Interview: Gwen Adams of THE LAST PLACE YOU LOOK at The Jewel Box Theatre

THE LAST PLACE YOU LOOK is now playing at the Jewel Box Theatre! BWW was fortunate to catch up with the play's writer and director, Gwen Adams, to get the inside scoop on the show's premiere performance.

Can you tell us a little bit about THE LAST PLACE YOU LOOK?

It is about one woman's life and the many phases she goes through, always looking for happiness and failing to truly appreciate the journey... As a travel photographer, she gets the opportunity to look in wonderful places like Ireland, New Zealand, the Caribbean - all places I have been and can describe. I use my own travel photos as projected backdrops to give the audience a little sense they could be there, too. Her long-dead friend, Robert, often appears beside her to help her through challenging times. In Titantic-like fashion, he encourages her to live life to the fullest. Is he a ghost? Is it mental illness? We don't know. There are so many tragic themes (waiting for that call from the Lifetime Movie channel any day now)- infidelity, unwanted pregnancy, recovering from a stroke ... even a terrorist explosion - that nearly everyone who has worked on or seen it so far has found something familiar to relate to. One of the greatest compliments I have received in my plays was "I felt you were writing about me." Actually, the characters literally wrote themselves....Dialogue spits out of my pen and I'm like - where did that come from?

What is it like seeing your words come to life onstage?

I've only written three full-length plays. To hear the words out loud - to see the actors bring the characters to life right in front of me - it is difficult to describe, even for a writer! There is the occasional "Oh that line is a throwaway" or "that needs reworked" but mostly I become the audience and I get so caught up that tears and laughter take over. Kind of embarrassing when it is your own show to say "that was beautiful". Credit to the actors for that.

What is your favorite part of the show?

Robert always makes me smile, but there is an intense mother-daughter scene in Ireland. While I don't have children myself, the actresses sweep me away every time they do it.

Anything else you would like to add?

It is my hope to get my work on a bigger stage - not for fame or money (well money would be nice) - but so I can share my stories and touch more people. Going to the theatre, to me, should be an experience, and much as I enjoy TV - you can't get that from a box.

You don't want to miss this unforgettable adventure! Gwen Adam's THE LAST PLACE YOU LOOK is playing at the Jewel Box Theatre May 20, 21, and 22, 2022. Friday and Saturday at 7:30 and Sunday at 2.

Photo credit: Richard Thorton