A 20-year high school reunion. A man fantasizes about winning his old girlfriend back. What could possibly go right?
This is the setting for the play “The Pavilion,” being staged this month at the Malibu Playhouse. Written by playwright and former Malibu resident Craig Wright, “The Pavilion” has been nominated for the American Theatre Critics Association’s best new play award and a Drama Desk award for outstanding play.
The lead character in “The Pavilion” returns to his small-town high school with dreams of winning back the girlfriend he left behind after an unexpected pregnancy ended their relationship years earlier. Standing in the way of his mission are years of resentment and an entire village of characters (all played by a single virtuosic narrator). The momentum of space and time all converge on a single moment in one small town, according to the Malibu Playhouse.
Director Jeremy Skidmore said what he loves about the play is how it examines a midpoint in many lives. He said he thinks it will resonate with an audience.
“Ideas, hopes and dreams of what you thought life to be disappear when the noise is silenced,” Skidmore told The Malibu Times. “You’re often left with a clarity about something that has been in front of you your whole life.”
The play is dream-like in tone and examines the universal themes of regret and melancholy with the passage of time while peppered with humor, so it “goes down easy,” according to the playwright.
Calling Malibu “a retreat for dreamers of various types,” the Emmy-nominated Wright shared that he believes “The Pavilion” is “a good fit for the audience there.”
At 50 years old, Wright is riding a career high at the moment. Along with being a successful playwright, he has written and developed a slew of hit television shows. He’s best known as a writer on “Six Feet Under,” “Lost” and “Brothers and Sisters.” He created and executive-produced the recent show “Dirty Sexy Money” on ABC and wrote the screenplay for “Mr. Peabody and Sherman.”
But it’s a new TV show that he helmed that’s about to receive a lot of buzz. It’s called “Greenleaf” and it will be premiering on the Oprah Winfrey Network in June. After a deal with Tyler Perry, this is Oprah’s first commissioned original scripted series.
“Greenleaf” is about a predominantly African-American megachurch in Memphis, Tenn., and the scandals and secrets of its leaders and members. The series stars Lynn Whitfield, Merle Dandridge and Keith David. Thirteen one-hour episodes have been completed, and Wright is hopeful it will be successful enough for more.
As “Greenleaf” starts airing in June, Wright will be spending time in Costa Mesa. The prestigious South Coast Repertory Theater will be work-shopping a play it commissioned from him called “The Tailor.” The play is about the relationship between a hit man and the man who makes his suits.
“The Pavilion” begins previews April 28 at the Malibu Playhouse, with opening night April 30. It will run through May 22.
Wright said he hopes to see it performed a few times at least.
“I’m always excited for the chance to see productions of my plays close to home, just for the chance to experience that Malibu feeling after so many years,” he shared.
As directed by Jeremy Skidmore, Wright said he’s confident Malibu “will see a great production.”
For more information or to purchase tickets, visit malibuplayhouse.org.
