Sarah Ruhls "The Clean House," opens June 7 and runs through June 23 at Pennsylvania Playhouse in Bethlehem, PA
The piece tells the tale of Charles (a doctor), Lane (his wife), Virginia (her sister) and Ana (the woman he loves.)
At the center of it all is Matilde, a Brazilian maid and aspiring comedian, who helps these characters navigate the waters of love, hope, loss, friendship and laughter
It is a celebration of both life and death, done with a Sarah Ruhl-twist, a style director that Tim Brown identifies as "magical realism."
It is that whimsy that attracted Brown to the Pulitzer-nominated piece in the first place.
"I am in love with Sarah Ruhl," said Brown, a professor of theatre and speech at Cedar Crest College.
"Her use of magic realism allows us to explore emotions and themes on a level that we may not get to do if we retain a wholly realistic view of the world. By doing so, she manages to create characters that are both completely relatable and inherently theatrical. This is the stuff that excites me!"
The story also unfolds with Ruhls trademark razor sharp dialog
ue.
"Her writing is so efficient, so clear and so poetic," Brown said. "It is truly captivating."
Now Brown just has one thing left to do.
"The trick is to just get out of the play's way and simply allow it to live."
The play is the third installment of the theatres "2013 Directors Cut Season," which features shows selected by the directors themselves.
WHAT: "The Clean House" by Sarah Ruhl, directed by Tim Brown
WHEN: June 7-8, 14-16, 20-23; Thursday-Saturday at 8 p.m.; Sunday at 6 p.m.
WHERE: Pennsylvania Playhouse, Illicks Mill Road, Bethlehem
HOW MUCH: $22; $19 students and seniors (with valid ID; discount Friday and Sunday only)
TICKETS and INFO: www.paplayhouse. org; 610-865-6665