CURTAIN SET TO RISE ON BLACK COMEDY OF BAD MANNERS

The curtain is set to rise at a Chester venue on a production of an award-winning black comedy by a celebrated American playwright.

Following the success of brand new comedy 'Frank', in March, theatre company Against The Grain will stage 'A Delicate Balance' by Edward Albee at St Mary's Creative Space in Chester from Tuesday 8^th July to Saturday 12^th July at 7.30pm The play will be directed for Against The Grain by Mark Newman. 

Described as a black comedy of bad manners 'A Delicate Balance' is Albee’s follow-up to his best known work, 'Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?' The play premiered in 1966 winning several awards including a Tony award and the Pulitzer Prize for Drama in 1967.

Combining frequent unexpected moments of humour with vicious dialogue and constant dramatic tension, 'A Delicate Balance' is set in a typical middle-class American suburb. The play transports the audience into the home of wealthy, middle-aged couple Agnes and Tobias who have their complacency shattered when Harry and Edna, longtime friends, appear at their doorstep. Claiming an encroaching, nameless “fear” has forced them from their own home, these neighbours bring a firestorm of doubt, recrimination and ultimately solace, upsetting the “delicate balance” of Agnes and Tobias’ household.  The presence of Agnes’ alcoholic sister, Claire, and subsequent, unexpected appearance of their much-divorced daughter, Julia, only adds further heat to the situation an this volatile mixture soon comes to the boil.

The production at St Mary's Creative Space will feature Marian Newman (Agnes of God, Hansard, Frank) as Agnes, Simon Phillips (Deathtrap, Someone Who’ll Watch Over Me) as Tobias, Fiona Wheatcroft (Roleplay, Curtains,) as Claire, Laura Smith (Agnes of God, Curtains, Frank) as Julia, Stuart Evans (Someone Who’ll Watch Over Me, Curtains, Frank) as Harry and making her Against The Grain debut, Sally Dillon as Edna.

Speaking about Against The Grain's production of 'A Delicate Balance', Mark Newman said:

"The play is an incendiary mix of domestic discomfort, unforeseen twists, volatile and unpredictable characters with dubious backgrounds and - often - unexpected laughs. We've had a lot of fun bringing the characters to life and we've found there's so much fun to be had with them and the script. Albee was an important writer and some regard 'A Delicate Balance' as his best play, superior even to 'Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf". It's certainly one we're looking forward to sharing with our audience."

Full details of "A Delicate Balance" can be found at: 

www.ticketsource.co.uk/against-the-grain 

...where tickets can be booked online.