Obsession and possession
By Rudy Hornish

Players Workshop
Mauritius
Theresa Rebeck
Opening Night Gala
Fri, Aug 21, 8pm
200 pesos


Performances

Sat, Aug 22 8pm
Sun, Aug 23, 5pm
Mon–Tue, Aug 24–25, 8pm
Thur–Sat, Aug 27–29, 8pm
Sun, Aug 30, 5pm

Recession-busting Specials
Saturday shows and front row 
seats for all shows: 100 pesos
Teatro Santa Ana
Biblioteca Pública
Reloj 50A
150 pesos

Theresa Rebeck’s thriller, Mauritius, which ran on Broadway in 2007, is an intriguing tale of need and greed. 

As John Lahr, The New Yorker reviewer said, “Rebeck’s latest play brings together two sensational forms of combat: the psychological battle between rivalous siblings for property after a parent’s death…and the compulsive battle for ownership in the world of philately.”

A stamp collection, possibly worth millions of dollars, is the object at the center of this play. Two half-sisters inherit a book of stamps that may contain the “holy grail of philately,” the misprinted Twopence Postage Stamp—one of the two infamous Mauritius “Post Office” stamps issued in 1847, valued at US$600,000 to $1,000,000 because of a printing mistake. As the story unfolds, the women take on each other, and become involved with three men who would go to almost any lengths to have those stamps for themselves.

“This is a tale of obsession and possession,” says Nancy Kandal, the Director of Mauritius. Kandal adds, “Theresa Rebeck is a terrific writer and she keeps the tension high throughout the play. She has created knockout characters, and I’m happy to say that our cast of five of San Miguel’s finest actors is more than up to the task of bringing these characters to life.”

That cast includes Clara Dunham and Jill Gottlieb as the feuding sisters, and Jim Newell, Tim Johnson and Tom King play the shady characters who lust for their stamp collection. “I hope you’ll come and experience Mauritius with us,” says Kandal, “and think about what you might do (or not do) to get what you want.”




Special Ticket Prices

In an effort to acknowledge rising prices in a tougher economy, Players Workshop has announced special discount ticket prices for this final production of the summer season.

Front row seats for all peformances (except for opening night), and all seats for Saturday evening performances will be sold for 100 pesos per ticket.

Tickets for opening night, which include an after-show gala wine and dessert reception in the Café Santa Ana, are 200 pesos. All other tickets are 150 pesos. All seats are reserved and can be purchased in the patio of the Biblioteca 10:30am–1pm on weekdays. Tickets are also available after 1pm in the office of Teatro Santa Ana at the Biblioteca.