On this week's THEATER TALK, writer David Ives, whose new play THE LIAR is now at NYC's Classic Stage Company through Feb. 26, proves to be a fascinating conversationalist - sharing insights into his writing tactics, his enthusiasms throughout his career, his approach to adaptations (The Liar is based on a 17th-century French play by Pierre Corneille) and his work with Stephen Sondheim on a new musical set to open next year.
Ives made his mark in New York with All in the Timing, a 1993 evening of short plays. He later was Tony-nominated for his erotic two-hander, Venus in Fur in 2012. He also adapted 33 American musicals for New York City's celebrated Encores! Great American Musicals series. Although he was a crack temp typist at one time, Ives still writes his plays longhand. Writing on a computer, he explains to Theater Talk co-host Susan Haskins and substitute co-host Jesse Green of New York Magazine, makes writers glib. He works "totally on impulse and inspiration. ... I never want to do the same thing twice, which is not a good career move!" His current reimagining of The Liar came about because he fell in love with Corneille's play - "It was as if someone had sent me A Midsummer Night's Dream and no one knew about it." He also says that working with Sondheim, on a musical combining two Luis Buñuel movies (The Discreet Charm of the Bourgeoisie and The Exterminating Angel), is "as much fun as one could possibly have."Videos