Grey House (play) explained
Grey House is a dramatic stage play written by American playwright Levi Holloway. The play premiered at the A Red Orchid Theatre in Chicago on December 1, 2019, and debuted on Broadway at the Lyceum Theatre on May 30, 2023, starring Tatiana Maslany, Paul Sparks, and Laurie Metcalf.
Synopsis
Max and Henry, a young married couple, wreck their car in the mountains during a blizzard. They take shelter in a cabin occupied by a group of teenage girls and an old lady who claims to be their mother. During their stay, the girls imply that they were not drawn to the house by the car accident, but their own pasts.[1] [2]
Characters and original casts
Productions
Grey House is a stage thriller written by Levi Holloway. The play premiered at the A Red Orchid Theatre, Chicago on December 1, 2019. It was directed by Shade Murray and Sadieh Rifai, Travis A. Knight and Kirsten Fitzgerald were cast in the lead roles. It received 3 Jeff Awards in 2020.[5]
In February 2023, a Broadway production was announced. It would be directed by Joe Mantello and produced by Tom Kirdahy, Matthew Patrick, Stephanie Patrick and Robert Ahrens.[6] Tatiana Maslany, Paul Sparks, Laurie Metcalf, Sophia Anne Caruso and Millicent Simmonds were cast in the lead roles.[7] [8] In March 2023, Cyndi Coyne, Colby Kipnes, Eamon Patrick O’Connell and Alyssa Emily Marvin were announced as joining the cast.[9] The play premiered on Broadway at the Lyceum Theatre. Previews began on April 29, 2023, with an official opening night on May 30, 2023.[10] Though it was originally set to run through September 3, 2023, the play closed on July 30 due to low ticket sales.[11] [12]
Reception
The Broadway production received mixed reviews.[13] Critics praised the actors' performances as well as Scott Pask's set design, Natasha Katz's lighting design, and Tom Gibbons's sound design.[14] [15] Some reviewers were critical, however, of the play's attempts to use horror-movie tropes in a live production and of unclear plot points.[16] [17]
Notes and References
- Web site: A Red Orchid’s new ‘Grey House’ is Chicago’s most terrifying show . October 22, 2019 . . Jones . Chris . April 23, 2023 . April 15, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230415040105/https://www.chicagotribune.com/entertainment/theater/reviews/ct-ent-grey-house-red-orchid-review-1022-20191021-khfotrodjff2lm5ybsx3xlayv4-story.html . live .
- Web site: Laurie Metcalf to Return to Broadway in a Horror Story, 'Grey House' - The New York Times . February 21, 2023 . . Paulson . Michael . April 23, 2023 . April 15, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230415040102/https://www.nytimes.com/2023/02/21/theater/grey-house-broadway.html . live .
- Web site: A Red Orchid Theatre Announces Casting For The World Premiere Of GREY HOUSE . August 29, 2019 . . Cristi . A.A. . April 23, 2023 . April 23, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230423071627/https://www.broadwayworld.com/chicago/article/A-Red-Orchid-Theatre-Announces-Casting-For-The-World-Premiere-Of-GREY-HOUSE-20190829 . live .
- Web site: Sophia Anne Caruso and Others Complete Cast of Grey House on Broadway . March 28, 2023 . TheaterMania . Stewart . Zachary . April 23, 2023 . April 10, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230410142715/https://www.theatermania.com/news/sophia-anne-caruso-and-others-complete-cast-of-grey-house-on-broadway_1482004/ . live .
- Web site: New "Grey House" Cast Image Revealed Ahead of Broadway Debut . April 6, 2023 . Trevor Decker News . Decker . Trevor . April 23, 2023 . April 16, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230416224017/https://trevordecker.com/2023/04/06/new-grey-house-cast-image-revealed-ahead-of-broadway-debut/ . live .
- Web site: Laurie Metcalf & Tatiana Maslany Set For Broadway Thriller ‘Grey House’; Joe Mantello Will Direct . February 21, 2023 . . Evans . Greg . April 23, 2023 . March 7, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230307182723/https://deadline.com/2023/02/grey-house-broadway-thriller-laurie-metcalf-tatiana-maslany-joe-mantello-1235266226/amp/ . live .
- Web site: Laurie Metcalf and Tatiana Maslany to Star in Thriller ‘Grey House’ on Broadway . February 21, 2023 . . Rubin . Rebecca . April 23, 2023 . March 7, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230307012040/https://variety.com/2023/legit/news/laurie-metcalf-tatiana-maslany-grey-house-broadway-1235530147/amp/ . live .
- Web site: Laurie Metcalf, Tatiana Maslany, Sophia Anne Caruso Will Star in Broadway Thriller Grey House . February 21, 2023 . . Gans . Andrew . April 23, 2023 . March 5, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230305215805/https://playbill.com/article/laurie-metcalf-tatiana-maslany-sophia-anne-caruso-will-star-in-broadway-thriller-grey-house . live .
- Web site: ‘Grey House’ announces full cast and creative team . March 27, 2023 . Broadway News . Caitlin . Hornik . April 23, 2023 . April 11, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230411133737/https://broadwaynews.com/2023/03/27/grey-house-announces-full-cast-and-creative-team/ . live .
- Web site: Broadway's Upcoming Grey House Completes Casting . March 27, 2023 . . Culwell-Block . Logan . Gans . Andrew . April 23, 2023 . April 12, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230412063837/https://playbill.com/article/broadways-upcoming-grey-house-completes-casting . live .
- Web site: Huston . Caitlin . 2023-07-19 . Broadway’s ‘Grey House,’ Starring Laurie Metcalf, Tatiana Maslany, Sets July 30 Closing Date . 2023-08-03 . The Hollywood Reporter . en-US.
- Web site: Culwell-Block . Logan . July 19, 2023 . Grey House Cuts Broadway Run Short . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230720130801/https://playbill.com/article/grey-house-cuts-broadway-run-short . July 20, 2023 . Aug 3, 2023 . Playbill.
- Web site: Review Roundup: GREY HOUSE Opens On Broadway Starring Laurie Metcalf, Tatiana Maslany, And More . BroadwayWorld . June 2, 2023 . June 1, 2023.
- Web site: Marks . Peter . This play aims to scare you out of your wits. But your wits remain intact. . The Washington Post . June 2, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230602051554/https://www.washingtonpost.com/theater-dance/2023/06/01/grey-house-metcalf-mantello-broadway/ . June 2, 2023 . June 1, 2023 . live.
- Web site: Evans . Greg . 'Grey House' Broadway Review: Laurie Metcalf & Tatiana Maslany Confront The Ghosts Of Man-Made Horror . Deadline . June 2, 2023 . June 1, 2023.
- Web site: Green . Jesse . Review: In 'Grey House,' Broadway Gets an Expert Haunting . The New York Times . June 2, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230602010023/https://www.nytimes.com/2023/06/01/theater/review-grey-house.html/ . June 2, 2023 . June 1, 2023 . live.
- Web site: McHenry . Jackson . Knock-Knock: Grey House Brings Horror Tropes to Broadway . Vulture . June 2, 2023 . June 1, 2023.