T. S. Eliot's Four Quartets

Figures of Speech Theater Co-Director John Farrell realizes his long-awaited dream to perform T.S. Eliot's Four Quartets. These 1000 lines of poetry, written between 1935-1942, are a complex, deeply moving meditation on the human spirit, time, memory, and place. When asked why perform the poems, Farrell responded "Hearing the poems spoken offers a chance to absorb a complex and nuanced work without the mediation of print and the difficulties of line breaks and odd punctuation, while applying an actor's sensibility to making the text live.

John is delighted to be collaborating with musician Carl Dimow (composer for FST's She-Who-Loves) who is composing flute interludes, and Heartwood Regional Theater Company's Artistic Director Griff Braley, who is providing directorial guidance as well as amplifying the metaphoric sense of light and darkness through lighting design.

Says Braley, "Four Quartets was familiar to me as an English teacher, but John Farrell's approach ('I think I'll memorize it to see if I like it...') was humbling. John's personal and professional aesthetic are unique in my experience. When he jokingly asked if I would produce this work, I don't think I hesitated, even knowing his quiet demand for an authentic experience. Our experience as collaborators in Heartwood's "Gilgamesh"  ensured that me that I would see a professional at work. And it has been challenging and inspiring to witness his work. Carl's music has provided a wonderfully appropriate sonic platform for the piece."

These performances of Four Quartets are part of Heartwood's "Page-to-Stage Festival" at Skidompha Library in Damariscotta, which runs from January 13-30. For more information or to make reservations, please contact the Heartwood Regional Theater Company box office at boxoffice@heartwoodtheater.org.

FOUR QUARTETS

Thursday, January 13, 2011 at 7:30 PM
Saturday, January 15, 2011 at 7:30 PM
Friday, January 21, 2011 at 7:30 PM
Sunday, January 23, 2011 at 3:00 PM
Saturday, January 29, 2011 at 3:00 PM

View full Page to Stage Festival schedule