MAN IN SNOW 'Talkback' at Gloucester Stage Company

I just happened to be in the Boston area for my 50th reunion from Somerville High School and I when I heard that Israel Horovitz had a world premiere of MAN IN SNOW at the Gloucester Stage Company in Gloucester, MA, I immediately made plans to see it. What I did not expect that after the Sunday matinee, the acclaimed playwright and the cast would be having a "Talkback" after the show and I just LOVE "talkbacks".

Horovitz explained that that the genesis of MAN IN SNOW came from a visit he had in 1997 in Fairbanks, Alaska where he was seeing a production of his play BARKING SHARKS. While there he read about an avalanche in nearby Mt. McKinley where a man was trapped in his cabin under 30' of snow and spent the last moments of his life talking on his cell phone saying good-bye to his wife.

A year later, he wrote a radio play for BBC Radio 4 and it played in 2000. Horovitz played the role of the husband opposite Marcia Warren.

In 2012, the radio script was produced on stage for the first time at Teatro Stabile by his own theatre company (Compagnia Horovitz-Paciotto) and directed by is co-artistic director Andrea Paciotto. It went on to tour in major cities in Italy.

Horovitz decided to write a full-length stage-adaption which is currently undergoing its World Premiere at the Gloucester Stage Company and will be heading Off-Broadway to La Mama where it will run November 10 to November 27.

While it is clear how the play will end, Horovitz adds the back story about the character David (who meets his unfortunate death) who at the age of 65, is retired and married to Franny, has two children Joey (who died as a result of a motorcycle accident six years prior to the events) and a daughter Emily who relates her relationship with her father was strained.

Playing David, the center-piece of the play is the incomparable Will Lyman (who narrates "Frontline" on PBS) in a tour-de-force performance. Sandra Shipley is marvelous as his wife, Francisco Solorzano is spot on as the son Joey who visits David from "above", Ashley Risteen plays the daughter Emily who has issues with her father, Paul O'Brien is David's cousin and best friend in a powerful role, and finally Ron Nakahara plays a key role as a translator for the Japanese newlyweds who desire to christen their marriage on Mt. McKinley under the Northern Lights just like he did as a young man.

While many theaters present these "talk-backs" with cast members and take questions from the audience, one rarely gets the opportunity to hear a playwright discuss his work and I was thrilled to listen to Horovitz.

While the play was advertised that the Director would be Andrea Paciotto, it was revealed he had visa problems and thus was unavailable. Thus, Horovitz took over as Director and had just two weeks and three days to rehearse his play.

He spoke about the success of the radio play in England where he heard from film director John Boarman who related he was so involved while listening to the play on the radio, he had to pull off the road to concentrate on it.

It was mentioned that audiences had to use their imagination for the radio play and likewise in this production where the set design is minimalist which according to Horovitz "requires the audience to participate". It was Horovitz who decided to have all the actors barefoot and wanted the play to be visually compelling. He mentioned that following the first preview, he noticed many in the audience crying while leaving the theater. I want to add, the play is also quite humorous.

While in Alaska, Horovitz heard about the Japanese honeymooners who travel to Alaska to procreate under the Northern Lights and he got the idea to include this in his work. He also liked the idea of adding eastern philosophy to western philosophy. He stated he always likes to teach audiences about other languages which Ron Nakahara does splendidly adding some Japanese phrases.

Solorzano revealed that his father was diagnosed with cancer which added a personal level to the play.

Horovitz made clear that attitudes about death, parenting, and relationships are central to the play's themes.

It was revealed that actors Paul O'Brien and Sandra Shipley, who had been performing together for thirty years, planned to marry in two days.

Horovitz mentioned there would be no changes to the script, set design, or actors for the Off-Broadway play at La Mama.

Many in the Gloucester audience were clearly members of the Horovitz fan club and universally saluted the playwright for this new work which has received rave reviews. See the wonderful Broadwayworld.com review by Nancy Grossman on this site.

MAN IN SNOW continues at the Gloucester Stage Company until Oct. 23, 2016. For tickets, call 978-281-4433 or visit www.gloucesterstage.com.

If you are unable to get there, you can see MAN IN SNOW at La Mama's First Floor Theatre, 74a East 4th Street, between the Bowery and 2nd Avenue. It runs Nov. 10 to Nov. 27 and I'm sure it will sell out. For tickets, call 646-430-5374. Tickets are $25 for adults and $20 for students and seniors.

I am certain there is a great future for this compelling play.

DVR ALERT - PBS PRESENTS A DOCUMENTARY ABOUT THE MUSICAL HAMILTON

Look for PBS's "Great Performances" premiere of its "Arts Fall Festival" with the documentary "Hamilton's America" premiering on PBS on Friday, Oct. 21. Lin-Manuel Miranda, who wrote the book, music, and lyrics for HAMILTON, recalls how the idea for the stage show came to him. There will be rehearsal footage with the original cast, trips to historic locations, ch as Mt. Vernon, and Valley Forge with Miranda and other cast members, and a wide range of interviews including Presidents Obama and George W. Bush, and even Stephen Sondheim.

I'm sure this will be a documentary for the ages.

Photo Credit: Charles Shubow

cgshubow@broadwayworld.com