Closer
By Patrick Marber
August 15 - September 1, 2002
Bathhouse Theatre
"-- For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction."
-- Newton's 3rd Law of Physics
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Angela DiMarco as Alice and Scott
Plusquellec as Dan in the opening
scene of ReAct's Closer.
Photo: David Hsieh.
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Shawnmarie Yates-Stanton as
Anna and Gordon Hendrickson
as Larry in the aquarium
scene from ReAct's Closer.
Photo: David Hsieh.
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The Program
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The Setting
London in the 1990's
Scene 1: St. Bartholomew's Hospital
Scene 2: Anna's Studio
Scene 3: Dan's Flat and Larry's Hospital Desk
Scene 4: The London Zoo Aquarium
Scene 5: Exhibition Gallery
Scene 6: Domestic Interiors
Scene 7: Lapdance Club
Scene 8: Restaurant
Scene 9: National Gallery Museum
Scene 10: Larry's Surgery Office
Scene 11: Hotel
Scene 12: Postman's Park
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Closer
was first presented in the Cottesloe auditorium of the Royal National
Theatre, London on May 22, 1997. The American premiere was presented on
Broadway on March 9, 1999 at the Music Box Theatre, New York.
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Production Notes
Director's Notes
"DAN: It was the moment of my life.
ALICE: This is the moment of your life."
--Scene 11 of Closer
I had heard so many wonderful things about Closer
from so many people... I was unable to get tickets to
the Broadway production when I last visited New York...
Every article or review I could find on the play seemed
to be positive... But when I finally got a chance to
read this award-winning script for the first time, I
found it disturbing. Naughty language aside, it deals
with some tough emotional material and doesn't candy
coat it with the typical happy theatrical ending. But
although it's not a play for the emotionally squeamish,
Closer certainly makes you think. It's the kind of
play that stays with you and sinks under your skin.
We're presented with four individuals at their best
and at their worst during twelve of their most life-affecting
moments in a four year period. Such a selective glimpse
can make these four seemingly unlikeable. None of them
are perfect and they all must make difficult choices
throughout the play. But ironically for us, the audience,
we aren't perfect either. We all make mistakes. We've
all been there, and Alice, Dan, Larry and Anna are more
like us than we'd probably like to admit. Alice's simple
"intrepid conduct" of stepping into the road before
the play begins becomes the catalyst which forever changes
all of their lives.
The Alice Ayres Memorial at
Postman's Park in London.
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I decided to include Closer
in our staged play reading series last year and was truly
intrigued at the audience's reactions which ran the full gambit:
laughter, tears,anger, shock, disgust and sheer bliss. Even
with scripts in hand and just a couple of rehearsals, the
impact and wicked humor of Closer
was clearly evident to cast and audience alike. I couldn't
resist adding it to our mainstage season of Seattle premieres
this year.
Young Woman, London.
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The more I've worked on this show, the more amazed I've become
at the ingenuity of the script, the elegant simplicity and
the emotional depths it explores regarding love, relationships,
men, women, our society and the ironies of life. The show
speaks to different people in different ways. Wit, poetic
structure, mythic symbolism, history, fate, chance, and yes,
even the provocative language all culminate to create this
thought-provoking piece. It's a tough, challenging show, particularly
for the actors on stage, but it also can be a rewarding one.
It's been fascinating to discover how these four "unlikeable,"
selfish, tortured, lonely souls (in a country somewhat removed
from our own), are still able to speak to us through their
attempts to get closer. Life is not always a bed of roses,
but hopefully we learn from our mistakes, forgive, and move
on. It has been an honor and privilege working on this show
and bringing it to Seattle audiences, particularly with the
talented cast and crew I was blessed and fortunate to have.
May you always find the closeness you seek and appreciate
it when you do.
--David Hsieh, Director of Closer
>>Purchase Scripts and Posters
>>ReAct's 2001 Staged Reading
Patrick Marber Interview
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ReAct's Closer
was presented by special arrangement with DRAMATISTS PLAY SERVICE, INC.
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Gordon Hendrickson as Larry and
Shawnmarie Yates-Stanton as
Anna in ReAct's Closer.
Photo: David Hsieh.
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Gordon Hendrickson as Larry and
Scott Plusquellec as Dan in a
scene from ReAct's Closer.
Photo: David Hsieh.
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Special Thanks To...
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Christopher Anderson for production support
Joseph Boling for loaned props
Colleen Burke-Moen for loaned props
Marlene Chen for donated computer
Angela DiMarco for loaned costumes and props
Elliott Bay Book Company for production support
Elliott Bay Cafe for donated props
The Elliott Grand Hyatt Hotel for loaned props
The Empty Space Theatre for loaned set pieces
F.X. McRory's for donated props
George Paul Glanzman for production support and catering
Lorna Hee for production support
Gordon Hendrickson for loaned costumes
Garreth Jeffers for production support
Casey Kelbaugh for production consulting
Catherine Kettrick for loaned props
T.J. Langley for donated set piece
Regan MacStravic for loaned equipment
Nathan Hale High School for set peices
The Northwest Actors Studio for donated meeting space
Stephen Ono for donated marketing support
Scott Plusquellec for loaned costumes
Susan Simpson for loaned props
Swedish Hospital for loaned costumes
Roger Tang for loaned props
Leslie Jean Warner for catering support
Patti West for loaned equipment
Rick Wong & Rk Productions for videography
Joseph Yang for production support
Shawnmarie Yates-Stanton for loaned costumes and props
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