The Rope by Eugene O’Neill (Drama)
Directed by Paul Gray
The Rope is among O’Neill’s earliest works – part of the One-Act Sea Plays – and was originally produced in 1918 by The Provincetown Players, a leading group of playwrights and intellectuals that included O’Neill himself, and who defined themselves as “anticomercial” (sic). It is the story of a bitter and ailing old man and his desperate and poverty-stricken family, each of them pursuing their own agendas as they wait for him to die. Moody and unpredictable as the characters themselves, The Rope unveils the bitter consequences of greed, the scarring effects of family strife, and focuses on one of O’Neill’s central themes – that of man’s inability to control his own destiny, despite futile attempts to do so.
About the Playwright: Born in a hotel room in New York in 1888-the son of a famous touring actor and a morphine-addicted mother, Eugene Gladstone O’Neill lived a life that was by all accounts as tortured and broken as any of the characters he created for the stage. Deriving directly from his own tragic life experiences, he wrote from an intensely personal point of view, and literally revolutionized the American theatre in the early 20th century. He has earned the Nobel Prize for literature as well as 4 Pulitzer Prizes for his work.
The Cast
James Bowman (Pat Sweeney)
James joined the Tara Players in 1999 after a number of years with the Prairie Players, and has performed in 4 of the last 6 MTC Master Playwright Festivals, including For the Pleasure of Seeing Her Again in TremblayFest 2005, as well as in the Winnipeg Fringe Festival. In 2003 he was awarded best actor for his portrayal of Anto in Paddy the Irishman at the Acting Irish International Theatre Festival in Del Rey Beach, Florida.
Sidney Gray (Abraham Bentley)
A veteran of the Tara Players since 1983, Sidney has appeared in numerous memorable roles and is a perennial favourite among Tara and Acting Irish Festival audiences. Last year, he was the recipient of the best supporting actor award at the Acting Irish International Theatre Festival in Chigaco for his portrayal of Paddy in I Do Not Like Thee Dr. Fell. Sidney also is a diligent and committed member behind the scenes, devoting hours of personal time to set building, stage management, and other important projects in every show he works on.
Gabrielle Hampton (Annie Sweeney)
TremblayFest audiences will remember Gabrielle’s memorable and critically acclaimed performance of Nana in the Tara Players production of For the Pleasure of Seeing Her Again . Gabrielle joined the Tara Players in 1993 and has appeared in at least 1 role per season since that time, many of them leading roles. Her role of Annie in The Rope marks her 3rd return to the MTC Master Playwright Festival.
Omar Khan (Luke Bentley)
A graduate of the University of Winnipeg Acting Program, this is Omar’s 2nd appearance with the Tara Players. His gripping portrayal of Joe Fell in last years official AIITF entry Do Not Like Thee Dr. Fell, was well-received both in Winnipeg and Chicago. This is Omar’s first appearance in an MTC Master Playwright Festival. After a number of years’ hiatus (when he briefly pursued a career in music), Omar has resumed his studies in acting.
Jaclyn Kuffel (Mary Bentley)
This is Jaclyn’s first appearance with the Tara Players. An avid student of theatre, Jaclyn is in her 8th year with Manitoba Theatre for Young People, and has performed in many of their productions, including Molly in Animal Farm, Marina in Marina the Monk, and Gertrude in Hamlet for Kids. Jaclyn, we’re delighted to have you with us!
The Rope Crew:
Director Paul Gray
Stage Manager Ian Barnes
Artist and Set Designer Peter McConville
Set Design Team Peter McConville, Martin Molloy, Sidney Gray, Paul Gray
Costumes Jane Testar
Lighting Design Omar Khan
