Theatre Fairfield Presents Marina Carr Drama, Woman and Scarecrow

Theatre Fairfield presents Marina Carr Drama, “Woman and Scarecrow,” Jan. 29– 31

FAIRFIELD, Conn. (January 14, 2021) — Theatre Fairfield, Fairfield University’s resident production company, kicks off the New Year with four performances of British playwright Marin Carr’s dramatic play, “Woman and Scarecrow.” In compliance with state and local Covid-19 gathering restrictions, the show’s four, entirely student-run performances will be livestreamed via YouTube on Friday, January 29, at 8 p.m.; Saturday, January 30, at 2 p.m. and 8 p.m.; and Sunday, January 31, at 2 p.m.

Tickets for the virtual production are $10 general admission and $5 for students and can be purchased online at the Quick Center for the Arts Box Office at www.quickcenter.fairfield.edu or by phone at 203-254-4010. After purchasing a ticket, patrons will receive YouTube link via email on the day of the performance.

A Faustian tale enriched with Carr's poetic dialogue and gothic atmosphere, “Woman and Scarecrow” tells the story of a woman with a stained past that has made her bitter at the world. As she lies patiently on her deathbed, a deathly entity looms in her wardrobe, waiting to take her. Her only companion is Scarecrow, a spiritually connected being that has accompanied Woman her entire life and now sits with her until the end. As Woman and Scarecrow look back at their shared history, and bicker over the many choices they have made, they slowly come to terms with their identities.

The New York Times calls “Woman and Scarecrow” a “blistering beauty of a play that rages with regret and pitch-black humor at the wasted years of a misspent life." A foreboding story of regret and unfulfillment, the play warns all who watch it what an inactive and passive life amounts to when it is finally over.

“Woman and Scarecrow” is sponsored by the Jamie Hulley Arts Foundation, and was chosen by students as Theatre Fairfield’s 2021 Independent Play Project, an annual University tradition in which theatre students have two weeks to produce a full-scale production, from start to finish, entirely on their own and without faculty assistance. The play’s cast features Tracy Ferguson ’22 as “Woman” and Kierstin Jones ’21 as “Scarecrow,” with Kiersten Bjork ’21 as “Auntie Ah,” and guest artist Liam Bray as “Him.” The production’s artistic team includes costume, hair, and makeup designer Julianna Gentile ‘22, stage manager Meghan Dana ‘22, and co-producers Lytle and Jones.

Theatre Fairfield’s production of “Woman and Scarecrow” is directed by Park Lytle ‘21, a senior economics major and theatre minor who has made numerous appearances on the Theatre Fairfield stage during the past four years. Lytle described the play as “very poetic,” in that it takes themes and concepts that are traditionally ugly and adds a unique elegance to them.

“I think the most important thing to keep in mind with this play is its anti-realist style,” Lytle said. Not everything is going to be as it seems, and not everything is going to be grounded in reality. It's how we present it and what feelings we're trying to evoke that are ultimately going to matter.”

For more information, visit www. theatre-fairfield.org.