"Hugely rewarding...An astonishingly unguarded play about the cruelties of love and the limits of patience, and the way child-parent relationships become inverted as old age creeps up and mugs us.”
- The Guardian
*RHODE ISLAND PREMIERE*
THE FATHER: A Tragic Farce
BY FLORIAN ZELLER
TRANSLATED BY CHRISTOPHER HAMPTON
DIRECTED BY JOSH SHORT
JANUARY 23 - FEBRUARY 9
TRANSLATED BY CHRISTOPHER HAMPTON
DIRECTED BY JOSH SHORT
JANUARY 23 - FEBRUARY 9
Now 80 years old, André was once a tap dancer. He lives with his daughter, Anne, and her husband, Antoine. Or was André an engineer, whose daughter Anne lives in London with her new lover, Pierre? The thing is, he is still wearing his pajamas, and he can’t find his watch. He is starting to wonder if he’s losing control.
Winner of the Molière award for France’s best play, The Father – brilliantly told with humor and empathy – treats audiences to a heart-wrenching glimpse into despair from the loss of self.
Winner of the Molière award for France’s best play, The Father – brilliantly told with humor and empathy – treats audiences to a heart-wrenching glimpse into despair from the loss of self.
NEWS + REVIEWS
“…harrowing…an exceedingly ingenious premise…”
—The New York Times.
“…hugely rewarding…a play that constantly confounds expectations and works almost like a thriller, with a sinister Pinteresque edge…full of guile, particularly in the way it toys with time, yet is also simplicity itself, and is never tricksy. [THE FATHER] constantly makes you question the truth and the nature of reality…an astonishingly unguarded play about the cruelties of love and the limits of patience, and the way child-parent relationships become inverted as old age creeps up and mugs us.”
—The Guardian
“…a super-smart, finally heart-breaking play…[an] unqualified triumph…”
—The Telegraph
“…devastating and disorienting…THE FATHER is one of those plays that makes your brain hum with the unique potential of theatre…”
—The Independent
—The New York Times.
“…hugely rewarding…a play that constantly confounds expectations and works almost like a thriller, with a sinister Pinteresque edge…full of guile, particularly in the way it toys with time, yet is also simplicity itself, and is never tricksy. [THE FATHER] constantly makes you question the truth and the nature of reality…an astonishingly unguarded play about the cruelties of love and the limits of patience, and the way child-parent relationships become inverted as old age creeps up and mugs us.”
—The Guardian
“…a super-smart, finally heart-breaking play…[an] unqualified triumph…”
—The Telegraph
“…devastating and disorienting…THE FATHER is one of those plays that makes your brain hum with the unique potential of theatre…”
—The Independent
CAST + CREATIVE TEAM
Richard Donelly*
Jeff Ararat
Gabrielle McCauley
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Jeanine Kane*
Tanya Anderson Martin
Marvin Novogrodski
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THE FATHER: A Tragic Farce
by Florian Zeller trans. by Christopher Hampton Directed by Josh Short Scenic Design by Monica Shinn Sound + Light Design by Andy Russ Costume Design by Dustin Thomas Asst. Direction by Jeff Ginsberg Stage Manager, Allison Marchetti* Assistant Stage Manager, Lauren Kieler Costume Assistant, Arianna Davey Front of House Management by Christine Treglia Volunteer Management by Renee Bessette Production Photographer, Erin X. Smithers Press / Media Inquiries: Niki Healy, Bright Publicity |
*Appears courtesy Actors' Equity Association,
the Union of Professional Actors and Stage Managers in the United States.
ABOUT THE PLAYWRIGHTS
Florian Zeller is a French novelist, playwright, screenwriter, and film director. He won the prestigious Prix Interallié in 2004 for his novel “Fascination of Evil,” and several Molière Awards for his plays LA MÈRE (“The Mother”), LE PÈRE (“The Father”), and LE FILS (“The Son”), finishing his family trilogy. L'AUTRE, LE MANÈGE, SI TU MOURAIS, ELLE T'ATTEND, LA VÉRITÉ (“The Truth”), LE MENSONGE (“The Lie”), and UNE HEURE DE TRANQUILLITÉ were successfully produced in France and internationally. L’ENVERS DU DÉCOR was produced in Paris in 2016, starring Daniel Auteuil. AVANT DE S'ENVOLER (“The Height of the Storm”) was in the same season. It later opened at the Wyndham’s Theatre in October 2018, starring Jonathan Pryce and Eileen Atkins and directed by Jonathan Kent, before reaching New York’s MTC Friedman Theatre in September 2019. LE PÈRE was nominated for Best New Play at the 2016 Olivier Awards, and Kenneth Cranham won Best Actor. It received a 2016 Tony Award nomination for Best Play, and Frank Langella won the Tony for Best Performance by an Actor. This play has been performed in over 45 countries and turned into a movie written with Christopher Hampton and directed by Florian Zeller, starring Olivia Colman and Anthony Hopkins. Zeller’s play THE SON was produced in Paris in 2018. It was first performed at the Kiln Theatre before reaching the Duke of York’s Theatre in August 2019. THE MOTHER had its New York premiere at Atlantic Theatre Company, starring Isabelle Huppert, in February 2019. Christopher Hampton has translated most of Florian’s plays, which have received many international awards. Florian Zeller lives in Paris. He is married to the actress and sculptor Marine Delterme. Florian Zeller is represented internationally by Drama Literary Agency. www.dramaparis.com
Translator Christopher Hampton’s plays and musicals have so far garnered four Tony Awards, three Olivier Awards, four Evening Standard Awards, and the New York Drama Critics' Circle Award; prizes for his film and television work include an Oscar, two BAFTAs, a Writers' Guild of America Award, the Prix Italia, a Special Jury Award at the Cannes Film Festival, Hollywood Screenwriter of the Year, and The Collateral Award at the Venice Film Festival for Best Literary Adaptation. Original plays: APPOMATTOX, THE TALKING CURE, WHITE CHAMELEON, TALES FROM HOLLYWOOD, TREATS, SAVAGES, THE PHILANTHROPIST, TOTAL ECLIPSE, and WHEN DID YOU LAST SEE MY MOTHER? Adaptations from novels: YOUTH WITHOUT GOD (Horváth), EMBERS (Márai), and LES LIASONS DANGEREUSES (Laclos). Musicals: STEPHEN WARD, DRACULA: THE MUSICAL, and SUNSET BOULEVARD. Libretti: APPTOMATTOX, THE TRIAL, and WAITING FOR THE BARBARIANS (all for Philip Glass).
Translations include plays by Chekhov, Ibsen, Molière, Horváth, Yasmina Reza, and Florian Zeller. Film includes: "Ali and Nino," "A Dangerous Method," "Chéri," "Atonement," "The Quiet American," "Dangerous Liaisons," "The Good Father," "The Honorary Consul," "Total Eclipse," "Mary Reilly," "Tales From The Vienna Woods," and "A Doll’s House." He wrote and directed "Imagining Argentina," "The Secret Agent," and "Carrington." Television includes: "The Thirteenth Tale," "The Ginger Tree," "Hôtel Du Lac," "The History Man," and "Able’s Will."
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2024/25 Memberships
Join us at for Season 15 at Providence's home for groundbreaking artists and adventurous audiences. Membership includes admission to our 2024/25 Main Series productions and special events, including Rhode Island premieres of Heidi Schreck's What the Constitution Means to Me, César Alvarez's acclaimed new musical Noise, Christopher Hampton's translation of The Father: A Tragic Farce by Florian Zeller, James Ijames' Pulitzer Prize-winning Fat Ham, and more!
Become a Member for our 2024/25 Season today and never miss a thing.
Become a Member for our 2024/25 Season today and never miss a thing.
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An award-winning, not-for-profit professional theatre company, the Wilbury Theatre Group engages our community in thought-provoking conversation through new works, reimagined classics and adventurous playmaking. We are idealistic, ambitious, and stubborn in our resolve to create theatre that entertains, enlightens, and inspires.
It's the support of donors like you that makes our work possible - please consider making a generous donation today and help us continue to grow.
It's the support of donors like you that makes our work possible - please consider making a generous donation today and help us continue to grow.
