Primrose Path, Directed by Roger Rees, Opens at the Guthrie May 3

By Andrew Gans
03 May 2013

Kyle Fabel and Suzy Kohane
Kyle Fabel and Suzy Kohane
Photo by T. Charles Erickson

The Guthrie Theater's production of The Primrose Path officially opens May 3 following previews that began April 27 on the Wurtele Thrust Stage.

Crispin Whittell's bittersweet romance, which is based upon the novel "Home of the Gentry" by Ivan Turgenev, is directed by Tony winner Roger Rees. Performances continue through June 15.

The cast features Kyle Fabel as Theodore Lavretsky, Suzy Kohane as Liza and Sally Wingert as Maria with Christian L. Bardin as A Maid from Mtsensk, Candace Barrett Birk as Martha, Tom Bloom as Lemm, Nathaniel Fuller as The Retainer at Vasilyevskoye, Hugh Kennedy as Panshin, Ann Michels as A Lady from St. Petersburg and Jim Stanek as Mikhalevich.

"The story of Lavretsky, who returns to his run-down estate in Russia to escape from his life in Paris, The Primrose Path," according to the Guthrie, "is a tale of passion and change that combines wit and humor with a profound and compelling romance. After Lavretsky meets the young and beautiful Liza, whose grace and spirituality captivate his previously jaded spirit, he is torn between the weight of his past and an optimistic vision that may or may not come to pass."

The artistic team includes Neil Patel (set designer), Fabio Toblini (costume designer), Jeff Croiter (lighting designer), Wayne Barker (composer), C. Andrew Mayer (sound designer), Michael Lupu (dramaturg), Andrew Wade (voice and dialect coach), Chris A. Code (stage manager), Justin Hossle (assistant stage manager) and Natalie Novacek (assistant director).

Single tickets start at $29 and are on sale through the Guthrie box office at (612) 377-2224 and online at guthrietheater.org.