Laugh at the J with Richard in Pieces

Reading of “Richard in Pieces” by Lorne Frohman

Richard Kasdan (Lorne Frohman,) is in his 60’s and having a very bad day. His marriage is in trouble and his wife (Debra McGrath) gets stuck in traffic on the way to the therapy session they’ve waited years to attend with renowned psychiatrist Dr. Bernard Myerheimer (Colin Mochrie.) Comedy ensues as Richard confronts the demons of his past while he waits for Deb to show up. He meets head-on with his teenage self, his twenty and forty year old selves and battles the forces that have plagued his entire life.

With hilarious cutting edge humor, wit, wisdom and comical sensibility, Lorne has created a most original premise and rollicking tour de force. Join us for a staged reading which is expected to be in full production soon. Thanks in advance for taking part in our journey!

Writer’s Statement:

Originally, the concept of this play was just a funny idea. Through the writing process, it became apparent that more important than finding the punchline was exploring and sharing how challenging it can be, as decades roll on, to define ourselves simply. Woody Allen said in “Hannah and Her Sisters” that “we are the sum total of our choices.” Another funny man, Sigmund Freud wrote: “We are different people at different stages of our life.” These words motivated me, at first to poke fun but I soon realized that I was disturbed by these ideas, and how quickly I connected with them.

There is a very deep and humiliating fragment we carry within each of us, buried beneath the surface. Here it is: All people who are lucky enough to live long lives may find it impossible to define themselves presently without referencing or holding onto images or versions of the different people they once were. How can one function without embracing the past? Richard in Pieces explores this concept, starting off with the protagonist throwing himself into the most difficult moment of his life: confronted by his own reflection for the first time, and forced to strip away from the nostalgia of his youth to uncover who he really is.

Starring: Lorne Frohman, Colin Mochrie, Debra McGrat, Chris Coculuzzi (others TBA)