The Correspondent – Location, Tickets, Reviews
The Correspondent, a new play by Ken Urban at Rattlestick Playwrights Theater, opens with Philip Graves (Thomas Jay Ryan) mourning the death of his wife of 25 years. He drinks heavily as he picks apart their final moments, wallowing in regret. In desperation he hires a terminally ill young woman named Mirabel (Heather Alicia Simms), who says she will carry a message to Philip’s wife once she herself crosses over.
The next day, Philip finds a written reply to the message he sent on his doorstep. It appears to be from his wife. It’s in her handwriting and it details events that only she could know. As The Correspondent unfolds, and the letters pile up, Philip tries to discover if his wife is actually communing with him from the beyond the grave or if he’s the victim of an elaborate con.
Note, The Correspondent contains nudity.
Maxamoo
Whether you read the play’s the synopsis or not, The Correspondent will defy your expectations. Urban springs many twists on the audience and even those well-versed in the craft of whodunnit will be surprised in the end. The mystery of Phil’s letters is seriously suspenseful.
We imagine that The Correspondent will divide audiences – some will find the twists spellbinding, while others may find them preposterous. We’re somewhere in between. We were suspicious of a few choices, but we weren’t bored. This is one of those shows sure to generate passionate discussion over after-show drinks and for that reason we think it’s a great option for taking a date or friend who likes their theater on the spooky side.
Public Opinion
At the performance we caught, folks were gasping at the reveals and the post-show sidewalk discussion was some of the most animated we’ve heard in a while, lots of “WHAT…JUST…HAPPENED?!” And we wholeheartedly agree with this tweet:
@mdkarp: “@mainloop74 @RattlestickNY Best closing line ever. #Correspondent #Rattlestick“
Critics’ Reviews
As predicted, The Correspondent is dividing critics, with some finding it obnoxiously far-fetched but a few praised the play’s thriller mechanics.
Time Out New York
Urban offers a stormy look at desire beyond the grave.
TheaterMania
Ken Urban’s spine-tingling new play will haunt your dreams
New York Daily News
Ken Urban’s thriller tries to explore the scary reaches of a guilty mind, but doesn’t get too far, mainly because it’s far-fetched.
Entertainment Weekly
Ken Urban’s The Correspondent, a spooky but curiously unsatisfying mélange of ghost story tropes with some modern, androgynous tweaking, plays like a pervier version of the 1990 film Ghost.
New York Post
“The Correspondent” doesn’t deliver.
TICKETS
$55.00 Regular, $15.00 if you’re under 30, $10 for students (click here for tickets)
DATES
Performances through March 16, 2014
LOCATION
Rattlestick Playwrights Theater
224 Waverly Place
New York City
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RUNNING TIME
1 hour and 30 minutes, no intermission (SPECIAL NOTE: The restroom at Rattlestick is onstage and is inaccessible during performances)
CAST & CREW
(partial list)
Written by Ken Urban
Directed by Stephen Brackett
Featuring Thomas Jay Ryan, Heather Alicia Simms & Jordan Geiger