Premiered on: April 6th 2023 at the Gene Frankel Theatre, New York/ with Lisa Monde playing the role of the Poet
State: Closed on April 29th 2023
Creators: Written by Lisa Monde, Directed by Thomas R. Gordon and Lisa Monde
Featuring: Samuel Shurtleff, Luke Edward Smith, Lisa Monde, Scott Lilly, Mark Simmons, Robert L. Bradvica, Steven J. Harris, Thomas R. Gordon, Cadence Lamb.
Produce Issued: Poster, postcards, playbills
Brief Summary: A master class in suicide note writing is being conducted by a professor of Philology – Scott Mirrormord. The group consists of six listeners – five men and a woman. Each of the participants made a decision to part with life. During the following two weeks of periodic classes, a number of events take place – both extraordinary and tragic, funny and sad…How did their meeting with the professor influence their decision to sever all ties with life? What conclusions did the professor draw for himself?
The borderline state of consciousness – is a fitting psychological term to describe what occurs to all participants of the master class. The thin edge of reality is slowly slipping away from them… They are all very different and have their own reasons that prompted them to come to such a decision.
The play is dedicated to the very relevant issue of the present – suicide, the statistics of which is scarily increasing in the whole civilized world.
This work gives hope, and states that almost any decision to take one’s own life can be reversed, and the prime cause – can be seen from a different angle.
Cast: Samuel Shurtleff – Professor Scott Mirrormord, Luke Edward Smith – Hunter, Lisa Monde – Poet, Scott Lilly – Violinist, Mark Simmons – Philosopher, Robert L. Bradvica – Accountant, Steven J. Harris – Loser, Thomas R. Gordon – Police Officer/Subway Rider/Reporter, Cadence Lamb – Pregnant Woman/Subway Rider/Reporter.
Crew: Scenic Design – Mengyi Liu, Lighting Design – Gilbert “Lucky” Pearto, Videography/Video Editing and Special Effects – David Stiles, Original Music Design – Lisa Monde, Stage Manager – Rene Shubert, Photography – Shane Maritch and Josh Eisenberg, Poster Design – Christina Roman at Design Root Studio.