Burnished By Grief – A Romantic Comedy
By Talking Band
Written and Composed by Ellen Maddow
Directed by Paul Zimet
“an exuberant celebration of color and quirk, with a tune or two to underscore its sentiments…This production, directed by Paul Zimet, from the venerable downtown troupe Talking Band, grew out of Ms. Maddow’s experiences as a volunteer in Brooklyn Civil Court. The influence is palpable: The diversity, idiosyncrasies and legal entanglements of these characters seem endemic to New York, perhaps only to Brooklyn. But Ms. Maddow reminds us that for all the strains attendant upon urban living, every now and then novel and wonderful relationships emerge.”
~ Andy Webster, The New York Times
A love letter to the chaos of cramped New York City living. This music-fused, sinister romantic comedy is inspired by Obie award-winning playwright Ellen Maddow’s work as a mediator in Brooklyn Civil Court, where she has witnessed how the city’s extraordinary diversity, combined with close living, has produced complex misunderstandings and remarkable relationships.
Created by the multiple Obie Award winning Talking Band, Burnished by Grief, is a chaotic, over stimulated urban mash up filled with constant motion, scrambled energy and the overlapping realities of race, culture and multiple generations. Seven characters long for a pocket of stillness, the solace of beauty, relief from loneliness, and the possibility of falling head over heels in love with their opposites.
Cast
Will Badgett, Shelley Fort, Sam Kulik, Debargo Sanyal, Mary Shultz, Tina Shepard, Rae C. Wright
Set and Video Design by
Anna Kiraly
Light Design by
Lenore Doxsee
Costume Design by
Kiki Smith
Sound Design by
Tim Schellenbaum
Production Stage Management by
Julia Katz
REVIEWS FOR 'BURNISHED BY GRIEF'
4-Stars
“Maddow’s witty, intelligent dialogue lifts us up. Her text and characters are exuberant, infecting the audience with joy….every single actor imbues his and her character with that commedia zaniness that makes even their griefs transform into joie de vivre.”
~ Elizabeth Bove, Plays To See
“Navigating the real estate world of the city is a one of a kind experience and another one of those things that bind New Yorkers together in a way that out-of-staters can never understand. Finding a home is a relatable struggle, and Burnished By Grief explores how that battle exhibits itself in a diverse group of people. Without preaching, Talking Band illuminates how beautiful possibilities might await if you can only look past the difference between yourself and your neighbor.”
~ Victoria Teague, New York Theatre Review