Love, Loss and Identity: 'Lithuanian Trilogy' Opens at Artisphere

The first of three plays in "The Lithuanian Trilogy," a theatrical series chronicling the impact of World War II on one family over the course of multiple decades and generations, opened Thursday at .

The trilogy was conceived by actor Paul Rajeckas and playwright George Chieffet, both of whom work primarily in New York City. The individual plays, "Notes to the Motherland," "Love Cures Cancer: The Musical" and "My Lithuanian Sweetheart," address themes of love, loss and identity in the wake of the war.

“The themes are universal,” Rajeckas said. “Your parents’ past experiences affect your life, no matter who you are.”

The themes may be universal, but the plays themselves are incredibly personal to Rajeckas. "Notes to the Motherland" and "Love Cures Cancer" are semi-biographical one-man shows. Rajeckas also conceived the soundtrack for each of the plays, co-wrote "Notes to the Motherland" with Chieffet and directed "My Lithuanian Sweetheart."

The opening marks the completion of a project 11 years in the making.

Rajeckas and Chieffet began work on "Notes to the Motherland" in 2000. Over the course of the past decade, the creative team has also conceived and executed the series’ two subsequent installations. The third play, "My Lithuanian Sweetheart," will make its world premiere at Artisphere on Sept. 30.

The trilogy explores a range of emotionally compelling concepts, including revelation, betrayal, loss, nostalgia, self-sacrifice, morality and love. Over the course of the plays, one character discovers his mother once worked for the Gestapo, another must come to terms with the death of his wife and a third revisits the memories of a past love. But amidst this darkness, hope prevails.

“There’s a sense of optimism in spite of the dark themes,” said Chieffet, who wrote "Love Cures Cancer" and "My Lithuanian Sweetheart."

Rajeckas, who taught at a clown college for years, brings an element of physicality and humor to the potentially tragic subject matter.

“The plays are deliberately being done with a comic edge,” he said.

The trilogy also incorporates music, specifically that of New York jazz singer Ayana Lowe, who plays the Lithuanian sweetheart in the third installment.

“There’s a resilience,” said Lowe of her character. “In spite of it all, she perseveres.”

This saga of perseverance will be at Artisphere through Oct. 2. For information on the specific run times of each play in the trilogy, check out Artisphere’s calendar.