JACKSON, Wyo. — Two young people are falling for each other quickly as they participate in a clinical trial. But is their sudden chemistry real, or just the side effect of a new dopamine-regulating antidepressant?
Tristan: You don’t really think that? That I only like you cos I’m high or something.
Connie: Why not? Everything we do is just about what’s pumping round us, isn’t it?
Reality, pharmaceuticals, and medical ethics collide in Off Square Theatre’s production of The Effect, the gripping play by Lucy Prebble, the Emmy Award-winning British playwright and part of the writing team behind HBO’s Succession. As Connie and Tristan explore their intoxicating and exhilarating relationship, the supervising doctors – a psychiatrist running the trial and her ex who hired her – struggle to confront their own histories and duty of care.
“A knockout human drama.”
London Theatre
Prebble’s writing provokes fundamental questions about what makes us human without providing clear answers. Expertly directed by Michelle Tattenbaum, this “knockout human drama” explores the nature of human emotions and the landscape of the human brain. Jerad Schomer’s innovative and thrilling design transforms the Black Box into a multifaceted landscape that provides an up-close, full-bodied experience, including the audience in the observation of the characters. Tattenbaum and Schomer bring a rich history of collaboration, which shines in their partnership in creating this production, promising audiences a unique experience of professional theatre and a true sense of the artistry involved in live performance.
“Prebble’s play invites you to consider your connections with the people around you as you go on a journey with these compelling characters enmeshed in the pharmaceutical system and living under the microscope,” shares Producing Artistic Director Natalia Duncan Macker. “This is a visceral production delivered by seasoned actors. From the writing to the performances to the visuals and the sounds, this production is really about humanity in the modern age. The encounter will linger with you long after the performance ends.”
As the play tackles the chemical nature of love and mental health issues against the backdrop of the 21st century, audiences will be left to ponder: What makes us who we are?
“Very clever—and ultimately more than clever…ingenious.”
The New York Times
Among the cast members of The Effect are Hannah D. Scott, a U.K. native, who has appeared Off-Broadway, in theaters all over the U.K., and was recently seen in Apple TV’s Your Friends and Your Neighbors and Amazon’s The Peripheral in addition to her work as a stunt performer. Also in the cast is Nicholas Wilder, a New York-based actor who has performed across the U.S. in regional theaters, national tours, and Off-Broadway, as well as Jenna Krasowski and Rex Hudson. Original composition and sound design for the production was created by Pearl Rhein, a musician and performer who has appeared both on and Off-Broadway as well as on many regional stages.
Recommended for mature audiences (18+), The Effect runs October 16-19 and October 22-25 in the Black Box at the Center for the Arts. Tickets available at offsquare.org.
Off Square Theatre’s programs are made possible with support from the Shubert Foundation, National Endowment for the Arts, the Wyoming Arts Council, the Jackson Hole Travel and Tourism Board, and the Madame X Society.
Off Square Theatre does not proactively offer advisories about subject matter, as sensitivities vary from person to person. If you have any questions about content, age-appropriateness or stage effects (such as strobe lights or theatrical fog) that might have a bearing on patron comfort, please contact us at info@offsquare.org or 307-733-3021.
