Thursday, June 12, 7:30 pm, Orcas Center
— from Artha Kass —
A riotous exposure of entrepreneurial greed, A Small Family Business returns to the National Theatre for the first time since its celebrated premiere in 1987, when it won the Evening Standard Award for Best New Play. It streams live to Orcas Center on Thursday, June 12, at 7:30 pm.
Jack McCracken: a man of principle in a corrupt world. But not for long. Moments after taking over his father-in-law’s business he’s approached by a private detective armed with some compromising information. Jack’s integrity fades away as he discovers his extended family to be thieves and adulterers, looting the business from their suburban homes. Rampant self-interest takes over and comic hysteria builds to a macabre climax. “Everybody steals things… We’re doing nothing illegal… It’s not as bad as you think!”
Alan Ayckbourn is one of Britain’s best known and well-loved modern playwrights (his plays also include A Chorus of Disapproval, Bedroom Farce, Relatively Speaking, Season’s Greetings). A Small Family Business is returning to the stage it was originally written for in 1987, before transferring to Broadway for a successful run. The production is designed with huge size and scale and has a most visually impressive set (the interior of a whole house). Set in the ‘80s, A Small Family Business is a very funny, dark family comedy about greed, corruption, deceit, and, of course, complicated family dynamics.
“A spirited production. Blends morality, fable and black farce.” —Independent
Tickets for this NT Live presentation of A Small Family Business are $18, $13 for students, $2 off for Orcas Center members, and may be purchased at www.orcascenter.org or by calling 376-2281 ext. 1 or visiting the Orcas Center Box Office open Wednesday, Thursday and Friday from noon – 4 pm. For more information about Orcas Center 2014 season events, please visit www.orcascenter.org.
