IT’S A TINY WORLD, AFTER ALL
How I love this company! But being an L.A.-based theater fan, it’s admittedly a tough drive. One of the very few bright sides to COVID is that great outfits can be sent right to your home. Westport Country Playhouse in Connecticut will open its all-virtual 2021 production season with the regional premiere of Tiny House, a timely new comedy about downsizing, going green, escaping urban life, and fresh starts, written by Michael Gotch, and directed by Playhouse Artistic Director Mark Lamos. The production will stream on demand from Tuesday, June 29 through Sunday, July 18. (Exactly 90 years ago on June 29, 1931, the Playhouse staged the first production in its history of over 800 plays.)
Nick and Sam have grown weary of the political, economic and personal chaos of the world and escape to their new off-grid tiny house, nestled in a forest of giant sequoias. But their piece (and peace) of paradise is soon challenged when a mysterious survivalist, two Renaissance Faire devotees, an exuberant biologist, and Sam’s straight-talking mother join them in the woods for a Fourth of July barbecue. Recriminations fly and reconciliations are hard-won alongside some literal fireworks in this look at the challenges of being human in our New Age.
Sara Bues and Denver Milord in TINY HOUSE.
DP: Lacey Erb, photo composite Cynthia Astmann, digital scenic design Charlie Corcoran
The original cast from the premiere production (originally titled Minor Fantastical Kingdoms) will perform for Westport: Sara Bues as Sam; Hassan El-Amin as Bernard; Lee E. Ernst as Larry; Elizabeth Heflin as Billie; Denver Milord as Nick; Stephen Pelinski as Win; and Kathleen Pirkl-Tague as Carol.
The digital design team includes Hugh Landwehr (original scenic design); Charlie Corcoran (digital scenic design); Tricia Barsamian (costume design); Rob Milburn and Michael Bodeen (original music and sound design); M. Florian Staab (sound edit, mix, and additional sound design); Dan Scully (editor); Lacey Erb (director of photography); Christal Schanes (wig design); Matthew Marholin (production stage manager); and Ellen Beltramo (assistant stage manager).
The Playhouse’s all-virtual 2021 Season continues with Doubt: A Parable and the 2018 production of Man of La Mancha.
Tiny House
Westport Country Playhouse
two acts | run time 100 minutes | appropriate for ages 14 and up
for virtual tickets (starting at $25), call 203-227-4177 or visit Westport