THE VIOLET HOUR Plays South Bend Civic Theatre, Now thru 10/7

A serious new comedy, The Violet Hour uses captivating issues – fate, assimilation, the way the present misreads the past – as its punch lines. Setting the play in 1919, playwright Richard Greenberg uses the emotional distance of “a period piece“ to dissect our modern sensibilities. What ugly truths hide just below the lies we tell others (and ourselves)? Director Aaron Nichols and a stellar cast bring this new play to life in its regional premiere from tonight, Sept. 28 – Oct. 7. 

Known best for his Tony-winning paean to baseball, “Take Me Out,” Greenberg has quietly become one of our generation’s most respected playwrights. Sparkling dialogue, arch wit and a generous helping of social commentary have led critics to compare Greenberg with Noel Coward and Terrance McNally.

Director Nichols leads Steven Cole, Laurisa LeSure, Brad Mazick, Joshua Napierkowski, and Kaylee Ross in this intriguing and surprising play.

Director Aaron Nichols explains his excitement for this play: “since seeing the Midwest premiere of Richard Greenberg’s The Violet Hour at Chicago’s Steppenwolf Theatre in 2003, I have been entranced by the play they called a ‘comic fantasy about fate, ambition and loyalty.’ Rarely do the genres of science fiction and comedy meet on stage, so it is an absolute pleasure to be behind the helm of this brilliant mash-up. Borrowing liberally from the lives of true historical figures from the early 20th century – F. Scott and Zelda Fitzgerald, Josephine Baker – Greenberg inserts the classical Latin device of the deus ex machina (god in the machine). But, instead of solving the play’s conflicts, it only complicates them often to brilliant comic effect. Watching these larger-than-life egos caroming around and into each other is a joy to behold. Listening to Greenberg’s wicked wit in the voices of five great actors is thrilling to hear. Feeling a fresh pulse of Technicolor life coursing through the veins of sepia-toned history reawakens what it is to be alive.”

The Violet Hour performs tonight, September 28-October 7 in the Warner Studio Theatre, South Bend Civic Theatre, 403 N Main Street. Performances are Friday and Saturday at 8:00 pm ($18), Sunday at 3:00 pm ($18), and Wednesday and Thursday at 7:30 pm ($15).

Tickets may be purchased at the box office at 574-234-1112 from 12-6 pm weekdays, or online at www.sbct.org.

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