Directed by Katherine Karaus
Thu-Sat at 8 pm, Aug 2-31 (Thu PWYC)
$20 general / $12 TPS, senior, military / $5 student
PWYC Industry Night: Monday, Aug 12
This incisively poetic play follows Brodie, a 42-year-old linguistics professor who chooses to become a single parent. When genetic testing reveals a possible problem with her pregnancy, unexpected emotions complicate both her research of a dying language and her romantic relationship with Dre, a grad student with a mind of her own. Amid the noise, Brodie forms an unexpected connection with a “talking” gorilla at the local zoo. Precious Little features three actresses who navigate dozens of relationships in this beautiful exploration of the limits of language.
[Precious Little] intelligently poses some engaging philosophical questions… Director Katherine Karaus addresses these concerns in a spare staging that moves swiftly, cleanly from brief encounter to encounter. Pearce bites with relish into every little role she’s given, and is especially effective (and amusing) as Rhiannon, the eager young counselor who is clearly out of her depth. Murfin Bailey also makes deft work of her several personae. She’s remarkably restrained, and uncannily convincing, playing a zoo gorilla whose thought patterns are enviably basic… Smart and frank… it sure conjures a primal image (reminiscent of O’Neill’s “The Hairy Ape”) that sticks with you. — The Seattle Times
“Quick timing and skillful acting make it an absorbing production…. Papineau delivers a skillful performance, navigating her character arc with believability…. Precious Little is anything by precious. It is funny and sad and tough. But most of all it makes us think. In a world where we are inundated with language, words, and talk, what does it mean to communicate, and how can we find the most effective way? That may be an unanswerable question, but at least Precious Little is brave enough to ask.” — City Arts Online
“The three women on stage are likable and watchable and keep the evening enjoyable. …[Taryn] Pearce shows amazing vocal range as she morphs over and over into completely different small characters.” — Seattle Gay News
“The three actors played nine parts and brought a strong presence…making every scene as thought-provoking as the one before.” — Drama In The Hood
CAST
| Sarah Papineau | Brodie |
| Taryn Pearce | Zoogoers/Rihannon/Evelyn/Dre/Gloria |
| Mary Murfin Bayley | Ape/Dorothy/Cleva |
CREW
| Playwright | Madeleine George |
| Director | Katherine Karaus |
| Stage Manager | Xandii Barber |
| Production Manager | Katie McKellar |
| Light Designer | Gwyn Skone |
| Set Designer | Catherine Cornell |
| Sound Designer | Lindsey Morck |
| Prop Designer | Erin O’Malley |
| Costume Designer | Savannah Baltazar |
| Dramaturg | Lesley Carmichael |
