THE ABSENCE OF A CELLO

Winter 1987
By Ira Wallach

Produced by arrangement with Dramatists Play Service, Inc.

Directed by Alice Corey

As Martin Gottfried describes: “It is about a physicist who needs money so badly he turns to the $60,000-a-year job offered by a big corporation. He wants the job, but does the company want him? Mr. Personnel is sent to find out. What seems to be starting out as a shopworn target—individuality versus conformity—turns out to be an ingeniously conceived comical discussion of honesty and truth. After being coached by a gray flanneled collegiate on how to be what every company wants, the scientist is prepared to confront the enemy (after quickly trading in his rolled-up trousers and flapping shirt for a neat brown suit)… he hides the cello he plays with pick-up quartets, he hides the medieval history books his wife writes, he hides all but the acceptable three liquor bottles. He hides, in fact, everything that he and his wife are. And hauls out the television set… What follows is a literately comical playaround with industrial conformity that for sheer humor is, well, wonderfully adult.”

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PHOTOS

CAST
Celia Pilgrim / Marcia Hogue
Andrew Pilgrim / Howard Hummel
Marian Jellicoe / Jennifer Corey
Joanna Pilgrim / Ladelle Heckman 
Emma Littlewood / Lela Purcell 
Perry Littlewood / Shell Joyner
Otis Clifton / Frank Long 

PRODUCTION CREW
Director / Alice Corey
Stage Manager / Sanford Russell 
Props / Sali Page, Marla Norton
Set Design / Dan Brock, Ben Benedict, Alice Corey
Set Construction / Dan Brock, Ben Benedict
Costumes / Cast
Makeup / Dorris Stark
Lights & Sound / Jerry Astrella, Dick Holgate
Posters / Barbara Williams
Programs / John Thomspon, Katy Owens
Advertising / Dora May Benedict, David Lemke
Box Office / Lavona Wolfard
House Manger / Dora May Benedict