The Cincinnati Playhouse production of Margaret Edson's Pulitzer Prize-winning play, Wit opened Feb. 10 under the best of circumstances. Theatre organizers extended the run by six additional performances before the curtain ever rose. Wit will now run through March 11 according to the new schedule.
In the Cincinnati production, Dale Hodges portrays English professor and cancer patient Vivian Bearing at the Thompson Shelterhouse Theatre. The cast includes Joneal Joplin as Harvey Kelekian and Mr. Bearing, Daniel Travis as Jason Posner, Ruby Holbrook as E. M. Ashford and Sue Jin Song as Susan Monahan. Miscellaneous medical staff are played by Katherine Scholl, Steve Cirbus, Manon Halliburton and Dylan Shelton.
The multiple award-winning play, about a distinguished 50-year-old scholar of metaphysical poetry, particularly the challenging verse of John Donne, who finds herself blindsided by a diagnosis of advanced ovarian cancer.
Wit is the first play by Edson, a kindergarten teacher now living in Atlanta who was inspired to write the play after a year spent working with cancer patients. Edson actually wrote the play in her spare time while working in a bicycle shop.
Meet the Artists programs will follow selected performances. The production team for the show comprises set designer Paul Shortt, costume designer Gordon DeVinney, lighting designer John Lasiter and sound designer David B. Smith. The stage manager is Suann Pollock.
Tickets range from $31.50 - $39.50. Performances take place at the Thompson Shelterhouse Theatre located at 962 Mt. Adams Circle For reservations, call the Playhouse box office at (513) 421-3888 or local toll-free (Tristate) (800) 582-3208. Call (513) 345-2248 for TDD accessibility.
-- By Murdoch McBride
