THE PRODUCTION
Whitewash and Mortar debuted in June of 2022 to a full house at the Bantam Cinema & Arts Center in Bantam, Connecticut. Featuring a cast of thirteen talented actors, the production had the honor of being the first live-theatre offering in the Bantam’s “Readers’ Theatre” series. The show was directed by Robert Kwalick, whose five decades of theatrical experience contributed to his deeply thoughtful and innovative presentation of the work.
THE STORY
An exploration of the interaction between social classes and cultures and the challenge of maintaining an attitude of kindness in a highly imperfect world, Whitewash and Mortar tells the story of a thrice-divorced woman forced to live on her eccentric uncle’s largesse while working at an exploitative job among people from much different backgrounds than her own. Astonished at the hypocrisy of those in her social circle and the brutality of her own family members, she offers compassion to those who deserve it, while anxiously experiencing ever-increasing helplessness. Described as sharing similarities with Brecht’s The Good Woman of Setzuan, the protagonist grapples with harsh realities while attempting to remain devoted to a higher truth. Says Lavin, “It’s a comedy/drama about the interaction between social cultures and the difficulties of being a kind person in an imperfect world.”
HALF AN HOUR IN HEAVEN
THE PRODUCTION
Marking the first international debut of Lavin’s work, The Charlestown Arts Centre in County Mayo, Ireland will stage the production in February of 2025, with the players of the Charlestown Drama Group bringing the characters to life.
THE STORY
Set in Brooklyn in 1961, the play revolves around four Irish immigrants who have established themselves in New York while retaining many of the ways of their beloved homeland. “I’m immensely proud to have this show produced in Ireland,” says Lavin, whose grandfather was born a few miles from the theatre and later emigrated to the U.S. “Immigration is the heart of America’s story. Immigrants enrich this country, and their diversity makes us stronger,” she says, adding, “This play also deals with the balance immigrants must strike between worlds, the old and the new, as well as the past and the future.”
Dividing Line
THE PRODUCTION
Dividing Line is being produced as a staged reading at Goshen Players (Goshen, Connecticut) in 2025. Stay tuned!
THE STORY
Conflicting emotions, racial identities, and historic morality come into play as a controversial land rights issue shatters loyalties in a small Connecticut town. Mayor Randall Stone, a displaced Vermonter, cannot help but reflect on his past as he grapples with the powerful and twisted realities facing him. Keith Bannon, the assistant in whom he confides, has a secret that threatens to destroy his trust. Ultimately, Mayor Stone is forced to confront a chilling truth and uncovers a legacy of greed, lies, and murder as he walks precariously along the dividing line between iniquity and justice. “The main character’s frustration at suddenly having to face centuries-old moral complexities is a very timely problem as the United States increasingly considers the question of reparations to Indigenous people,” says Lavin. “This drama articulates the discrepancies in individuals of European descent who profess one thing but do another when the problem is ‘in their own dooryard,’ as Mayor Stone would say.”
VFX
THE PRODUCTION
VFX is currently in pre-production at an arts center in Connecticut. Stay tuned!
THE STORY
What happens when six CGI characters fall out of a film and have to figure out how to get back in? Outlandish fun! Featuring a cast of farcical visual effects (“VFX”) archetypes, this comedy lets audiences witness their ridiculous—and occasionally ribald—capers as they attempt to rejoin their movie-in-progress. Can an egomaniacal superhero, a humanoid avatar, a creepy troll, and an erudite lobster save themselves and their comrades before it’s too late? Bungling their way to a vague understanding of their own existence, they learn poignant truths about life, love, and the magical intersection of motion pictures and human dreams. Unfortunately, time has run out, causing them to take drastic measures that ultimately bring out the best in everyone . . . and bring the lawyers running into the fray! “You’ll never feel the same way about the color orange,” promises Lavin. “VFX is a laugh about how little we understand reality. Frankly, the play had to be a comedy!”