On the Leesh Productions Presents
www.ontheleesh.com
A YORKSHIRE FAIRIE TALE
A new play by THOMAS DIGGS
With
JESSICA ARINELLA PETER RUSSO
MATT RASHID
SUSAN WANDS
PAUL DE CORDOVA
Directed by NANCY ROBILLARD
Produced by ALICIA ARINELLA & JULIE TORTORIEI
Set Design: DIANA WHITTEN
Lighting Design: CHRIS CONTI
Costume Design: JESSICA JAHN
Sound Design: CRAIG LENTI
Publicity by KEVIN P. McANARNEY/KPM ASSOCIATES
MICHAEL WELLER THEATRE
311 West 43rd Street (between Eighth & Ninth Avenues), 6th Floor
Opening Night: October 1, 2007
Thomas Diggs’ new play, A YORKSHIRE FAIRIE TALE, was inspired by a
real-life event that became known as the Cottingley Fairy Hoax. In his work
13-year-old Dulcie (Jessica Arinella) has lost both her father and her
brother in World War I. Dulcie’s mother (Susan Wands) is distraught with
grief and slowly losing her mind. In a naive attempt to cheer her up, Dulcie and
her eccentric friend Francis (Peter Russo) take photographs doctored to
include the presence of fairies. When the photos are published in a national
magazine, believers face off against non-believers and lives are changed
forever.
As preposterous as this sounds, and let me repeat that is based on a true
story, all the elements come together in A YORKSHIRE FAIRIE TALE to make
it both entertaining and thought provoking. There is a lovely chemistry between
an endearing nerd and a girl whose life has been upturned. Matt Rashid
and Paul de Cordova round out this impressive cast, and events unfold
amidst an exquisite set of woodland tranquility designed by Diana Whitten.
Costumes by Jessica Jahn provide authenticity.
Diggs beautifully explores the question “How do we deal with grief?” When
reality becomes too difficult to bear, is it not to be expected that we will
do/believe almost anything to escape it? Perhaps that’s why fairies were
invented in the first place. What better use could they be put to than to
distract and alleviate pain? A YORKSHIRE FAIRIE TALE confirms and even
celebrates our need for a little fantasy and hope during the dark times.
- Laurie Lawson -