Long Wharf artistic director Gordon Edelstein helms the play, which Fugard based on a true story about a train driver searching for the identity of a woman and small child he accidentally killed. Performances will run through Nov. 21 on Long Wharf's main stage in New Haven CT.
Fugard previously directed the world premiere of the play in February at the South African theatre named in his honor. The Train Driver made its U.S. premiere at the Fountain Theatre in Los Angels in early October.
Here's how Long Wharf bills the work: "Roelf Visagie (Groener) wanders the graveyards of Port Elizabeth, searching among the unnamed ones for the final, nondescript resting place of a young woman he unintentionally killed. When Roelf looks for answers, he encounters a mysterious gravedigger named Simon (Chisholm) who guides him towards tenuous and troubled understanding. Based on a real life incident, the play explores guilt in post-apartheid South Africa, continuing the theatre’s long and fruitful association with the master playwright."
The Train Driver has set design by Eugene Lee, costume design by Susan Hilferty, lighting design by Christopher Akerlind and original music and sound design by John Gromada.
Groener received Tony Award nominations for his work in Crazy for You, Cats and Oklahoma! Chisholm earned a Tony nomination for August Wilson's Radio Golf and has appeared in Gem of the Ocean, Two Trains Running and Jitney. Fugard's plays include Blood Knot, Boesman and Lena, Sizwe Bansi is Dead, The Island, Master Harold and the Boys, My Children! My Africa!, Exits and Entrances, Victory, Bootjie and the Oubaas and Visions and Dreams. Long Wharf presented the world premiere of his play Coming Home last season. Fugard's last play, Have You Seen Us?, premiered at Long Wharf in 2009.
For tickets visit LongWharf.org. The Long Wharf Theatre is located at 222 Sargent Drive in New Haven, CT.