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Theatre Box presents ‘A Delicate Balance’ to inspire self-examination

Theatre Box presents ‘A Delicate Balance’ to inspire self-examination
Courtesy of Secret Theatre
By Julia Moro

The play reveals the unraveling marriage of Agnes and Tobias. Characters like Agnes’ alcoholic sister, who moved in and seems to never plan to leave, as well as lifelong friends Edna and Harry and their returning daughter Julia only further disrupt the peace.

Kate Lenzo, the director, said “the play looks at the fragile dynamic that can exist between family, friends and in this case, the unknown.”

Lenzo agrees that playwrights rarely focus on this sort of subject matter. “Albee is a bit of a unicorn in that respect.”

As the play intensifies, emotions are laid raw in the riveting drama that earned “A Delicate Balance” the Pulitzer Prize for drama in 1967 and a Tony nomination for best play.

“It’s a complicated and multi-layered concept, one not everyone would feel comfortable wrestling with,” Lenzo said. “Why is it important? Well, the audience gets a chance to experience the confusion that occurs in a family’s attempt to avoid loss, which as Albee demonstrates, only creates more pain and loss.”

Albee once said about the play, “If I wrote plays about everyone getting along terribly well, I don’t think anyone would want to see them… You have to show people things that aren’t working well… in the hope that people will make them work better.”

“A Delicate Balance” will be performed at 8 p.m. on Friday, July 27; Saturday, July 28; Friday, Aug. 3; and Saturday, Aug. 4, with 2 p.m. matinees scheduled for Sunday, July 29; and Sunday, Aug. 5. Tickets are $17 for adults, $13 for seniors ages 65 and older and $7 for children ages 18 and younger.

All the actors and crew are native Long Islanders who have volunteered their time and energy to the play.

“At the end of the day, we hope to inspire conversations and maybe a little introspection,” Lenzo said.

Reach reporter Julia Moro by e-mail at jmoro@cnglocal.com or by phone at (718) 260–4574.