JEFF RECOMMENDED!!!
Orange Flower Water tells the story of two ordinary suburban couples caught in a private web of deceit as they tear down their everyday lives in search of a greater happiness that seems to be always just beyond their reach. Told through an intensely intimate series of theatrical, voyeuristic scenes that all take place on or around a single revolving bed, we see the unraveling of both troubled marriages from every angle. Eventually, the construction of a very fragile new beginning for everyone concerned seems to emerge . . . but for how long? Special Event: Double Feature Sundays including prix-fixe dinner! – http://backstagetheatrecompany.org/2010-orange-flower-water/double-feature-sundays-at-the-chopin
Praise
“Hutchinson’s staging in the round, centering on a bed that rotates from scene to scene, mirrors the unstable negotiations of the two couples. Tony Bozzuto plays betrayed husband Brad with a tensile energy, suggesting he’s been waiting to snap for most of the 15 years of his marriage to Beth (Shelley Nixon). In one beautifully played scene, Kettering and Huysman capture the raw unpredictability of a marriage on the rocks, careening from sex to tearful isolation.”
- John Beer, Time Out Chicago
“These people aren’t sexy or unique or even that interesting. They are your friends and neighbors. And Wright (a frequently produced playwright in Chicago whose television credits include “Six Feet Under”) is offering a glimpse — at turns bitter, comical and devastating — of what happens behind locked doors while you’re going about your day muttering about your own life.”
“There’s no question the acting is good — especially Tony Bozzuto as Brad, the hilariously confrontational, full-bore crass-hound dumped by Beth, his wife of 15 years . . .”
- Nina Metz, Chicago Tribune
Cast & Crew
Jessica Hutchinson
Director
Tara Malpass
Stage Manager
Tony Bozzuto
Brad
He was last seen in the Jeff Recommended Orange Flower Water, and in On An Average Day. For about seven years, Tony has been honored to work his way around the Chicago theatre scene with such talented companies as Lifeline Theatre, Next Theatre, Metropolis PAC and of course BackStage Theatre Co. Whether on stage, television or film, Tony credits much of his skills and successes to his studies at the incomparable Hilberry Theatre in Detroit, MI, where he received his MFA.
Megan E. Frei
Production Manager
Hailing from the 'burbs of Detroit, Megan received a degree in Music Education from Central Michigan University while performing and working in the University Music and Theatre Departments, Highlands Playhouse (NC), and Vision Studio of Performing Arts (MI). Following, she served as Director of Vision for four fabulous years, began working as a freelance artist, and made her move to Chicago in 2004. Megan is an in-demand teacher and director for a plethora of activities–voice, piano, acting, dance, musical theatre. She also performs in various genres, settings and groups. Favorite artistic experiences: an intimate master class with the Ann Reinking; as CONNIE in Good News, directed by acclaimed August W. Staub; as BEBE in A Chorus Line, directed/choreographed by Emmy-award winning Linda Talcott-Lee; ZOMBIES FROM THE BEYOND! BSTC credits: Terra Nova (Flag Designer, Costumes), Anton in Show Business (CostumeDesigner), Denise Druczweski's Inferno (Assistant Director, Stage Manager/Board Operator), The Skin of Our Teeth (Production Manager, Co-Sound Designer,Co-Music Director, and MUSE), The Ruling Class (Music Director, Choreographer), Zombies from the Beyond (Director/Choreographer), On An Average Day (Props Designer); BSTC 2005–2006 and 2006–2007 seasons (Associate Artistic Director).
Heath Hays
Sound Designer
Heath is a BackStage Ensemble member, where he has designed set for On An Average Day, The Memory of Water, Beauty on the Vine, Bloody Bess and Zombies from the Beyond as well as the Jeff-recommended shows Waiting for Lefty and Medea. He also designed sound for BackStage's The Ruling Class and Seanachi Theatre's drama Whistle in the Dark. He designed set for Infamous Conmmonwealth Theatre's Keely and Du, GreyZelda's Jeff-recommended production of A View From The Bridge as well as their Desire Under the Elms, and Hell in a Handbag's Caged Dames. Heath has also worked for Grounded Theatre, Arena Dinner Theatre, and Village Players.
Laura Kollar
Costume Designer
Jessica Kuehnau
Co-Scenic Designer
Recent Backstage Theatre include co-scenic design for Orange Flower Water, and costume design for On An Average Day last spring. As a recent graduate of Northwestern University, Jessica received her MFA in both set and costume design. Her Chicago credits include Rivendell Theatre (Jeff recommended These Shining Lives), Building Stage (Dracula), Pegasus Players (Ten Square, Jitney), and Steep Theatre (Parlour Song). She has also designed several productions with Adventure Stage Chicago (ensemble member), Griffin Theatre, Lifeline Theatre, MPAACT, and Metropolis Performing Arts Center. Jessica is currently the resident set designer and design professor at North Park University and full time teaching faculty at Northeastern Illinois University.
Jared Moore
Lighting Designer
Brandon Wardell
Co-Scenic Designer
Brandon Wardell is a freelance Lighting and Scenic Designer in Chicago. He earned his MFA from Northwestern University, teaches at several Universities, and is an Ensemble Member at Adventure Stage Chicago. Recent lighting credits include Mrs. Caliban (LifeLine) Aunt Dan and Lemon (BSTC), The Hollow Lands (Steep), On An Average Day (BSTC), The Arab-Israeli Cookbook (Theatre Mir), John & Jen (Appletree), and The Robber Bridegroom (Griffin Theatre). Scenic Designs include Orange Flower Water (BSTC), Maria’s Field (TUTA), In Arabia We’d All Be Kings (Steep Theatre), Holes (Adventure Stage), Dracula (The Building Stage), and Be More Chill (Griffin Theatre). Teaching credits include Northwestern University, Columbia College Chicago, The University of Chicago, Illinois Wesleyan University, and North Park University. www.brandonwardelldesign.com
Jessica Hutchinson - Director
Tara Malpass - Stage Manager
Jason Huysman - David
Maggie Kettering - Cathy
Shelley Nixon - Beth
Laura Kollar - Costume Designer
Jared Moore - Lighting Designer
hey all – i saw OFW last night. what a fantastic show! deliciously intense – i was VERY squirmy in my chair, actually wanted to leave a couple of times. i was glad for the moments of humor to keep me in my seat. great great great performances by all, including the designers. very inspiring to me as an actor to see such good work in action. well done and thanks for a great night out!
I really enjoyed the show – acting was superb!
I think my favorite scene was between the two women. We’ve seen Beth interact with men, both of whom see her as somehow “naive” and “more innocent” and “beautiful” and are attracted to those qualities, but she’s almost a different person when interacting with another woman. Shrewder. Funnier. Not so naive. More likable for it. But then she tells the story about how she thinks that God puts notes on the world for her. An attempt to draw Kathy in with her charming innocence? Soooooo awkward (by which I mean great!).
The fact that Dave is attracted to Beth’s more naive qualities makes me like him less and makes me not root for their relationship at all. You marry a very competent career-minded woman and then leave her because she’s what…too awesome and intimidating? It struck a nerve.
The end came very suddenly…I wanted more Kathy and Brad! I wanted their scene at the diner to be actually in the play. COME ON, everyone else gets a scene together. Why would you leave that out and only talk about it?
I have to agree with JenniferP that Dave was a very unattractive character. From the start, as he smugly rubbed Beth’s legs, as she said, like a gnome casting a spell, I disliked him. He completely underestimated Beth. The only one that did not, I think, was unexpectedly Brad. He knew about the affair early on, and continued to live with Beth and act like he knew nothing, because he feared she would leave if this all came to the surface. He knew deep down that Beth was not naive, and that she was actually a woman worth keeping. That’s what inspired his complete loss of control when she ultimately did leave, as he knew she would.
Brad was my favorite character because we were set up from the beginning to hate him. He’s the town prick. The obnoxious competitive macho dad that talks about other women in a degrading, sexual way. But his meltdown when Beth leaves (even though he’s screaming obscenities and acting completely crazy), shows something deeper about his character. I expected during the scene that he would follow through with raping her, or hitting her, because he seems like “that kind of guy.” But he’s not. His macho appearance is just that, an appearance. And Beth actually knew that about him, because she confronts him right to his face when he is losing control. She knows he would not hurt her; that’s her department as the smartest character in the play. Brad’s actually very vulnerable and scared to death of losing his wife, and when it actually happens, he loses complete control of himself and tries everything he can think of to keep her. That made me root for him, which is completely unexpected.
I did not like the way it ended, because cheaters should never prosper. But in some ways they did not. Dave’s final letter to Lily is a bit shaken, and a little apologetic (although by this time he is completely not redeemable). We don’t hear from Beth again, which I thought was suspect. Was she happy with her new life? Did she ever regret it? I wanted to know more. But because these characters were so deep and enthralling, I hope there will be a sequel. But that is just wishful thinking probably. What a great play!
Hi guys! My name’s Jess and I directed the play. I am loving hearing your thoughts about the show and the characters. I’m especially interested in how you ladies are feeling about David. Jennifer – the idea that he married an awesome lady and then couldn’t handle her awesomeness struck a chord for me, too – we actually talked about that relationship and how often that seems to happen in rehearsal. And I agree that it would have been interesting to see Brad and Cathy have a scene together. And Bonnie, I really grew to love Brad, too. I love that (especially as portrayed by the delightful Mr. Buzzuto) we get to subvert that expectation that we have of Brad from the beginning. I’d be curious to know if you two, Michael, (or anyone else reading this blog) were left with a feeling of one character or another being a victim or a hero. We talked a lot in rehearsal about how the play has no hero and no villain, and that that’s part of what makes it compelling, but I’d be curious to see what you guys think.