Yale Bulletin and Calendar

November 11, 2005|Volume 34, Number 11

The fire-and-brimstone preaching style of the real Cotton Mather is captured in this image from the poster for "Safe in Hell," Amy Freed's comedy about the Salem witch trials, which is the next offering at the Yale Repertory Theatre.

'Safe in Hell' takes devilish
look at Salem witch trials

"Safe in Hell," a play that casts a satiric light on a dark era in American history, the Salem witch trials, will be the second offering in the Yale Repertory Theatre's 2005-2006 season.

Mark Wing-Davey will direct the new comedy by Amy Freed, which is making its East Coast premiere Nov. 11-Dec. 3 at the Yale Rep, 1120 Chapel St.

"Safe in Hell" takes place in 1691. The town of Salem has a problem, so it turns for help to the most powerful clergyman in the Massachusetts Bay Colony, the Reverend Increase Mather. When a bad back prevents him from presiding over the witch trials, he sends his son Cotton to defend the colonists from the subtleties of Hell. Burning to prove himself worthy of the family name, Cotton soon discovers that the Devil wears many disguises.

Freed's comedy premiered in 2004 at South Coast Repertory, where her "The Beard of Avon" also made its debut. Her other plays include "Freedomland," a 1998 Pulitzer Prize finalist; "The Psychic Life of Savages," which had its New England premiere at Yale Rep in 2003 and received the 1995 Joseph Kesselring Award; "Claustrophilia"; "The Ghoul of Amherst"; and "Still Warm." Her most recent play, "Restoration Comedy," will premiere at Seattle Rep in November. Freed is currently artist-in-residence at Stanford University.

Director Wing-Davey rose to international prominence with the award-winning production of Caryl Churchill's "Mad Forest," which he originated as artistic director of the Central School of Speech and Drama in London. The production also played at the National Theatre in Bucharest and London's Royal Court and earned Wing-Davey an Obie Award as Outstanding Director for its Off-Broadway production. He has directed new and classic plays at many U.S. regional theaters, including the American Conservatory Theatre, Mark Taper Forum, New York Shakespeare Festival/Public Theatre, Playwright's Horizons and Seattle Rep, to name just a few. Internationally, his productions have been seen at London's Royal Court Theatre, Royal National Theatre, the Actors Center (where he served as artistic director 1998-2002) and on the West End; at the Edinburgh Festival; and in Australia.

The cast for "Safe in Hell" includes Katie Barrett (Maggie Smurt/Ensemble), Chad Callaghan (Ensemble), Adam Dannheisser (Reverend Doakes), Sean Dougherty (Indian Roger), Sofia Gomez (Abigail/Ensemble), Erik Lochtefeld (Cotton Mather), Graeme Malcolm (Increase Mather), Alexis McGuinness (Little Mary/Ensemble), Jeff Steitzer (Townsman/Judge/Ensemble), Myra Lucretia Taylor (Tituba/Ensemble) and Welker White (Mrs. Doakes/Ensemble).

The Yale production features choreography by Peter Pucci, scenic design by Leiko Fuseya, costume design by Emily Rebholz, lighting design by Gina Scherr, sound design by David Budries and special character effects by Aleksandra Maslik.

"Safe in Hell" will be staged at 8 p.m. nightly, Tuesday-Saturday with a Monday night performance on Nov. 14, and 2 p.m. matinees on Wednesday, Nov. 30, and on three Saturdays, Nov. 16 and 19 and Dec. 3.

Yale Rep will offer the following special events during the run of the play at no additional cost: First Friday on Nov. 11, a pre-show presentation by members of the creative team with complimentary pizza and soft drinks courtesy of BAR; Grad Night on Saturday, Nov. 12, a pre-show discussion with members of the creative team as well as complimentary beer, wine and appetizers for graduate students; Opening Night Celebration on Thursday, Nov. 17, with a celebration following the performance at an area restaurant; Re:Play, a post-show question-and-answer session with the cast and crew following the matinee performances on Saturday, Nov. 19 and Dec. 3, and the evening performance on Friday, Dec. 2; and Senior Reception on Wednesday, Nov. 30, a pre-show presentation by members of the creative team, with refreshments courtesy of Atticus Café. In addition, there will be open-captioned and audio-described performances of "Safe in Hell" on Saturday, Dec. 3, at 2 p.m.

Individual tickets for "Safe in Hell" are $30-$50; senior, student and group rates are also available, as are a variety of subscription packages for the Yale Rep's 40th anniversary season. Tickets and subscriptions can be purchased in person at the Yale Rep box office, 1120 Chapel St. (corner of York Street), by phone at (203) 432-1234 and online at www.yalerep.org.

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