Underneath the Lintel
Encyclopedia
Underneath the Lintel is a play
by Glen Berger
that premièred in 2001. The sole character—the Librarian—embarks on a quest to find out who anonymously returned a library book that is 113 years overdue. A clue scribbled in the margin of the book and an unclaimed dry-cleaning ticket then take him on a mysterious adventure that spans the globe and the ages.
The Librarian then opens his suitcase and begins to show the audience what he calls his "scraps": pieces of evidence each marked with numbered tags that provide evidence of a person whose identity is gradually revealed over the course of the play.
He starts with a copy of a Baedeker
travel guide that was anonymously returned 113 years overdue to the library in the small Dutch town where he used to work. Tracking down the loan records of the book, he finds that the book was borrowed by one "A." who provided a post office box as his address. Inside the book, he finds a 73-year-old dry-cleaning ticket for an unclaimed piece of clothing in a London laundry shop. Intrigued, he takes leave from work to visit London. He finds that the laundry shop is still in business and, using the ticket, redeems a pair of trousers that has not been cleaned because of its poor condition.
Eventually, the audience learns that the person to whom all of the Librarian's items relate may be Ahasuerus
the Wandering Jew
, a mythical
figure from medieval Christian folklore
.
by The Actors' Gang
theatre company. Brent Hinkley
directed and Brian T. Finney played the Librarian. It was produced later that same year in New York
at the Soho Playhouse. Scott Morfee, Tom Wirtshafter and Dana Matthow were the producers, with Randy White directing. The play ran for 450 performances, and was voted among the Top Ten Plays of the Year by Time Out NY magazine. T. Ryder Smith
played the Librarian, and received a Drama Desk Award
nomination that year as Outstanding Solo Performer.
The Canadian premiere was produced in Edmonton
by Shadow Theatre in 2002. The play received an Elizabeth Sterling Haynes Award
as the outstanding production of the year, as well as awards for actor Andy Curtis and director James DeFelice.
The Seattle premiere was at the Empty Space Theatre in March 2003 starring Todd Jefferson Moore.
The East Coast premier was at Round House Theatre
in July 2003 directed by Jane Beard starring Jerry Whiddon.
Orlando Theatre Project
presented the US southeastern premiere of this play in May 2004, featuring Kristian Truelsen as the Librarian and directed by Doug Truelsen. The play received a 2005 production at the George Street Playhouse
in New Brunswick, New Jersey
, with US actor Richard Schiff
as the Librarian. It was then staged again at Indiana Repertory Theatre
in Indianapolis
, Indiana
, between 21 March and 6 May 2006. Robert K Johansen played The Librarian, directed by John Green.
First Presbyterian Theater of Fort Wayne, Indiana produced "Lintel" at the end of its 2005-2006 season in July 2006 with Joel D. Scribner as the Librarian, directed by Thom Hofrichter.
The Irish premiere was produced by Landmark Productions in September 2006 as part of the Dublin Fringe Festival
, directed by Joshua Edelman and starring Philip O'Sullivan, receiving nominations for Best Production and Best Male Performer in the festival.
The production subsequently played at the Assembly Rooms
as part of the 2010 Edinburgh Fringe Festival.
Schiff reprised the role at the Duchess Theatre
in London
's West End
from 7 February to 31 March 2007. This production was directed by Maria Mileaf
. A radio version of the play, performed by Richard Schiff, was broadcast by BBC Radio 4
on 5 January 2008.
The eastern Canadian premiere of the play opened at the 2007 Fringe Festival of Toronto
at the Factory Theatre
in July 2007. The performance was produced by the Book Productions and Celeste Sansregret and starred Canadian actor John D. Huston as the Librarian.
Play (theatre)
A play is a form of literature written by a playwright, usually consisting of scripted dialogue between characters, intended for theatrical performance rather than just reading. There are rare dramatists, notably George Bernard Shaw, who have had little preference whether their plays were performed...
by Glen Berger
Glen Berger
Glen Berger is an American playwright.Berger has received commissions from the Children’s Theater of Minneapolis, Berkeley Repertory Theatre, the Alley Theatre, and the Lookingglass Theater...
that premièred in 2001. The sole character—the Librarian—embarks on a quest to find out who anonymously returned a library book that is 113 years overdue. A clue scribbled in the margin of the book and an unclaimed dry-cleaning ticket then take him on a mysterious adventure that spans the globe and the ages.
Plot synopsis
The play begins with the Librarian appearing on stage, which is sparsely furnished with a whiteboard and marker pens, a magnetic bulletin board, and a table. The Librarian carries with him a battered suitcase. He informs the audience that he is giving a lecture for only one day about a discovery he has made.The Librarian then opens his suitcase and begins to show the audience what he calls his "scraps": pieces of evidence each marked with numbered tags that provide evidence of a person whose identity is gradually revealed over the course of the play.
He starts with a copy of a Baedeker
Baedeker
Verlag Karl Baedeker is a Germany-based publisher and pioneer in the business of worldwide travel guides. The guides, often referred as simply "Baedekers" , contain important introductions, descriptions of buildings, of museum collections, etc., written by the best specialists, and...
travel guide that was anonymously returned 113 years overdue to the library in the small Dutch town where he used to work. Tracking down the loan records of the book, he finds that the book was borrowed by one "A." who provided a post office box as his address. Inside the book, he finds a 73-year-old dry-cleaning ticket for an unclaimed piece of clothing in a London laundry shop. Intrigued, he takes leave from work to visit London. He finds that the laundry shop is still in business and, using the ticket, redeems a pair of trousers that has not been cleaned because of its poor condition.
Eventually, the audience learns that the person to whom all of the Librarian's items relate may be Ahasuerus
Ahasuerus
Ahasuerus is a name used several times in the Hebrew Bible, as well as related legends and Apocrypha. This name is applied in the Hebrew Scriptures to three rulers...
the Wandering Jew
Wandering Jew
The Wandering Jew is a figure from medieval Christian folklore whose legend began to spread in Europe in the 13th century. The original legend concerns a Jew who taunted Jesus on the way to the Crucifixion and was then cursed to walk the earth until the Second Coming...
, a mythical
Mythology
The term mythology can refer either to the study of myths, or to a body or collection of myths. As examples, comparative mythology is the study of connections between myths from different cultures, whereas Greek mythology is the body of myths from ancient Greece...
figure from medieval Christian folklore
Christian mythology
Christian mythology is the body of myths associated with Christianity. In the study of mythology, the term "myth" refers to a traditional story, often one which is regarded as sacred and which explains how the world and its inhabitants came to have their present form.Classicist G.S. Kirk defines a...
.
Production history
Underneath the Lintel was first produced in 2001 in Los AngelesLos Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
by The Actors' Gang
The Actors' Gang
The Actors' Gang is an experimental theatre group based in Los Angeles, California. It was founded in 1981 by a group of actors, including Tim Robbins, now a member of the board and Artistic Director of the troupe. The group states its mission is "to create bold, original works for the stage and...
theatre company. Brent Hinkley
Brent Hinkley
Brent Hinkley is an American actor, director, and playwright. He is best known for his role as "Lou" the sidler in the Seinfeld episode The Merv Griffin Show, Officer Murray in The Silence of the Lambs, and Conrad Brooks in Ed Wood.-Filmography:Film credits include:-External links:* * * *...
directed and Brian T. Finney played the Librarian. It was produced later that same year in New York
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
at the Soho Playhouse. Scott Morfee, Tom Wirtshafter and Dana Matthow were the producers, with Randy White directing. The play ran for 450 performances, and was voted among the Top Ten Plays of the Year by Time Out NY magazine. T. Ryder Smith
T. Ryder Smith
T. Ryder Smith is an American actor. A native of New York state and long-time resident of New York City, he has appeared frequently on stage, particularly in avant-garde theatre works, and in film, sometimes as a voice actor.-Stage:...
played the Librarian, and received a Drama Desk Award
Drama Desk Award
The Drama Desk Awards, which are given annually in a number of categories, are the only major New York theater honors for which productions on Broadway, Off-Broadway, Off-Off-Broadway compete against each other in the same category...
nomination that year as Outstanding Solo Performer.
The Canadian premiere was produced in Edmonton
Edmonton
Edmonton is the capital of the Canadian province of Alberta and is the province's second-largest city. Edmonton is located on the North Saskatchewan River and is the centre of the Edmonton Capital Region, which is surrounded by the central region of the province.The city and its census...
by Shadow Theatre in 2002. The play received an Elizabeth Sterling Haynes Award
Elizabeth Sterling Haynes Award
The Elizabeth Sterling Haynes Award is a local Edmonton, Alberta award presented annually which honours excellence in theatre...
as the outstanding production of the year, as well as awards for actor Andy Curtis and director James DeFelice.
The Seattle premiere was at the Empty Space Theatre in March 2003 starring Todd Jefferson Moore.
The East Coast premier was at Round House Theatre
Round House Theatre
The Round House Theatre is a non-profit theater production company with venues in Bethesda, Maryland and Silver Spring, Maryland.-Theatre history:...
in July 2003 directed by Jane Beard starring Jerry Whiddon.
Orlando Theatre Project
Orlando Theatre Project
The Orlando Theatre Project is a nonprofit professional theatre company based in Sanford, Florida, near Orlando. The company was founded in 1985 and operates under an Actors' Equity Association contract....
presented the US southeastern premiere of this play in May 2004, featuring Kristian Truelsen as the Librarian and directed by Doug Truelsen. The play received a 2005 production at the George Street Playhouse
George Street Playhouse
George Street Playhouse is a theatre in New Brunswick, New Jersey, one of the state's preeminent professional theatres committed to the production of new and established plays....
in New Brunswick, New Jersey
New Brunswick, New Jersey
New Brunswick is a city in Middlesex County, New Jersey, USA. It is the county seat and the home of Rutgers University. The city is located on the Northeast Corridor rail line, southwest of Manhattan, on the southern bank of the Raritan River. At the 2010 United States Census, the population of...
, with US actor Richard Schiff
Richard Schiff
Richard Schiff is an American actor. He is best known for playing Toby Ziegler on the NBC television drama The West Wing, a role for which he received an Emmy Award...
as the Librarian. It was then staged again at Indiana Repertory Theatre
Indiana Repertory Theatre
-History:Indiana Repertory Theatre, frequently abbreviated IRT, is a theatre in Indianapolis, Indiana that began as a genuine repertory theatre with its casts performing in multiple shows at once. It has subsequently become a regional theatre and a member of the League of Resident Theatres...
in Indianapolis
Indianapolis
Indianapolis is the capital of the U.S. state of Indiana, and the county seat of Marion County, Indiana. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city's population is 839,489. It is by far Indiana's largest city and, as of the 2010 U.S...
, Indiana
Indiana
Indiana is a US state, admitted to the United States as the 19th on December 11, 1816. It is located in the Midwestern United States and Great Lakes Region. With 6,483,802 residents, the state is ranked 15th in population and 16th in population density. Indiana is ranked 38th in land area and is...
, between 21 March and 6 May 2006. Robert K Johansen played The Librarian, directed by John Green.
First Presbyterian Theater of Fort Wayne, Indiana produced "Lintel" at the end of its 2005-2006 season in July 2006 with Joel D. Scribner as the Librarian, directed by Thom Hofrichter.
The Irish premiere was produced by Landmark Productions in September 2006 as part of the Dublin Fringe Festival
Dublin Fringe Festival
The Dublin Fringe Festival allows artists to develop and present their work by submitting their application which is subsequently reviewed by the programme manager. The festival is open to both Irish and international participants....
, directed by Joshua Edelman and starring Philip O'Sullivan, receiving nominations for Best Production and Best Male Performer in the festival.
The production subsequently played at the Assembly Rooms
Assembly rooms
In Great Britain and Ireland, especially in the 18th and 19th centuries, assembly rooms were gathering places for members of the higher social classes open to members of both sexes. At that time most entertaining was done at home and there were few public places of entertainment open to both sexes...
as part of the 2010 Edinburgh Fringe Festival.
Schiff reprised the role at the Duchess Theatre
Duchess Theatre
The Duchess Theatre is a West End theatre in the City of Westminster, London, located in Catherine Street, near Aldwych.The theatre opened on 25 November 1929 and is one of the smallest 'proscenium arched' West End theatres. It has 479 seats on two levels....
in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
's West End
West End theatre
West End theatre is a popular term for mainstream professional theatre staged in the large theatres of London's 'Theatreland', the West End. Along with New York's Broadway theatre, West End theatre is usually considered to represent the highest level of commercial theatre in the English speaking...
from 7 February to 31 March 2007. This production was directed by Maria Mileaf
Maria Mileaf
Maria Mileaf is an award winning American theater director.She is best known for her work on new plays.Mileaf received a BA from Yale College and received an MFA from UCSD...
. A radio version of the play, performed by Richard Schiff, was broadcast by BBC Radio 4
BBC Radio 4
BBC Radio 4 is a British domestic radio station, operated and owned by the BBC, that broadcasts a wide variety of spoken-word programmes, including news, drama, comedy, science and history. It replaced the BBC Home Service in 1967. The station controller is currently Gwyneth Williams, and the...
on 5 January 2008.
The eastern Canadian premiere of the play opened at the 2007 Fringe Festival of Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
at the Factory Theatre
Factory Theatre
Factory Theatre is a theatre in Toronto, Ontario, founded as Factory Theatre Lab in 1970 by Ken Gass and Frank Trotz.Factory was the first theatre to announce that it would exclusively produce Canadian plays, but it soon became a widely emulated policy by other theatre companies...
in July 2007. The performance was produced by the Book Productions and Celeste Sansregret and starred Canadian actor John D. Huston as the Librarian.