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Tennessee Williams wrote a lot of plays in his career. Over 50, actually. But as prolific as he was over his career as a writer of plays, short stories, and poetry, he only wrote one comedy.
As a result, Period of Adjustment is not as well known as some of Williams’ signature work, but thanks to the folks at TheatreSquared, the hidden gem of a play that a London critic called “a diamond cut with its own stardust” will not be lost on audiences in Fayetteville.
TheatreSquared begins a run of performances of the play with a preview show on Thursday, Dec. 6. The play officially opens this Friday night at Nadine Baum Studios.
Period of Adjustment is a holiday show, set on Christmas Eve. After a disastrous wedding night, George deposits Isabel at the home of his old Army buddy, Ralph (whose own wife has just walked out) and promptly disappears. The unexpectedly warmhearted and poignant drama that follows is vintage Williams, with all the hallmarks that have defined him as one of America’s greatest playwrights.
“It’s stunning that so few audiences across the country have seen this gem of a work by Tennessee Williams,” said T2 Artistic Director Robert Ford. “We’re thrilled to help rediscover it. Like every great holiday story, it’s a tale of redemption—four people in love trying to find their ways back to each other through a thicket of emotions, expectations and simple human mistakes. You really root for them, and that’s why it’s lovely that—in this rare case—Williams has written a comedy.”
The show is directed by Sean Patrick Reilly, and the cast includes Bryce Kemph (It’s a Wonderful Life, Moonlight and Magnolias, Jacob Marley’s Christmas Carol); David Mason, Elizabeth France, and Madeleine James.
Period of Adjustment runs through Sunday, Dec. 30. Performances are scheduled Thursdays at 7:30 p.m., Fridays at 7:30 p.m., Saturdays and 7:30 p.m. (and 2 p.m. on Dec. 15 and 23), and Sundays at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m.
Tickets start at $24 ($10/under 30) at the Walton Arts Center Box Office, and may be purchased by calling 443-5600, or at theatre2.org.
