dream? Itamar Moses asks the question in his new two-character play, The Four of Us, opening March 25 at Manhattan Theatre Club's Off-Broadway home at City Center Stage II.

In the play, which performances at New York City Center March 6, a longtime friendship between two writers is rocked by the literary success of one of them.

Pam MacKinnon (Peter and Jerry, Bach at Leipzig) directs Gideon Banner and Michael Esper.

According to MTC, "When Benjamin's (Banner) first novel vaults him into literary stardom, his friend David (Esper), a struggling playwright, is thrilled for his newfound success...or is he? Should Benjamin help David by using his new connections? Can David even expect such favors from his friend? And, most importantly, who should pay for lunch? The Four of Us is a poignant new play about friendship and memory, the gap between our stories and our lives, and what happens when your dreams come true — for your best friend."

Banner's credits include Blue Man Group in New York, Boston and Chicago; Big Bill (Williamstown, Lincoln Center), The Franklin Thesis (Les Freres Corbusiers), I Was Tom Cruise (Redux Productions/Fringe), Itamar Moses' Authorial Intent/Idea (Manhattan Theatre Source) and Untitled Short Play (Naked Angels); The Four of Us (Old Globe), Sincerity Forever, Ubu Roi (Williamstown Theater Festival), Galileo (Yale Rep), King o' the Moon (Merrimack Repertory Theatre).

Esper recently appeared in the world premiere of Me, Myself & I by Edward Albee at the McCarter Theater. His resume includes Long Day's Journey Into Night (directed by Garry Hynes) with James Cromwell at the Gaiety Theater, Dublin; Crazy Mary (Playwrights Horizons), The Agony and the Agony (Vineyard Theater), SubUrbia (Second Stage), Manic Flight Reaction (Playwrights Horizons), As You Like It (NYSF), Big Bill (Lincoln Center), Gone Missing (Belt Theater) and Moon Bath Girl (EST). He's a member of The Civilians.

The creative team includes David Zinn (scenic and costume design), Russell H. Champa (lighting design) and Daniel Baker (sound design).

The Four of Us was named Outstanding New Play at the 2008 San Diego Critics Circle Awards. Moses (Bach at Leipzig) will see the world premiere of his Yellowjackets at Berkeley Repertory Theatre in fall 2008.

Tickets for The Four of Us are available by calling CityTix at (212) 581-1212, online at NYCityCenter.org, or in person at the New York City Center box office (131 West 55th Street, between Sixth and Seventh Avenue).

For more information visit www.ManhattanTheatreClub.com.

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The performance schedule for The Four of Us is:

March 6-30: Tuesday-Sunday at 7:30 PM, Saturday & Sunday at 2:30 PM.

Beginning April 1: Tuesday-Saturday at 7:30 PM; Wednesday, Saturday & Sunday at 2:30 PM.