Freud's Last Session Extended Yet Again in Pittsfield
Barrington Stage Company Finds Freud a Hot Ticket
By: Larry Murray - Sep 11, 2009
The eternal debate over the existence of God continues to fascinate audiences as Freud's Last Session receives yet another extension to its hugely successful run at Barrington Stage Company. The two character play starring Mark H. Dold as C.S. Lewis and Martin Rayner as the spitting image of Sigmund Freud continues to pack them in nightly at the intimate Stage 2 on Linden Street. Julianne Boyd and Richard M. Parison, Jr., announced today that it has been extended, from September 23 to October 4.
The world premiere of the play took place this past June but, they noted, "this has to be be the last and final extension." The Barrington Stage Facebook site states this is because the play is destined for a New York run. (Not confirmed.)
"Over 5,000 patrons have attended Mark St. Germain's Freud's Last Session making it the most popular play in BSC history," said BSC Artistic Director Julianne Boyd. "It has been a joy to produce such a provocative and entertaining work, especially one that has been embraced by audiences and critics alike."
Freud's Last Session centers on legendary psychiatrist Dr. Sigmund Freud (Martin Rayner), who invites a young, little known professor, C.S. Lewis (Mark H. Dold), to his home in London. Lewis, expecting to be called on the carpet for satirizing Freud in a recent book, soon realizes Freud has a much more significant agenda. On the day England enters World War II, Freud and Lewis clash on the existence of God, love, sex and the meaning of life - only two weeks before Freud chooses to take his own.
The play was suggested by "The Question of God" by Dr. Armand M. Nicholi, Jr. Thus the playwright Mark St. Germain was intrigued by the account of Sigmund Freud's meeting with an unnamed Oxford don shortly before Freud committed suicide in 1939 to end his battle with oral cancer. In Freud's Last Session, the psychoanalyst's visitor is C.S. Lewis, author of "The Chronicles of Narnia" and "The Screwtape Letters." Freud, a staunch atheist, quizzes Lewis, a former atheist who converted to Christianity, about his views on God and more personal matters.
The production has been directed by Tyler Marchant.
Barrington Stage has presented Award-winning playwright Mark St. Germain's The God Committee, Ears on A Beatle and The Collyer Brothers at Home/Period Piece. He has also written Camping with Henry and Tom (Outer Critics Circle Award and Lucille Lortel Award), Forgiving Typhoid Mary, Out of Gas on Lovers Leap, among others. His musical theatre credits include The Gifts of the Magi, co-written by Randy Courts and Stand By Your Man -The Tammy Wynette Story. Mr. St. Germain was also a creative consultant and writer for several seasons on The Cosby Show and co-wrote the screenplay for the acclaimed film, Duma.
Barrington Stage's production design team for Freud's Last Session includes Brian Prather (scenic design), Mark Mariani (costume design), Clifton Taylor (lighting design), and Beth Lake (sound design). Kate Cudworth is production stage manager.
Performances for Freud's Last Session through October 4 are Tuesday through Friday at 7:30pm, Saturdays at 4pm and 8pm, Sundays at 7:30pm at BSC Stage 2 (36 Linden Street) Pittsfield .
Post-show discussions with playwright Mark St. Germain, along with Martin Rayner and Mark H. Dold, will be held following the Wednesday, September 23 performance and both Friday evening performances (September 25 and October 2).
For ticket information, call 413-236-8888. Tickets are $25 and $30 (Sat. eve.). $15 tickets are available for students age 21 and younger for all performances except Saturday evenings. Senior citizen tickets are $20 on Saturday matinees only. Barrington Stage is offering patrons a special $45 ticket to Freud's Last Session. The $45 ticket gives the patron priority reserved seating and a signed copy of the script by St. Germain, Rayner and Dold. All proceeds will benefit New Works on BSC's Stage 2. Tickets can be purchased at the box office or by calling 413-236-8888. http://www.barringtonstageco.org/