One can find solace in the strangest of places, as shown when several emotionally broken artistic folk converge at a photographer's studio in Elisa Abatsis' bittersweet and funny drama, DAGUERREOTYPES. Directed by Karen Raphaeli and presented by Shoes for Royalty Productions, the show will have its World Premiere on July 15 at Where Eagles Dare Theatre, located at 347 West 36th Street, as part of the Ninth Annual Midtown International Theatre Festival.
Fifty-something photographer Henry takes portrait photos (and video) of recently deceased babies in order to provide a visual record for the child's parents and to help bring some closure to their grief. Given the somber nature of his work, Henry is more than a bit perturbed by his assistant Chase's "graveyard humor" toward the subject. Henry's temperament is not helped when his old flame Darcy, a former rising actress whose career was brought down by her affair with the bottle, comes back into his life. With Darcy is her teenage daughter Gemma, a promising art student with numerous college scholarship offers, all of which she turned down to run off with her high school art professor and live the bohemian lifestyle in New York City.
While Henry is beset by conflicting emotions regarding Darcy, Chase is upset by the news that Gemma (whose New York life came to an abruptly violent end) will be helping him out in the office and accompanying Henry on photo shoots. Gemma is also unaware that an unconscious action from her so unnerved Chase when they were both in high school (albeit in different social circles) it completely changed the course of his life - keeping him (and many others) alive.
As the four argue over past decisions and choices made, a quiet catharsis begins to take place, as though through their interaction, these various souls can begin to heal. Throw in a very upset pregnant woman and a restless ghost who can't quite cross to the other side, and you have a showcase for the resilience of the human spirit and the opportunity for happiness for each of us - if only one has the courage to take it. "Daguerreotype" refers to an early type of photographic process, developed by Louis Daguerre who perfected the process in 1839.
The cast of DAGUERREOTYPES includes Jared Morgenstern, Storm Garner, Jessica Morris, Lynn Spencer and Doug Rossi.
Elisa's Abatsis' plays have been produced at Howling Moon Cab Company, Impact Theatre and HB Studios. Produced works include Statues of Liberty, The Fat Lady, If Peanuts Were Emeralds, Crap/Last Page and, most recently, Poinsettia. She is a member of the Abingdon's monthly playwrights group and has studied with Donna De Matteo. A semi-accomplished actress before falling in love with the pen, Elisa has appeared in numerous plays, commercials, and short films shot by art students with odd-looking facial hair. Elisa also did summer stock for four years at the Playhouse Playhouse in Danville, Kentucky, where she learned how to do run lights, kill a wolf spider, and grace the stage all in the same night. She absolutely loved it, and is pretty sure she's Southern at heart.
A native Brooklynite, Karen began directing in New York City in 2004, after completing her BA at Binghamton University. Karen is a member director of 13th Street Repertory Company, where she has produced four short play festivals, directed over a dozen staged readings, and ten produced plays. 13th Street directing credits include: Troika: God Tolstoy & Sophia by
Peter Levy, Behind the Invisible Enemy by Valerie Killegrew, Fin and Euba by Audrey Cefaly, Boulevard Xmas Trees by Michael Stockman, and Crustacean Island by Jan O'Connor. Other directing credits: Small Cell in Tehran by Maryam Merhjui (Theatervision/ Playtime), The Age Game by Joan Blake and Tial Maria (NY Artists Unlimited), and Soapbox by Jack Kelly (Samuel French Festival). Karen previously worked with Elisa Abatsis in November 2007, when she directed Elisa's short play Crap/Last Page (produced by Small Pond Entertainment).
Shoes For Royalty was a grunge band that Elisa Abatsis attempted to start in high school. Now, it's a production company. Whatever the incarnation, Shoes For Royalty always has and always will stand for honest expression, irreverancy, and the willingness to go for broke.
Running through August 1st, DAGUERREOTYPES will be performed at the Where Eagles Dare Theatre, located at 347 West 36th Street (between 8th & 9th Avenues) on the ground floor. Show times are: Tuesday, July 15th at 8:30pm, Saturday, July 19th at 3:30pm, Thursday, July 24th at 8:30pm, Sunday, July 27th at 5:15pm Monday, July 28th at 6pm and Friday, August 1st at 8pm. Tickets are $18.00. Reservations: 212-279-4200 or www.ticketcentral.com. More information on the Midtown International Theatre Festival can be found at www.midtownfestival.org.
