Groundswell

New England Premiere

By Ian Bruce
Directed by Daniel Gidron

New England Premiere - The lives of three disappointed men intersect with volatile consequences in a hotel in a sleepy South African port town, when Thami, the gardener and caretaker, and Johan, the odd-job man and former police officer, conspire to pressure the hotel’s lone guest to invest in their diamond mining scheme. The three men find themselves in a power struggle fueled by greed and entitlement. This “cross between David Mamet and Athol Fugard” (The New York Times) is a psychological thriller about desperation and hope, and the glittering promises of the postapartheid society.
“A more eloquent argument for justice than any statistic or photograph.” - Variety

Click here to read The New York Times review of the Off-Broadway production.

Featuring Jason Bowen*, Timothy John Smith*, Richard McElvain*

Jason Bowen* (Thami) makes his Lyric Stage Company debut. His Boston-area credits include A Civil War Christmas (The Huntington Theatre Company); The Good War (Stoneham Theatre); The Duchess of Malfi, The Merchant of Venice, The Tempest, Love’s Labour’s Lost, and Hamlet (Actor’s Shakespeare Project); Life of Galileo (Underground Railway Theatre); A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Commonwealth Shakespeare Company); and Six Rounds, Six Lessons (Company One). Mr. Bowen received a B.S. in theatre from Skidmore College and is currently a member of the resident acting company of Actor’s Shakespeare Project.

Richard McElvain* (Smith) makes his Lyric Stage Company debut. Most recently he appeared in the title role of Galileo (The Underground Railway Theatre and M.I.T.) Area credits include Saint Nicholas (Súgán Theatre; Elliot Norton Award, Outstanding Actor); Angels in America Parts I and II (Boston Theatre Works; Elliot Norton Award, Best Production). He has performed in and directed hundreds of productions in and around the Boston area. He has translated, adapted, and directed plays by Moliere and Sophocles. His film and television credits include Mermaids, What’s the Worst That Could Happen, and Spencer for Hire.

Timothy John Smith* (Johan) returns to The Lyric Stage Company after appearing in Kiss Me, Kate; Man of La Mancha; 1776; Kong’s Night Out; and Urinetown: the Musical. Area credits include Middleton, The Changeling (Breadloaf Acting Ensemble); Jerry Springer: The Opera (SpeakEasy Stage Company); and The Receptionist (Trinity Repertory Theatre).

Click on the picture below to view the trailer for Groundswell.

We have provided PDFs of interesting information for you to read before coming to the theatre. These are also provided in the lobby and in the program before and after each performance.
Click here to download Footnotes, including related information for Groundswell.

Click here to download "The Diamond Trade" by Brett Marks.

Click here to download "A Deep Divide: A History of Africa and Apartheid" by Julia Moriarty