“What would happen if your most private and innermost thoughts were known to the world?”
That is the question that famed playwright Peter Nichols explores in his masterwork, “Passion,” presented by J CITY Theater, now running until Oct. 3 at The Underground Theater at St. Michael’s Church at Hamilton Park in downtown Jersey City.
Eleanor (Sandy Cockrell) and James (Tony Cormier) enjoy a quiet and comfortable marriage until Kate (Rocio Mendez), “the ultimate sexual threat”, comes into their lives and disrupts their safety.
Not satisfied with this traditional relationship triangle, the playwright creates a pentagon by bringing Jim (Kellis Carroll) and Nell (Rachel Kerbs) on stage to serve as the couple’s alter egos, allowing the audience to view a rich texture of subterfuge and deception.
Rounding out the cast is Eleanor’s fiery friend Agnes (Camille Mazurek), who is a cautionary tale against bitterness and revenge. The result is a play with wonderful complexity that never seems complicated – only very dangerous.
Did they actually say that?
It’s a comedy on the outside, but screaming on the inside, a bitterly funny, savagely honest play that unfolds like a symphony, keeping the audience on the edge of their seat.
“It’s the most dangerous script I’ve ever read,” says Executive Producer Clay Cockrell. “I went from laughing out loud to cringing with shock that people could actually say some of these things out loud. It’s like nothing we’ve ever done.”
Artistic Director Sandy Cockrell has once again created a rich mixture of art, music and theater.
“The play’s main character is a restorer of modern art,” says Cockrell, “And we have filled the set and lobby with the paintings of local artist Hernando Rico Sanchez. His work resonates with the intensity of the script and fills the space with color.”
Cockrell also felt it was important to reflect the musicality of the story. “Thus, we have created a kind of seventh character in local saxophonist Kevin Gosa who will be on stage, providing an original soundtrack for the evening. As a result, I think we have created an evening of fascinating story telling filled with art and music.”
Company’s second season
The production marks J CITY Theater’s second season in their new permanent home, The Underground Theater at St. Michael’s Church. Kellis Carroll, a founding member, says the company remains incredibly grateful to Father Vic Kennedy and everyone at St. Michaels for their continued generosity and support.
“Staying true to our mission, ‘Theater in The Raw’,” says Carroll, “we are able to use this venue to create a very dynamic performance space that is unique to each show. Audiences remain surprised that such high quality productions are so close to home.”
J CITY Theater (www.jcity.org) is a not-for-profit professional theater company and a founding company of the Hudson County Theatre Alliance (www.hudsonall.org) and has been producing locally since 2006.
Recent productions include Archibald MacLeish’s “J.B.”, Douglas Carter Beane’s “As Bees In Honey Drown”, and this spring’s smash hit “The God Committee.” They are also known for their engaging one act plays (“Compression of a Casualty” and “The Spot”) during HCTA’s annual One Acts Festival. J CITY Theater’s mission is to create quality, high energy theater that is told with sophisticated simplicity.
Audiences are encouraged to reserve tickets due to limited seating and a limited run.
Curtain times are Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays at 8 p.m. Tickets for $20 can be purchased through www.brownpapertickets.com or by calling (800) 838-3006.
The Underground Theater is located at St. Michaels Church, Hamilton Park, 252 Ninth St., Jersey City.