Up next at the Mint:
FIRST PRIORITY CLUB NEWS
AUGUST 19
through
OCTOBER 12
THE FATAL WEAKNESS by George Kelly Begins August 19th FPC Hotline: (212) 315-0231 Address: 311 W. 43rd St. Suite 307 New York, NY 10036 Box Office: Mon.- Sat Noon-6pm Sun.- Noon-3pm Performances: Tues., Wed., Thurs. 7pm Friday & Saturday 8pm Saturday & Sunday 2pm Wednesday Matinee: 9/10 at 2pm No Performances: 9/9 & 9/16 Full Price: $55/$65 FPC Price: $38.50 (Use Code: FPC)
CheapTix: $27.50 (when available) www.minttheater.org MRS. WENTZ What about whistling, Ollie? MRS. ESPENSHADE About what, dear? MRS. WENTZ Whistling. Does he do much of that? MRS. ESPENSHADE The thing I’ve noticed about him lately more than anything else, is a funny little skip he gives occasionally,—(This appears to be the particular sign that MRS. WENTZ has been waiting for.) as he crosses a room. MRS. WENTZ For no reason at all, you mean? MRS. ESPENSHADE Yes:— it’s the funniest thing you’ve ever seen in your life. He just gives a little leap, as though he’s stepped on a spring or something.
By GEORGE KELLY Directed by JESSE MARCHESE After 28 years of marriage, Ollie Espenshade is still an incurable romantic (her fatal weakness). Perhaps discovering that her husband is a lying cheat will cure her? THE FATAL WEAKNESS, George Kelly’s last produced play, is a smart comedy about romance, marriage and commitment. It opened on Broadway on November 19, 1946 in a production by the legendary Theatre Guild starring Ina Claire. “One of Kelly’s best. It reveals keen understanding of character—an evening of genuine quality.” wrote Ward Morehouse in The New York Sun. Richard Watts Jr. of the New York Post called THE FATAL WEAKNESS “so fresh in its observations, three-dimensional in its characters and human in its humor that it emerges as the first important new comedy of the season.” The play went on to be hailed “Best New Comedy” by George Jean Nathan’s Honor List in Theatre Book of the Year, 1946-1947.
Meet the Director: Q & A with Jesse Marchese What led you to becoming a theater director? I started acting when I was very young— first in school, then at community theaters, and eventually on professional stages. In 2005, I left my hometown of Buffalo, NY to continue my training at Marymount Manhattan College in New York City. In my junior year there, I decided to take advantage of the college’s resources and try my hand at putting on a show. I selected a team of student artists and directed a bare-bones production of FALSETTOLAND by William Finn. We rehearsed for about two weeks in the evenings, after class, and performed the piece in what was essentially a multipurpose room at the school. It was an incredibly satisfying experience and a total game changer for me. I realized
that I loved working with other actors— helping to shape their performances and hone their storytelling. Though I would continue my studies as an acting student, I knew then that what I wanted to do was direct. What brought you to Mint Theater Company? In October of 2008, I read a lovely write-up of a play called THE GLASS CAGE at Mint Theater. The review piqued my interest, and I decided to check it out. I was completely enchanted by both the play and the production. I was equally excited by the Mint’s mission and craved more. I returned to the Mint in 2010 to see WIFE TO JAMES WHELAN by Teresa Deevy and was once again knocked out. I was convinced I had just seen a (cont’d)
FURTHER READINGS
A READING SERIES THAT FURTHER EXPLORES THE WORK OF OUR FAVORITE PLAYWRIGHTS.
WHEN ALL ELSE FAILS A Comedy By George Kelly
October 20th at 7PM WHEN ALL ELSE FAILS is a charming and humorous examination of one woman’s second chance at love. The play tells the story of Novella DeGrant, a grieving widow who transforms into a flirtatious, middleaged ingénue at the first hint of a possible second romance—much to the embarrassment of her previously sympathetic family and friends. Kelly was inspired to write the play after a trip to Yosemite Valley, California. He tells the story in a late-life interview, published by The New York Times in 1967. “It was spring and a native pointed to a freely running waterfall and told me, ‘That’s known as the Widow’s Tears, because they’re the first to dry up.’ I thought of calling the play that.” WHEN ALL ELSE FAILS was first announced in 1951 as a followup vehicle for Ina Claire—the star of Kelly’s last produced play, THE FATAL WEAKNESS. Unfortunately that production never materialized. An unpublished manuscript of the play was stored in a library at the University of Wisconsin–Madison, never to be heard—until now. Mint Theater is proud to present a “Further Reading” of George Kelly’s unpublished, unproduced comedy WHEN ALL ELSE FAILS.
FREE for FPC Members Regular Price $25 Call the FPC hotline at 212-315-0231 to reserve!
This event is exclusively offered to FPC until September 16th
(cont’d) lost masterpiece—produced and performed to the hilt. Leaving the theater, I decided that I wanted to one day work with this incredible company. In 2011, after a couple years of performing and freelance directing, I mustered up the courage to email Mint’s artistic director, Jonathan Bank. I sat in front of my laptop for hours, typing and deleting, reading and re-reading— thoughtfully constructing the perfect introduction. To my great pleasure, Jonathan responded and invited me to see his production of Deevy’s TEMPORAL POWERS. I attended the production, introduced myself, and continued to e-mail him persistently. Over the next few weeks, I offered my services to the Mint—running errands, typing and formatting scripts, assisting at auditions—until Jonathan asked if I’d like to assistant direct Mint Theater’s production of RUTHERFORD AND SON by Githa Sowerby. I jumped at the chance—and the experience was both illuminating and nurturing. Since then, I’ve happily stayed on here as a full-time artistic associate. I’ve assistant directed Mint’s productions of MARY BROOME and KATIE ROCHE as well as directed “further readings” of THE FATAL WEAKNESS and I AM A CAMERA. It’s a joy to work at a company that so lovingly and carefully mounts these terrific plays. I truly feel as though I’ve found an artistic home.
What excites you the most about THE FATAL WEAKNESS? George Kelly was a singular American playwright and THE FATAL WEAKNESS is one of his greatest plays. It’s wildly funny, deliciously literate, and incredibly moving. That’s no small feat for a playwright—and Kelly does it with a style that is completely his own. He has a delightfully acerbic sense of humor. It’s smart and skewering but also deeply human and wonderfully complex. He also has great affection for his characters, but doesn’t let any of them off too easy. They are each fullyformed human beings—complicated and confused. It’s a gift to work on a play that gives you so much to chew on. I’ve really fallen in love with THE FATAL WEAKNESS, and I can’t wait to share it with Mint audiences come August 19th!
“Coming back to The Mint gives me the opportunity to once again experience the artistic romance that drew many of us to the theatre in the first place, the opportunity to make an impact in an intimate theatre, bound only by the commitment to tell a story very, very well.” -Kristin Griffith At the Mint Kristin has appeared in MARY BROOME, MILNE AT THE MINT and THE CHARITY THAT BEGAN AT HOME.
THANK YOU
to everyone who answered our FPC Questionnaire! Here are your responses
Q3: Please mark your level of interest in attending the following kinds of events. Readings Extremely Interested
Dinners
Very Interested Somewhat Interested
Q1: Please mark the importance of the following FPC benefits.
Uninterested
Brunches
Supporting the Mint Pre-show lectures Extremely Important
Advance notice of upcoming shows
Very Important Somewhat Important
Post-show lectures
Unimportant
Free admission to Further Readings
Cocktail parties The FPC Newsletter Screenings Discounted tickets
0%
0%
20%
40%
60%
80%
100%
Q2: Please mark your interest in the following features of the FPC Newsletter. Features and photos on Benefits and Special Events Extremely Interested
EnrichMINT Event Schedule
Very Interested Somewhat Interested Uninterested
Advance notice of productions
Cast information
Articles featuring expanded content not available in the flyer or program. 0%
20%
40%
60%
80%
100%
20%
40%
60%
80%
100%
Some of your concerns addressed: “I’ve tried to use the Web site to buy tickets but could not select seats.” If this happens again please call the hotline at 212-315-0231, we’ll be happy to help and go through the steps of ordering online. “It would be helpful to get notified when membership has to be renewed.” We do send a notice with your newsletter, as well as detailing your most recent donations in our Annual Appeal. If you haven’t received these in the past please let us know! “Not nuts about the FPC card stuck to my seat. I prefer my anonymity. I support the mint because I admire your mission, not for personal attention.” We’d love to adjust this to make you more comfortable. Since this survey was anonymous we can’t see who you are, give us a call at your earliest convenience and we’ll make sure to make a note of your preference.
We sincerely appreciate all the questions and kind notes left at the end of the questionnaire. Thank you for your time! Want to let us know what’s on your mind even if you didn’t fill out the form? Call us at 212-315-0231, and we’ll be happy to hear from you.
“The action traces the unlikely course of a man (James Riordan) from his contemplation of suicide to his emergence as a virtual dictator in the city of the title. Along the way, Romains finds time to thoroughly skewer the pretensions of those in the artistic, medical, journalistic, and banking professions, and to offhandedly explore, with a black-comic eye, the peculiarly Western versions of economic, racial, political, and sexual exploitation.” The New Yorker
Praise for
“Satirically silly and disconcerting look at how piles of money can hide the truth.” Time Out New York
“The script’s echoes of recent financial crises are resonant and chilling.” The New York Times “One of the best and most inventive uses of projections as scenery that I’ve ever seen. It’s as if this play has been waiting for modern technology to do it justice. What’s more, the staging ratchets up the comedy and comes close to stealing the show. ” CurtainUp
Now Playing until July 27th FPC Hotline: (212) 315-0231 Address: 311 W. 43rd St. Suite 307 New York, NY 10036 Box Office: Mon.- Sat Noon-6pm Sun.- Noon-3pm Performances: Tues., Wed., Thurs. 7pm Friday & Saturday 8pm Saturday & Sunday 2pm Full Price: $55/$65 FPC Price: $38.50 (Use Code: FPC)
CheapTix: $27.50 (when available) www.minttheater.org
“insanely funny”TheaterMania Begins August 19th
Up Next: www.minttheater.org (212) 315-0231 311 West 43rd Street, Suite # 307 New York, NY 10036