Fairy Tales of the Absurd

Two plays by Eugène Ionesco and one by Edward Einhorn 

Directed by Edward Einhorn

ORIGINALLY PERFORMED:

June 6-29, 2004
Theatre 80

The plays that made up the production were as follows:

Tales for Children

by Eugene Ionesco
Translated by Karen Ott
Stage adaptation by Edward Einhorn 

Father: John Blaylock
Josette: Uma Incrocci
Narrator: Celia Montgomery

Tales for Children is adapted from actual stories Ionesco told to his daughter, Marie-France, whose efforts made the Ionesco Festival possible. It will be given an original translation by Karen Ott and Edward Einhorn. The father in the play tells the daughter about bizarre, imaginary worlds, such as one in which everyone is named Jacqueline and one in which familiar words all have alternate meanings. A life-sized puppet plays the part of the daughter, and stick puppets are used throughout to augment the narrative. 

To Prepare a Hard Boiled Egg

by Eugene Ionesco
Translated by Edward Einhorn 

Man: Peter B. Brown

To Prepare a Hard Boiled Egg was given its first ever English translation in the Ionesco Festival by Edward Einhorn. The seven minute piece was written as a gift for Ionesco's friend, Jean Falloin, a poet and "gastronome." 


One Head Too Many

by Edward Einhorn 

King Jo: John Blaylock
Narrator/Prince Hermy: Peter B. Brown
King Kustard/Jo's Father: Ian W. Hill
Princess Lilla/Queen Zilda: Uma Incrocci
Queen Jo/Dame Digga: Celia Montgomery

One Head Too Many is a fairytale set on another planet, which tells the story of a Princess who marries her second head. In her adventures, the Princess meets a witch who specializes in transforming royalty and a pudding king whom the witch has transformed. Its absurd humor matches Ionesco's tales, and it uses puppets in the roles of the second head and various other roles.


PRODUCTION TEAM

Directed by Edward Einhorn
Produced by David A. Einhorn

Original Music by William Niederkorn

Stage Manager & Puppets Design: Berit Johnson
Assistant Stage Manager: Karene Morris
Assistant Director: Glory Sims Bowen
Dramaturg: Karen Ott
Costume Designer: Carla Gant
Set Designer: Michelle Malavet
Lighting Designer: Gregg Carville
Assistant Lighting Designer: Paul Bradley
Costume Design Assistant: Jennifer Rose
Tech Director: Rick Juliano
House Manager: Maxwell Zener
Publicity Materials: Wilde Mule Productions
Publicity by OPR/Origlio Public Relations
Interns: Jenn Ingham, Lindsay Mejer, Stacey Pulamano, Alexandra Cohen-Spiegler, Jennifer Spinello, Lauren Vaicels, Katy Wright-Mead


Previous performances were held at at P.S. 122, from August 10 - August 25, 2003 as part of the New York International Fringe Festival and performances of Tales for Children and To Prepare a Hard Boiled Egg were also held as part of the IONESCO FESTIVAL

Reviews

“The laughter feels like spring in Fairy Tales of the Absurd ... a bright production with witty music and puppets galore …. Almost unbearably funny. [Peter B. Brown’s] pacing and diction are perfect.

— D. J. R. Bruckner,
New York Times 

“Ionesco’s puncturing of pretension and his ability to find pure silliness in the everyday seem tailor-made for the young...the staging is also hilarious.”

— Laurel Graeber,
New York Times

“Staged with Pop Art panache by Edward Einhorn, Tales for Children ... jauntily lays out Ionesco’s thematic preoccupation with the way our minds are duped from the outset by parental chicanery.”

The Village Voice