Playwright Bryony Lavery wrote a play called Frozen. Not to be confused with Let It Go musical. The 2004 production was at the Circle-in-the-Square Theatre and was nominated for four Tony Awards. Four years later she had a new play make its world premiere at Frantic Assembly in the UK. That play, Stockholm, now has its West Coast premiere in a production that just opened at The Pico Playhouse in West Los Angeles, The production runs through January 28th.
In Stockholm, a seemingly perfect and beautiful couple heads to Stockholm to celebrate his birthday. She’s taken care of exactly how his day and his presents are going to reveal themselves. But as they do, we reveal far more about the nature of their relationship. As the press release says, “It’s beautiful, but it’s not pretty.”
LA Critics Choice award-winner Kim Rubenstein directs Kimberly Alexander (Kali) and Jamie Wollrab (Todd). The choreography is by Stephen Buescher. Stockholm is a Triptych Theatre Group production.
When Ben Brantley of the New York Times reviewed a 2014 production in New York, he called Lavery “a playwright to reckon with” and referred to Stockholm as sharing some of the same sensibilities as Frozen‘s “compelling mix of anguished compassion and clinical dispassion.”
Stockholm runs slightly more than one hour. But the opportunity to experience Lavery’s writing makes this a play you should put on your calendar.
Photo by Jeff Lorch