Karoline Leach's Two-Actor Tryst Returns to NYC, Opening July 7

By Kenneth Jones
07 Jul 2011

Andrea Maulella and Mark Shanahan
Andrea Maulella and Mark Shanahan
Photo by Carol Rosegg

Tryst, a romantic thriller by Karoline Leach, seen in a commercial Off-Broadway run in 2006 and in later regional productions, returned to New York City July 1 for an engagement by Irish Repertory Theatre. Opening night is July 7.

Joe Brancato directs Mark Shanahan and Andrea Maulella, his cast members from a 2008 run of the play at Westport Country Playhouse in Connecticut. 

According to Irish Rep, "Tryst is a riveting romantic thriller set in Edwardian London. Part romance, part psychological thriller, it tells the story of handsome con-man George Love, who preys on well-off women, wooing them, marrying them, and leaving them penniless and husbandless the day after the honeymoon…that is, until he meets his match in lonely milliner Adelaide Pinchin. Tryst is an intense and tantalizing play intended for mature audiences."

The production has scenic design by Michael Schweikardt; lighting design by Martin Vreeland; costume design by Alejo Vietti; and sound design by Johnna Doty. Production stage manager is Michael Palmer; assistant stage manager is Arthur Atkinson.

Leach is a British playwright and author, best known for her book "In the Shadow of the Dreamchild," which re-examines the life of Lewis Carroll, author of "Alice's Adventures in Wonderland." Prior to becoming a writer, she studied acting and worked as both an actor and director in British theatre. Her first professionally produced work, as a writer, was an adaptation of Hans Christian Andersen's The Snow Queen, commissioned by Orchard Theatre Company in 1989. Tryst is her first major play. It was originally produced under the title The Mysterious Mr. Love in London in 1997.

Director Brancato's credits include Off-Broadway's Cobb, From Door to Door, One Shot One Kill, The Devil's Music and more.

Tryst continues to Aug. 21 at The Irish Repertory Theatre, 132 W. 22nd Street, between 6th and 7th Avenues. For more information, visit www.irishrep.org.