Ouroboros
Description
Two American couples get caught in a chronological palindrome on a trip to Italy. Stigmata, alchemy, adultery, and St. Catherine of Siena’s severed head plague a nun and a minister in this circular love story that is a comedy if performed forward and a tragedy if performed backward.
Production Info
Full Length Comedy (about 100 minutes)
Single Set
Contemporary Costumes
Press Quotes
“Critic’s choice … Either direction’s a rewarding trip, the reversible OUROBOROS provides two distinctive experiences. Only the most skillful and meticulous construction could allow Tom Jacobson’s love story involving the repeatedly intersecting spiritual quests of two American couples — each traveling through time in the opposite direction — to be performed in either of two chronological sequences (a circular construction reflected in the title reference to the mythical snake that devours its own tail). Jacobson considers the piece played one way a comedy and a tragedy when played in reverse, these labels apply only in the classical sense, depending on whether the conclusion is happy or not … this witty, moving narrative palindrome!” —Los Angeles Times
“Critic’s pick … You must experience this play. Or is it plays? Tom Jacobson’s world premiere follows two unrelated couples, visiting five Italian cities, who are trapped in a hellish collision of fate as they live out cross-referenced realities. This mixture of déjà vu and shocking Twilight Zone-like inevitability results in a five-scene time continuum captivatingly performed in reverse order … Seen together or alone, this is a thought-provoking pair of hits!” —Backstage West
“Recommended … Tom Jacobson’s enchanting metaphysical etude.” —L A Weekly
“Three stars … Either way you happen to slice, twist or pretzel it, OUROBOROS is riveting … As intelligent and thought-provoking as it is entertaining!” —Daily News
“Wow! This innovative play is a stunner that renders its audience baffled and rewardingly exhausted throughout and for long after curtain call. I’ve never seen anything like it! A powerfully mesmerizing trip into the unknown, and a wildly worthy night of theatre that challenges your imagination, it keeps your psyche hopping! Captivatingly written by Tom Jacobson, this is complicates, eerie, heady stuff!” —The Tolucan Times
“Pick of the week … OUROBOROS … is one of the best productions to hit L A this season. Tom Jacobson’s mysterious and intellectually challenging new puzzle featuring two plays in one … this quickly blossoming and Los Angeles nurtured playwright, someone who will soon be universally recognized, in a perfect world where things happen as they should and in ascending order!” —Entertainment Today
Author
Tom JacobsonTom Jacobson has had more than 80 productions of his plays, including SPERM at Circle X Theatre Company, THE ORANGE GROVE at Playwrights Arena, and the award-winning BUNBURY, TAINTED BLOOD, OUROBOROS and THE FRIENDLY HOUR at The Road Theatre Company. THE TWENTIETH-CENTURY WAY premiered at The Theatre @ Boston Court and the New York International Fringe Festival (five Ovation Award nominations, four Los Angeles Drama Critics' Circle nominations, one GLAAD Award nomination, Fringe Festival Award for Outstanding Production of a Play, PEN Center Award for Drama) and moved Off Broadway to Rattlestick Playwrights Theatre. MAKING PARADISE: THE WEST HOLLYWOOD MUSICAL was produced by Cornerstone Theater Company (Critic's Choice in Back Stage West). He has been a co-literary manager of The Theatre @ Boston Court, a founding member of Playwrights Ink, and a board member of Cornerstone Theater Company and The Theatre @ Boston Court. Most recent productions include the world premieres of THE CHINESE MASSACRE (ANNOTATED) at Circle X and HOUSE OF THE RISING SON at Ensemble Studio Theatre-LA (Critic's Choice in Back Stage West and Los Angeles Times, nominated for a GLAAD Award and winner of two Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle Awards). Film: PRAIRIE SONATA (based on THE FRIENDLY HOUR). Opera: HOPSCOTCH, commissioned by The Industry.
Book Information
| Publisher | BPPI |
|---|---|
| Publication Date | 1/1/2009 |
| Pages | 80 |
| ISBN | 9780881454192 |
Special Notes
First produced by The Road Company, North Hollywood
by special arrangement with Broadway Play Publishing Inc, NYC
www.broadwayplaypublishing.com
