INDEPENDENT PLAYERS, now in its 47th Season of producing live theater in Elgin and the Fox River Valley, is excited to present it’s final production of 2024 with Lee Blessings’ superb play, A Body of Water with performances September 27-29 and October 4-6.
“Moses and Avis, an attractive, middle-aged couple, wake up one morning in an isolated summer house high above a picturesque body of water. The weather’s fine; the view’s magnificent. There’s only one problem—neither of them can remember who they are. When a young woman named Wren arrives, information starts to flood in. But will it help? Her explanations seem only to make Moss and Avis’ world—as well as ours–more terrifying.”
A Body of Water is considered to be one of the best plays written by Lee Blessing, one of America’s greatest living and still writingplaywrights. The production is directed by Larry Boller, who has directed numerous productions for IP over the years and incidentally has directed two other Lee Blessing plays, Two Rooms and Eleemosynary. It features Jim Quan and Marge Uhlarik-Boller who have appeared on stage in previous IP productions and introduces Ellen Daschler, who is making her first appearance on stage with IP.
Lee Blessing is a favorite of IP and we are so excited to produce A Body of Water because Artistic Director Don Haefliger grew up and matured going to the Guthrie Theater in Minneapolis, MN. It was there that the play got its world premiere on June 15, 2005 with Joe Dowling, Guthrie Artistic Director. Dowling was great at choosing new works to be produced at the Guthrie some of which Don was fortunate to be able to see in the late 60’s. He also gave symposiums for directing students who were studying Theater in the Grad School at the University of Minnesota. From Minneapolis to Elgin, we are thrilled to be able to bring you this critically acclaimed drama. We hope you enjoy seeing it as much as we enjoy bringing it to you. Come and experience…
“…a play rich in ideas about memory, identity and fiction…Blessing lays down a rich philosophical groundwork for the play’s intrigue…artfully presented.” – Variety
“…gets the audience talking…raises questions about what is true and whom to believe…intriguing stuff.” – LA Times
“…one of America’s greatest playwrights…satisfying, ninety-five minutes of existential hide and seek.” – St. Paul Pioneer Press
“…the work of a mature master dramatist in complete control of his materials.” – The San Diego Union Tribune