Jonah and Otto

The New York premiere for the British playwright

In a first for British playwright Robert Holman, this play is his first to be staged in New York. A touching portrayal of crossed paths and haunting recollections, Holman's work was first performed in London in 2014 to rave reviews, noted for its stripped-back minimalist staging and engaging characters. For its US premiere, Sean Gormley and Rupert Simonian take over the respective roles of Otto and Jonah that were originated by Peter Egan and Alex Waldmann. Geraldine Hughes of UK television and film fame, directs this seminal work at the Lion Theatre this spring.

WHat is it about?

Sometimes the shortest, and most random connections leave the most profound marks and memories on us. This is the premise of Holman's profound two-hander, set with only a park bench, a shopping trolley, and oddly enough, an apple. Set in 2003, on a summer night in the English countryside, two men; one old, one young, happen upon each other in a deserted walled garden. Otto at 62 and Jonah at 26 could not be more different, in every way possible. Sharing a cigarette, they both tell each other their respective stories of love, loss and life so far. However tensions arise when they both confront painful memories, leading to a blistering confrontation. Robert Holman's "intricately layered creation, brimming with emotional wonder" (The Independent, UK) shows what it means to be alive, through the pain and the pleasure of it all.