(Black Cat) WASP

WASP

Steve Martin’s one act play was first published in 1996. In it he paints a bleak and hilarious take of the 1950s suburban landscape. The play mocks with dark lyrical irony the hollowness of the Nuclear family. A family who are pure W.A.S.P. (White Anglo-Saxon Protestants.) Mom finds herself trapped at home, deeply alone. In an endless parade of loveless days, mind numbing routines and social cliches. Longing for the return of the passion she once knew from her husband. Dad is a pipe smoking, man’s man, spewing sitcom advice. Which brings neither wisdom nor comfort. While the Boy and Girl children try to navigate a course between these broken pillars of parenthood. Lost for role models who may illuminate the way. Or souls to confide in. All through the play, a fifth disembodied character called the ‘Voice’. Periodically gives each family member blunt truths wrapped in the guise of guidance. The voice is their only distraction from the plain every day. Don’t let all these deep pathos fool you! The characters are woven into a very witty script which flies along at a frenetic pace. It was a blast to work with the actors on maintaining the balance between the depth and absurdity of the show. For this one, I created an abstract set filled with ‘Modern art’ including a wall mural I painted.