The Humans (play)

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The Humans
Written by Stephen Karam
Characters Erik
Deirdre
Richard
Fiona "Momo" Blake
Aimee
Brigid
Date premiered September 30, 2015 (2015-09-30)
Place premiered Roundabout Theatre Company - Laura Pels Theatre
Original language English
Subject Family
Setting An apartment in lower Manhattan
Official site

The Humans is a play written by Stephen Karam. The play opened on Broadway in 2016 after an engagement Off-Broadway in 2015. The Humans was a finalist for the 2016 Pulitzer Prize for Drama.

Productions

The play had its world premiere at the American Theater Company, Chicago, Illinois in November 2014, directed by PJ Paparelli. Chris Jones, in his review for the Chicago Tribune, wrote: "kind, warm, beautifully observed and deeply moving new play, a celebration of working-class familial imperfection and affection and a game-changing work for this gifted young playwright."[1]

The Humans opened Off-Broadway at the Laura Pels Theatre on September 30, 2015 in previews, and officially on October 25, 2015 in a limited run produced by the Roundabout Theatre Company with positive reviews and ran until January 3, 2016.[2] It transferred to Broadway to the Helen Hayes Theatre, opening on February 18, 2016.

Directed by Joe Mantello, the Off-Broadway cast featured Cassie Beck (Aimee), Reed Birney (Erik), Jayne Houdyshell (Deirdre), Lauren Klein (Fiona "Momo" Blake), Arian Moayed (Richard), and Sarah Steele (Brigid). The Off-Broadway cast moved to Broadway.[3][4][5]

Synopsis

At Thanksgiving, the Blake family gathers at the run-down Manhattan apartment in Chinatown of Brigid Blake and her boyfriend Richard. Brigid's parents, Erik Blake and Deirdre Blake, arrive from their home in Scranton, Pennsylvania to have dinner with Brigid, Richard and Aimee, their other adult daughter. Bridget is a musician and Aimee is a lawyer, living in Philadelphia. Aimee has recently broken up with her girlfriend and has developed an intestinal ailment. Also present is Erik's mother Fiona "Momo", who has Alzheimer's Disease. The parents are unhappy that their daughters have left home and have abandoned their religion. The family members must deal with "aging, illness, and a changing economy".[6]

Critical response

In his review of the Broadway production in The New York Times, Charles Isherwood called it "finest new play of the Broadway season so far.." and praised the cast, direction, and the set, "...that perfectly captures the unsettled atmosphere the writing so deftly establishes."[7]

Jesse Green, reviewing the Broadway production for Vulture, wrote: "With its irrational layout and strange, sickening noises, the apartment, as the stage directions put it, is “effortlessly uncanny,” as is the play itself... It is still the most, well, human play I’ve ever seen about fear and disappointment and the attachments that transcend them."[8]

Awards and nominations

The play was named as a finalist for the 2016 Pulitzer Prize for Drama. The Pulitzer committee said of the play: "A profoundly affecting drama that sketches the psychological and emotional contours of an average American family."[9]

The play received six 2016 Lucille Lortel Award nominations: Outstanding Lead Actress in a Play, Jayne Houdyshell; Outstanding Lead Actor in a Play, Reed Birney; Outstanding Featured Actress in a Play, Lauren Klein; Outstanding Scenic Design, David Zinn; Outstanding Lighting Design, Justin Townsend; and Outstanding Sound Design, Fitz Patton.[10][11]

The play received four 2016 Outer Critics Circle Award nominations: Outstanding New Broadway Play; Outstanding Director Of a Play; Outstanding Actor in a Play, Reed Birney; and Outstanding Actress in a Play, Jayne Houdyshell.[12] The play won for Outstanding New Broadway Play.[13]

The play was nominated for the 2016 Drama League Awards in the following categories: Outstanding Production of a Broadway or Off-Broadway Play; Distinguished Performance Award - Reed Birney and Jayne Houdyshell.[14] The play won for Outstanding Production of a Play.[15]

The Humans received four 2016 Drama Desk Award nominations: Outstanding Play; Outstanding Director of a Play; Outstanding Lighting Design for a Play (Justin Townsend); and Outstanding Sound Design in a Play (Fitz Patton). The play also received a Special Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Ensemble.[16]

The play was nominated for the 2016 Tony Awards for: Best Play, the Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Role in a Play (Reed Birney), Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Play (Jayne Houdyshell), Best Scenic Design of a Play (David Zinn), Best Lighting Design of a Play (Justin Townsend) and Best Direction of a Play.[17]

The Humans received the New York Drama Critics Circle Best Play award for 2016.[18][19]

The play received 2016 Obie Awards for Playwriting for Steven Karam and Performance for Jayne Houdyshell.[20]

References

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External links

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