Photo Flash: Gloucester Stage Examines Trial and Error in THE EFFECT

Gloucester Stage Company continues its 38th season of professional theater on Cape Ann with the New England Premiere of Lucy Prebble's The Effect from June 16 through July 8 at 267 East Main Street, Gloucester, MA. Lucy Prebble's funny and moving look at medicinal trial and error explores the depths of attraction and attachment, and wonders at the limits of medicine and the ever-elusive rules of the heart. In The Effect Tristan and Connie, volunteers in a controlled drug test, fall in love, but is their chemistry real or induced? The GSC production features Sam Weisman in his Gloucester Stage directing debut and a cast led by GSC favorite Academy Award nominee and Gloucester resident Lindsay Crouse as Dr. Lorna James with GSC newcomers: Saturday Night Live alum Brad Hall as Dr. Toby Sealey; Mickey Solis as Tristan and Susannah Hoffman as Connie. Gloucester Stage is a reunion for Sam Weisman, Lindsay Crouse and Brad Hall. The three worked together in the 1995 feature film Bye Bye Love which was written and produced by Hall; directed by Weisman and starring Crouse.

Lucy Prebble's The Effect comes to Gloucester after a premiere at the The National Theatre in London and a smash hit extended run at the Barrow Street Theatre in New York last year. Ms. Prebble won the George Devine Award 2004 for her debut play The Sugar Syndrome followed by the TMA Award for Best New Play in 2004. She also won the 2004 Critics' Circle Award for Most Promising Playwright. She is the creator of the television series Secret Diary of a Call Girl, starring Billie Piper in the main role. Ms. Prebble's second play, ENRON, transferred to The West End and Broadway in 2010 after sell out runs at both The Royal Court and Chichester Festival Theatre. Sony has optioned the rights to develop ENRON into a film. ENRON won Best New Play at the TMA Theatre Awards, and was shortlisted for The Evening Standard Award for Best New Play 2009.

The New England premiere of Lucy Prebble's The Effect runs June 16 through July 8 at Gloucester Stage. Performances are Wednesday through Saturday at 7:30 pm; Saturday and Sunday at 2:00 pm with a special Wednesday matinee performance on Wednesday, July 5 at 2:00 pm. Following the 2 pm performances on Sunday, June 25 and Sunday, July 2 audiences are invited to free post-show discussions with the artists from The Effect. Single ticket prices are $32 to $42 with discounts available for Preview Performances, Cape Ann Residents, Senior Citizens and Patrons 25 years old and under. In addition to regular reserved tickets, Pay What You Wish tickets are available for the Saturday, June 17 matinee at 2 pm. Pay What You Wish tickets can only be purchased day of show at the door. All performances are held at 267 East Main Street, Gloucester, MA. For more information about Gloucester Stage, or to purchase tickets, call the Box Office at 978-281-4433 or visit www.gloucesterstage.com.

Photo Credit: Gary Ng