Elective Affinities
Elective Affinities

Elective Affinities

by David Adjmi
directed by Sarah Benson
in association with piece by piece productions & Rising Phoenix Repertory

November 17 2011 - December 18 2011

“I want it confined to one room the vastness of all the world.”

Directed by Artistic Director Sarah Benson and written by David Adjmi, this play is a unique site-specific event inviting audiences into the apartment of a witty octogenarian offering a funny and savage portrait of cultured life. Originally commissioned by The Royal Court and produced by The Royal Shakespeare Company in 2005, ELECTIVE AFFINITIES promises to initiate a vital discourse about what it means to be civilized. Featuring four-time Tony Award-winner Zoe Caldwell.

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  • New York Times

    “If you’re one of the lucky few whom [Alice Hauptmann] has summoned to tea this month…I strongly urge you to accept.”

  • Time Out New York

    “Adjmi’s playlet is tiny, but its eloquent, perverse core of coolly rationalized cruelty continues to gain mass and weight in my head… Caldwell is magisterial and terrifying.” [Four stars]

  • Scott Brown, New York Magazine

    “a pure demonic delight.”

  • Huffington Post

    “Played with acute grace by Zoe Caldwell… we get a taste of Hauptmann’s life but want more.”

  • Entertainment Weekly

    “Elective Affinities’ appeal lies in its wonderfully intimate setting….And there’s something undeniably thrilling about watching Caldwell from 2, 4, or even 10 feet away…She’s an absolute marvel.”

  • The New Yorker

    “Elective Affinities belongs to the rarely explored genre of metaphysical theatre… [Zoe] Caldwell didn’t use the space so much as dominate it.”

  • Backstage

    “Caldwell is superb…There’s also the added frisson of being in such intimate contact with this legendary actor.”

Cast

Zoe Caldwell

Alice

Creative Team

David Adjmi

Playwright

Sarah Benson

Director

Louisa Thompson

Set Designer

Susan Hilferty

Costume Designer

Mark Barton

Lighting Designer

Matt Tierney

Sound Designer

Tom Taylor

Production Stage Manager

Robert Saenz de Viteri

Production Manager

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