The Castle - Oswald Speaking 2

The Castle

by Franz Kafka, adapted by David Fishelson and Aaron Leichter from a dramatization by Max Brod

Second Stage at The Adrienne Theater
September 3 - 22, 2013
Directed by Tina Brock
The Castle - Postcard - Front
K
David Stanger
Bridge Innkeeper, Erlanger
Jerry Puma
Innkeeper's Wife
Tina Brock*
Peasant, Servant
Pat Lewis
Peasant, Servant, Second Coachman
Greg Day
Peasant, Servant, First Coachman, Gatekeeper
John D'Alonzo
Peasant, Servant
Ingrid Robson
Arthur
Michael Dura
Jeremiah
Tomas Dura
Barnabas, Mayor
Ethan Lipkin
Olga
Sonja Robson
Manor Innkeeper, Teacher, Momus
Jerry Rudasill
Frieda
Kirsten Quinn
Voices of Oswald & Klamm
Bob Schmidt

Director

Tina Brock

Costume Design

Erica Hoelscher

Scenic Design

Anna Kiraly

Lighting Design

Robin Stamey

Stage Manager/Light and Sound Operator

Carrie Ryan

Technical Director

Chris J. Kleckner

Sound Design

Tina Brock

Assistant Costumer

Jessica Barksdale

Set Painting

Tina Brock, Chris J. Kleckner, Carrie Ryan, Bob Schmidt

Box Office Wizardry

Eileen O’Brien

Photoshop Magic

Bill Brock

Photography

Johanna Austin / AustinArt.org)

Produced by arrangement with Dramatists Play Service, Inc.

 

The IRC’s 2013 season is made possible in part by generous grants from Wyncote Foundation, The Samuel S. Fels Fund, The Philadelphia Cultural Fund, The Charlotte Cushman Foundation, Ernst & Young, LCC and Plannerzone.

 

Playing time is approximately 75 minutes; there will be no intermission. 

 

*Member of Actors Equity Association

Reviews

The Castle (2013)

"IRC's excellent CASTLE gets the Kafkaesque to a K. Weird enough to please even the Weirdmeister."
Toby Zinman, The Philadelphia Inquirer

"The Castle is pure Kafka, and this Philly Fringe Festival entry, highly entertaining.”
Howard Shapiro, Newsworks

“…recognizes the absurdity of the mindless bureaucracy, meaningless protocol, and numbing totalitarian control…”
“...a ridiculously funny, chilling, and provocative show.”
Debra Miller, Phindie.com

Director's Notes

September, 2013

This play made me laugh and cry at the same time.

As a producer and director, The Castle contains the grandiosity of a sweeping period movie, the antics of a Buster Keaton film, the crazy characters out of a Daniel Handler (aka Lemony Snicket) story, and the all-too familiar frustrations of living in our overly complicated world: navigating bureaucracy and the challenges of communicating in the 21st century.  In short, a great recipe for an absurdist/existential story about a man and his simple mission to be understood and accepted by others, to be admitted into the circle he desires most.

Since June, the Villagers and designers working on The Castle have grappled with how to translate and illustrate the gargantuan themes Kafka poses.  For some of us, these issues resonated in our own lives as we weathered many personal challenges this summer.  It’s been a journey unlike any other in the 8 years the IRC has been in existence, and I believe I can say we are all better for having taken it.  I am beyond fortunate to be working with the creative people involved.  This group, most of whom you’ve seen in nearly every show the IRC has staged since 2006, are the definition of The Village People, and without their ongoing commitment, perseverance and support, my absurdist small theater fire would have been extinguished long ago.  It is the collective force and energy of everyone here, and many more in the audience, the sound booth and the wings that make it happen.

So here’s to making the journey, not giving up, persevering, standing up for your passion.

A stair not worn hollow by footsteps is, regarded from its own point of view, only a boring something made of wood.

--Franz Kafka

Well wishes,

Tina Brock
Producing Artistic Director