Evento

Panther and Jaguar (at The Actors Studio)

Panther and Jaguar is a tumultuous love story between two literary titans. HG Wells and Rebecca West had a ten year affair in the dawn of England's Twentieth Century. Passionate chemistry fueled their time together. Wells, 20 years her senior, was a bit past his glory days as a writer, and West was just experiencing her own success as a novelist and journalist. The tension between their magnetic attraction to one another and each writer's egoistic investment in their own professional stature enlarged every issue to epic proportions.

Playwright and actor, Stacie Linardos was attracted to this story because of the historical importance and human complexity of the figures and the drama which surrounded their affair. It was complete with a child who was ambiguously acknowledged by his parents because of Victorian moral standards. More importantly, Linardos saw a personal connection, as well. Her husband, Saul Zachary, is a playwright, director and a poet, and, like HG Wells and Rebecca West, there was twenty years between them. Ms. Linardos has told this story with passion and wit.

The production is part of the award winning programming at The Actors Studio of Newburyport. The play direction is in the able hands of Anna Smulowitz who has many local, national, and international productions to her credit. It features Steven Berger and Ashley Risteen as the fated lovers.

There will be a Q&A with Saul Zachary following the Sunday June 14 performance.

Panther and Jaguar is sponsored in part by the Mass Cultural Council through the Newburyport and Haverhill Cultural Councils.