Staged Reading of ‘The Tragedy of the Commons’

Cygnet Theatre presents the San Diego premiere staged-reading of acclaimed writer Stephen Metcalfe’s The Tragedy of the Commons.

The Tragedy of the Commons is presented one night only at 7:30 p.m. on Monday, Dec. 7 at Cygnet’s Old Town Theatre. A wine and appetizer meet-and-greet precedes the reading, and a talk-back with the cast and playwright, Stephen Metcalfe, immediately follows the reading.

“We were incredibly excited when Stephen reached out to Cygnet,” said Associate Artistic Director Francis Gercke. “We have been looking to collaborate with playwrights of his caliber and reputation and bring some original works to our stage. We are thrilled to be asked to present Stephen’s latest draft of this play to its very first audience.” Gercke and Metcalfe met several times to discuss The Tragedy of the Commons, as well as casting ideas and an agreeable date to stage a reading.

Dakin Adams, a retired school teacher, spends his days writing and sending his thoughts – his blogs – out into the void that is the internet. His wife, Macy, walks the dogs and gardens. It would seem the only thing they have in common anymore is their home and their memories and their love of “the view”- the Pacific Ocean as seen from the back deck of the house. But now their neighbor is selling and the new owner is coming in to tear down and rebuild – build “up” – and the view, and the fragile relationship of two people is in ever increasing jeopardy.

Stephen Metcalfe is an accomplished writer of stage, television and screen. His first produced screenplay was Jacknife, based on his Off-Broadway play Strange Snow. The film starred Robert DeNiro and Ed Harris and was directed by British stage and screen veteran, David Jones. He adapted screen-plays for Paramount’s Cousins (with Ted Danson and Isabella Rossellini) and Pretty Woman (with Julia Roberts and Richard Gere, directed by Gary Marshall.) Other well-know works include Arachnophobia (directed by Frank Marshall), It Could Happen to You (with Nicholas Cage and Bridget Fonda), The Air Up There (with Kevin Bacon) and Mr. Holland’s Opus (with Richard Dryfuss).

His plays, which have been produced in New York and in regional theaters throughout the United States, include Loves and Hours, Vikings, Strange Snow, Sorrows and Sons, Pilgrims, Half a Lifetime, Emily, White Linen, The Incredibly Famous Willy Rivers, White Man Dancing and The Gift Teller. He is an Associate Artist at The Old Globe Theatre and is a member of the Playwright’s Unit at The Manhattan Theatre Club in New York.

Reservations are highly recommended as seating is General Admission and will be booked on a first-come-first-served basis. Reservations can be made by visiting Cygnet’s website at cygnettheatre.com or by calling the box office at (619) 337-1525. Reservations can also be made in person by visiting Cygnet’s box office located at the Old Town Theatre, 4040 Twiggs St. in Old Town San Diego State Historic Park.

The cast includes Jim Winker, Manny Fernandes, Monique Gaffney, Francis Gercke, Veronica Murphy and Tim West and directed by Stephen Metcalfe. In February 2010, Metcalfe’s Tragedy will receive a three-day workshop at the Pasadena Playhouse.

The Tragedy of the Commons
A Staged Reading by Cygnet Theatre
Dec. 7, 7:30 p.m.
$10 suggested donation

Old Town Theatre, 4040 Twiggs St. (In Old Town)
Box Office: (619) 337-1525
Online: cygnettheatre.com