Directed by Edwin Sherin, the cast features Emmy and Tony Award-winning actress Jane Alexander, Tony-nominated actor Robert Cuccioli and Gareth Saxe, recently seen in the Broadway revival of The Homecoming. Performances began Feb. 6. Producers hope to move the show to New York following the Pittsburgh run; director Sherin told Playbill.com that Thomas' work is "a brilliant play that deserves to have a future life in New York."
In 1912, press notes explain, "D.H. Lawrence met Frieda, the German-born wife of his English Literature professor. A short time later, Frieda ran off with Lawrence, leaving her husband, two young daughters and her twelve year old son Monty behind in Nottingham, England. After Lawrence's death in 1930, Frieda went back to the Taos, New Mexico ranch where 'Lorenzo' (Frieda's affectionate name for Lawrence) and she had lived together in happier times. Angelo, her Italian lover fifteen years her junior, accompanied her."
The play is set in July 1939 when "Frieda's son Monty, now 39 years old, inexplicably made a short four-day visit with his mother in Taos after harboring years of bitterness toward her. That meeting between Frieda, Monty and Angelo took place eight weeks before the world exploded into a World War. At the Taos ranch were representatives from three of the countries who would be embroiled in conflict: Germany, England and Italy…all meeting together on American soil to embark on a journey of their own."
The production features sets by Stephanie Mayer-Staley, costumes by Hope Hanafin, lights by Andrew David Ostrowski and sound by Steve Shapiro.
Remaining show times are Thursday-Saturday at 8 PM and Saturday and Sunday at 2 PM.
Tickets, priced $24-$27, are available by calling (412) 621-4445 or by visiting www.pittsburghplayhouse.com.