The Baltimore Waltz
Encyclopedia
The Baltimore Waltz is a play by Paula Vogel
.
Essentially a series of comic vignette
s underlined by tragedy, the farce
traces the Europe
an odyssey of sister and brother Anna and Carl, in search of hedonistic pleasure and a cure for her terminal illness, the fictitious ATD (Acquired Toilet Disease) she contracted by using the bathrooms at the elementary school where she teaches.
Knowing her life is nearing its end, Anna is driven by a lust
that compels her to have casual sex with as many men as possible during their travels, a passion shared by her gay
brother. Assisting the pair is the mysterious Third Man
, a reference to the classic suspense film starring Joseph Cotten
and Orson Welles
, to which Vogel frequently alludes in detail.
The play was Vogel's response to the 1988 death of her brother Carl, who died from complications due to AIDS
before they were able to enjoy a long planned European vacation.
The Baltimore Waltz was first shown as a workshop at the Perseverance Theatre (Molly D. Smith, artistic director; Deborah B. Baley, producing director) in Douglas, Alaska, in October, 1990.
The Baltimore Waltz was first produced as at the Circle Repertory Company (Tanya Berezin, artistic director) in New York City, in February 1992. It was directed by Anne Bogart
, with Cherry Jones
as Anna, Richard Thompson as Carl and Joe Mantello
as the Third Man. Set Design was by Loy Arcenas, costumes by Walker Hincklin, lighting by Dennis Parichy
ans sound score by John Gromada
. Denise Yaney was the stage manager and Ronn Smith the dramaturg.1
Obie Award
s went to Vogel for Best New American Play, Jones for Best Performance, and Bogart for Best Direction.
The following year it was staged by the Yale Repertory Theater. By then it had become one of the most popular plays for regional theatre
s throughout the country http://theater2.nytimes.com/mem/theater/treview.html?res=9F0CEED71239F935A25756C0A965958260.
An off-Broadway revival produced by the Signature Theatre Company and directed by Mark Brokaw opened on December 5, 2004 at the Peter Norton Space, where it ran for slightly more than a month. The cast was Kristen Johnston
as Anna, David Marshall Grant
as Carl, and Jeremy Webb as the Third Man.
Paula Vogel
Paula Vogel is an American playwright and university professor. She received the 1998 Pulitzer Prize for Drama for her play, How I Learned to Drive.-Early years:...
.
Essentially a series of comic vignette
Vignette (literature)
In theatrical script writing, sketch stories, and poetry, a vignette is a short impressionistic scene that focuses on one moment or gives a trenchant impression about a character, an idea, or a setting and sometimes an object...
s underlined by tragedy, the farce
Farce
In theatre, a farce is a comedy which aims at entertaining the audience by means of unlikely, extravagant, and improbable situations, disguise and mistaken identity, verbal humour of varying degrees of sophistication, which may include word play, and a fast-paced plot whose speed usually increases,...
traces the Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
an odyssey of sister and brother Anna and Carl, in search of hedonistic pleasure and a cure for her terminal illness, the fictitious ATD (Acquired Toilet Disease) she contracted by using the bathrooms at the elementary school where she teaches.
Knowing her life is nearing its end, Anna is driven by a lust
Lust
Lust is an emotional force that is directly associated with the thinking or fantasizing about one's desire, usually in a sexual way.-Etymology:The word lust is phonetically similar to the ancient Roman lustrum, which literally meant "purification"...
that compels her to have casual sex with as many men as possible during their travels, a passion shared by her gay
Gay
Gay is a word that refers to a homosexual person, especially a homosexual male. For homosexual women the specific term is "lesbian"....
brother. Assisting the pair is the mysterious Third Man
The Third Man
The Third Man is a 1949 British film noir, directed by Carol Reed and starring Joseph Cotten, Alida Valli, Orson Welles, and Trevor Howard. Many critics rank it as a masterpiece, particularly remembered for its atmospheric cinematography, performances, and unique musical score...
, a reference to the classic suspense film starring Joseph Cotten
Joseph Cotten
Joseph Cheshire Cotten was an American actor of stage and film. Cotten achieved prominence on Broadway, starring in the original productions of The Philadelphia Story and Sabrina Fair...
and Orson Welles
Orson Welles
George Orson Welles , best known as Orson Welles, was an American film director, actor, theatre director, screenwriter, and producer, who worked extensively in film, theatre, television and radio...
, to which Vogel frequently alludes in detail.
The play was Vogel's response to the 1988 death of her brother Carl, who died from complications due to AIDS
AIDS
Acquired immune deficiency syndrome or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome is a disease of the human immune system caused by the human immunodeficiency virus...
before they were able to enjoy a long planned European vacation.
The Baltimore Waltz was first shown as a workshop at the Perseverance Theatre (Molly D. Smith, artistic director; Deborah B. Baley, producing director) in Douglas, Alaska, in October, 1990.
The Baltimore Waltz was first produced as at the Circle Repertory Company (Tanya Berezin, artistic director) in New York City, in February 1992. It was directed by Anne Bogart
Anne Bogart
-Biography:She earned her Bachelor of Arts degree from Bard College in 1974, followed by a Master of Arts degree from New York University's Tisch School of the Arts in 1977. She served as Artistic Director of the Trinity Repertory Company for its 1989-90 season...
, with Cherry Jones
Cherry Jones
Cherry Jones is an American actress and recipient of the 2009 Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress – Drama Series and the 2005 Tony Award for Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Play.-Career:...
as Anna, Richard Thompson as Carl and Joe Mantello
Joe Mantello
Joseph Mantello is an American actor and director best known for his work on Broadway productions of Wicked, Take Me Out and Assassins, as well as earlier in his career being one of the original Broadway cast of Angels in America...
as the Third Man. Set Design was by Loy Arcenas, costumes by Walker Hincklin, lighting by Dennis Parichy
Dennis Parichy
Dennis Parichy is an award-winning American lighting designer. Parichy has designed lights for more than 15 Broadway productions since 1976, including: The Price, The Tenth Man, Coastal Disturbances, Penn & Teller, Burn This, The Nerd, As Is, Angels Fall, The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas, Duet...
ans sound score by John Gromada
John Gromada
John Gromada is a prolific, award-winning composer and sound designer. He is best known for his many scores for theatrical productions in New York on and off-Broadway and in regional theatres...
. Denise Yaney was the stage manager and Ronn Smith the dramaturg.1
Obie Award
Obie Award
The Obie Awards or Off-Broadway Theater Awards are annual awards given by The Village Voice newspaper to theatre artists and groups in New York City...
s went to Vogel for Best New American Play, Jones for Best Performance, and Bogart for Best Direction.
The following year it was staged by the Yale Repertory Theater. By then it had become one of the most popular plays for regional theatre
Regional theatre in the United States
Regional theaters, or resident theaters, in the United States are professional or semi-professional, theater companies that produce their own seasons. The term regional theatre most often refers to professional theatres outside of New York City...
s throughout the country http://theater2.nytimes.com/mem/theater/treview.html?res=9F0CEED71239F935A25756C0A965958260.
An off-Broadway revival produced by the Signature Theatre Company and directed by Mark Brokaw opened on December 5, 2004 at the Peter Norton Space, where it ran for slightly more than a month. The cast was Kristen Johnston
Kristen Johnston
Kristen Johnston is an American stage, film, and television actress. She may be most famous for her role as Sally Solomon in the television series 3rd Rock from the Sun...
as Anna, David Marshall Grant
David Marshall Grant
David Marshall Grant is an American actor and playwright.-Life and career:Grant was born in Westport, Connecticut, to physician parents...
as Carl, and Jeremy Webb as the Third Man.