The Play About the Baby-Sarasota's FST

An Absurdist Slice of American Pie:
Florida Studio Theatre Presents
Edward Albee's 'The Play About the Baby'
A Fairy Tale for Adults

Since he broke onto the theatre scene with 1959's The Zoo Story,
playwright Edward Albee has defied conventions.  Combining the tenets of Theatre
of the Absurd with his own interest in family relationships, Albee's plays
tend to focus heavily on American life  - and how absurd that life can be.

Edward Albee's The Play About the Baby, one of his most recent
absurdist works to focus on relationships, opens FST's Stage III 2006 season on
January 25th.  The series, which made its debut last year, is geared
towards producing plays with bite.  Plays that are edgy.  Plays for the
adventurous theatergoer.  And nothing is more biting, edgy or adventurous than The Play About the Baby.

Albee's absurdist comedy has a deceptively simple plot.  A young couple
has a baby.  An older couple, intruding on the young couple's idyllic Eden,
says they don't.  But things turn quickly illogical.  "Watching The Play
About the Baby is like eavesdropping on the most fascinating couples at a
cocktail party," says Richard Hopkins, FST's Artistic Director & CEO.  "But
things quickly change.  Be prepared for a bit of chaos and intriguing
thought."

Many facets of Theatre of the Absurd can be seen in The Play About the
Baby, including nameless characters and a non-traditional plot.  However, the
cast and director approach it as they would any play.  "There's a plot, even
if it's not traditional," explains the show's director, Peter Bennett. 
"It's like the movie Fantasia.  Our job is to make the through line clear so
the digressions in the plot make sense.  We have to figure out how to get
there and back."

Kate Alexander, FST's Associate Director who will portray the Woman in
The Play About the Baby, sees parallels between this play and another Albee
play, The Goat or Who is Sylvia.  "They are both like the old myths,
like Oedipus.  They both depict a world where things are not safe." 

Anthony Newfield, who is making his FST debut as the Man, echoes Ms.
Alexander's sentiments, calling The Play About the Baby "a fairy tale
for adults."  Just as in fairy tales such as Cinderella or Red Riding Hood,
"scary things happen and people learn from them," he says.

While mythical and absurdist elements abound in The Play About the
Baby, the most important focus of the show is on relationships.  Albee has long
focused on relationships - whether children to parents, parents to
children, or lover to lover.  Biographer Mel Gussow, who profiled the three-time
Pulitzer Prize-winning author in Edward Albee - A Singular Journey,
believes this fascination can be traced to Albee's own childhood.  Adopted when
he was only days old by millionaire couple Reed and Frances Albee, the
playwright never wanted for material possessions, but often seemed to
lack a traditional family life and support system. 

Gussow speculates that Albee's early life was to be the most profound
influence on his writing.  "His feeling about adoption was to become
one of the most important factors in his life," he wrote.  Albee continually
asked himself questions about his origins: How did his parentage impact his
talents?  Who he became? Albee not only asked himself these questions,
he asked all of us the same thing through his plays, challenging the views
we hold about our society, our relationships and ourselves. 

But while The Play About the Baby is challenging, it doesn't answer
many questions.  "Good theatre doesn't answer questions," says Bennett.  "It
asks them."  Bennett likens the experience of watching The Play About the
Baby to looking at a painting.  "It's very interactive, just like visual art. 
To look at an abstract painting, you have to work a bit.  The same is true
of this play.  Everyone will take something from this play.  And everyone
will take away something unique, something that is their own."  Lest anyone
think the show is overly intellectual or above their heads, Bennett is quick
to point that "it's very, very funny."

Along with Ms. Alexander and Mr. Newfield, The Play About the Baby will
feature FST newcomers Michael Ellison (Boy) and Ashley West (Girl). 
Mr. Bennett will be assisted by FST staffers Marcella Beckwith (Scenic
Design) and Nicole Wee (Costume Design).  Guest artist Tom Sturge will design
the lights for the show.

The Play About the Baby begins January 25 and runs through February 17
at FST's Gompertz Theatre.  Single tickets are $19 for previews (January
25 and 26) and $29-32 for regular performances.  Subscriptions to the Stage
III series - which also includes I Am My Own Wife and Hedwig & the Angry
Inch range from $39-52.  Both may be purchased from the FST Box Office in
person or by calling (941) 366-9000.

Plays in the Stage III series explore adult themes and issues.  They
may not be suitable for all audience members.  The Play About the Baby contains
adult content, adult language and nudity.

Known as Sarasota's Contemporary Theatre, Florida Studio Theatre was
founded in 1973 by Jon Spelman. 

The Play About the Baby
Performance Schedule
January 25 - February 17, 2006

Wednesday, January 25 7:30 p.m. (Preview)
Thursday, January 26 7:30 p.m. (Preview)
Friday, January 27 7:30 p.m. (Opening)
Saturday, January 28 2:30 p.m. & 7:30 p.m.
Sunday, January 29 2:30 p.m. & 7:30 p.m.

Tuesday, January 31 7:30 p.m.
Wednesday, February 1 7:30 p.m.
Thursday, February 2 7:30 p.m.
Friday, February 3 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, February 4 5:30 & 8:30 p.m.
Sunday, February 5 2:30 & 7:30 p.m.

Tuesday, February 7 7:30 p.m.
Wednesday, February 8 7:30 p.m.
Thursday, February 9 7:30 p.m.
Friday, February 10 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, February 11 5:30 & 8:30 p.m.
Sunday, February 12 2:30 & 7:30 p.m.

Tuesday, February 14 7:30 p.m.
Wednesday, February 15 7:30 p.m.
Thursday, February 16 7:30 p.m.
Friday, February 17 7:30 p.m.

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