Kings County Shakespeare Company’s home
space, Founders Hall at St. Francis College in Brooklyn Heights,
may still be under renovation, but that hasn’t stopped the company
from mounting its first production of the 2005 season: a double
bill of Terry Quinn’s verse adaptation of the Nathaniel Hawthorne
short story, "Rappacini’s Daughter," and Quinn’s own
"Bad Evidence."
The two one-acts, directed by Deborah Wright Houston, will be
performed at Abingdon Theatre Arts Complex in Manhattan April
16 and April 17.
Houston is staging the world premiere of "Rappacini’s Daughter"
(at left) as an experimental drama with music by Quinn performed
by a cellist, guitarist, three dancers and a soprano soloist.
Set in Bergamo, Italy, the play is about a young woman, Beatrice,
who has been confined to her garden by her botanist father, Giacomo
Rappacini, because he wants to protect her from the evils of
the world by raising her among perfumes of poisonous plants.
Inevitably, his plans are foiled when a worldly suitor, Giovanni,
falls in love with Beatrice and becomes immune to the deadly
plants.
"Bad Evidence," (in its New York premiere, is a contemporary
play about a young married couple trying to cope with suspicions
of infidelity. Talking in bed after hosting a party, each tries
to tempt the other partner into humiliating confessions by the
use of "bad evidence." This play also incorporates
music by Quinn, who is an adjunct professor at St. Francis College.
"Rappacini’s Daughter" and "Bad Evidence"
will be performed April 16 at 2 and 8 pm and April 17 at 2 and
7 pm. Tickets are $15. Abingdon Theatre Arts Complex is located
at 312 W. 36th St. between Eighth and Ninth avenues. For tickets,
call (212) 868-4444 or visit www.smarttix.com. To download an
audio "Podcast" discussing the two-part show, visit
www.kingscountyshakespeare.org.
