Written by award-winning playwright Julia Cho and directed by Leslie Ann Rivers, The Language Archive is a quirky, but ravishingly well-written play that tackles the complexities of language onstage; specifically the most universal language of all: the language of love.
“Julia Cho's writing is very articulate, but what I love most about her writing are those moments when the play's humor sneaks up on me and hits my funny bone to the point where I laugh out loud,” says Rivers.
Helping to provide the laughs is an all-star cast of local actors, including Brian Arnold, Janet Rossman, Tracie Nickle, Sandra Rockman and John Watson.
“The Language Archive” is the name for George's library that stores tapes of dead languages. The play begins with a look into the intricacies of Mary and George's marriage and Mary's struggle to communicate with her husband, who is stilted emotionally and seemingly unaware of her deep suffering.
George, a brilliant linguist who archives dying languages, is lost in his work and oblivious to the reality of his own marriage and the 'reality' around him. His assistant, Emma is in love with her boss and manages to hide her affections, since "if he were going to fall in love with me he would've done it by now." In the midst of all these heart-felt struggles between the three main characters, the mood of the play shifts with the arrival of Alta and Resten, the last two living speakers of the Elloway language, which is on the brink of extinction.
“There's a theory that all literature and drama boils down to sex and death -- love might be more elevated, perhaps, than sex, but in the end, it all comes down to the same roots, whether it's Romeo and Juliet, A Streetcar Named Desire, Othello or Chicago,” explains Rivers. “It's what makes us human.”
“Julia Cho's writing is very articulate, but what I love most about her writing are those moments when the play's humor sneaks up on me and hits my funny bone to the point where I laugh out loud,” says Rivers.
Helping to provide the laughs is an all-star cast of local actors, including Brian Arnold, Janet Rossman, Tracie Nickle, Sandra Rockman and John Watson.
“The Language Archive” is the name for George's library that stores tapes of dead languages. The play begins with a look into the intricacies of Mary and George's marriage and Mary's struggle to communicate with her husband, who is stilted emotionally and seemingly unaware of her deep suffering.
George, a brilliant linguist who archives dying languages, is lost in his work and oblivious to the reality of his own marriage and the 'reality' around him. His assistant, Emma is in love with her boss and manages to hide her affections, since "if he were going to fall in love with me he would've done it by now." In the midst of all these heart-felt struggles between the three main characters, the mood of the play shifts with the arrival of Alta and Resten, the last two living speakers of the Elloway language, which is on the brink of extinction.
“There's a theory that all literature and drama boils down to sex and death -- love might be more elevated, perhaps, than sex, but in the end, it all comes down to the same roots, whether it's Romeo and Juliet, A Streetcar Named Desire, Othello or Chicago,” explains Rivers. “It's what makes us human.”
Admission to Theater by the Book is FREE, with a suggested donation of $10.
Most audience members make a donation at the door.
Advance tickets are available through the Miners Foundry.
THEATER BY THE BOOK, now in its 6th Season, is our series of informal play readings at the Miners Foundry.
We schedule five or six readings throughout the year and present a wide range of works. An archive of the readings may be found here. The director and actors come together and rehearse just a couple of times.
There is no scenery, no costumes, and minimal staging. Check us out and expand your theatrical horizons!
We schedule five or six readings throughout the year and present a wide range of works. An archive of the readings may be found here. The director and actors come together and rehearse just a couple of times.
There is no scenery, no costumes, and minimal staging. Check us out and expand your theatrical horizons!