Can one ever practice art to the point that they stop being human?
Richard St. Croix doesn’t think so. As a thespian who has lived and worked in theatre literally since the womb, it is the only life he knows. But dedication gets tested when an actor suffers a bizarre psychotic break during a dress rehearsal of Macbeth. With only his wits and the works of Shakespeare to guide him, Richard presses on to make certain his play succeeds – no matter what the cost.
Written in 2013, Play Dead is a comedy that deals with the darker side of creativity and the sacrifices which ensure that true art never dies.
Play Dead was first conceived in November 2012 as a series of dramatic concepts during a local production of The Laramie Project. Coupled with a working premise, development began the following January under the tutelage of “Oil and Water” playwright Robert Chafe. A working draft was completed in April, with the first public reading given in May at the Eastern Edge Gallery in St. John’s, Newfoundland. The reading received positive audience reception.
Pending final revisions and adequate funding, Play Dead is expected to enter production in August 2014 with the not-for-profit theatre troupe, Fog Patch (previous credits include “Marriage” by Nikolai Gogol and “Beyond Therapy” by Christopher Durang).