Starting September 22, 2011, The Loring Theater presents Four Humors' original, world premiere production of The Extraordinary Terms of Ordinary Life, a comedy set in the sky-rocketing world of life insurance salesmen at the end of the Roaring 20s and the dark secret they swore to protect.
An ambitious but naive young man joins the sales force of The Grand Old Life Insurance Company with the hope of one day becoming the General Agent of his own branch. After learning the ropes from the best salesman in the firm and life lessons from his new firebrand sweatheart, he quickly works his way to the top. Yet despite his success he learns along the way that things aren't always what they seem. The powerful board of directors has other plans for him and the company and he soon finds that the fate of the world depends on him deciding between the financial success he desires and holding on to those he loves.The Extraordinary Terms of Ordinary Life is inspired by a vintage life insurance training manual and other depression-era insurance publications found at a garage sale by director Ryan Lear. According to Lear, "the manual contained a series of training scripts for new salesmen that were written in a language that was bright and cheerful, portraying an attitude that things could only get better, completely oblivious to the catastrophe that loomed only months ahead. They provided a glimpse into the mentality and the optimism of the era and an environment rich for salesmen where all clients are unfailingly optimistic about the future. In short, it sounded a lot like the years leading up to the current financial crisis. I'm extremely excited to dive into that world with the help of the stellar cast we've assembled and the live jazz ensemble that will be bringing us back to that era."Videos