The Town Players of New Canaan will open its 79th season with The Effect, Lucy Prebble’s award-winning romantic drama that asks one provocative question: Would you trust love if it came from a pill?
The play, which won the 2012 Critics’ Circle Theatre Award for Best New Play, runs September 4–14 at the Powerhouse Performing Arts Center in Waveny Park. Performances are Thursday through Sunday, with a special talk-back following the September 7 matinee.
Set during a four-week clinical drug trial for a dopamine-based antidepressant, The Effect follows Connie and Tristan, two volunteers who fall in love under questionable circumstances. Their relationship disrupts the study and forces the supervising doctors, Dr. Lorna James and Dr. Toby Seeley, to confront questions about ethics, science, and emotional authenticity.
“This is a play that challenges the audience to grapple with the ethics of the times we live in,” said director Tyler Small of Norwalk, who recently starred as Andy Dufresne in The Shawshank Redemption on the same stage. “Are we overmedicating without concern for the effects? We spike our dopamine constantly in a world that’s fighting to keep us glued to our distractions. Is the joy they give us real or manufactured? Audiences are sure to leave thinking about this show for a long time.”
For Small, The Effect marks his directorial debut with the Town Players. Producer Nova Hall of Darien, who also serves as co-president of the organization, said the choice to open the season with Prebble’s play was deliberate. “As a community theatre, we are committed to producing bold and compelling theatre that reflects current issues and occasionally challenges cultural norms,” Hall said. “In a world increasingly reliant on medication for mental wellness, The Effect feels especially urgent. It resonates with current debates around mental health treatment, emotional authenticity, and the role of science in our daily lives.”
The cast brings together local talent: Audrey Burns of Fairfield plays Connie Hall; Liam Sweeney of Stamford takes the role of Tristan Frey; Candice Sisbarro of Stratford portrays Dr. Lorna James; and Paul Johnson, also of Stamford, plays Dr. Toby Seeley. The production team includes set designer Sophie Bardos (Greenwich), lighting designer Jessie Lizotte (Derby), and Joel Reynolds (New Canaan), who built the set with his crew. Celine Montaudy of Norwalk serves as stage manager.
In addition to the performances, audiences will have the opportunity to join a discussion on the play’s themes. A talk-back with the director, cast, and Dr. Andrew Gerber, president and medical director of Silver Hill Hospital, will follow the Sunday matinee on September 7.
The Effect runs approximately two hours, including intermission, and is recommended for mature audiences due to its subject matter. Tickets and additional information are available at TPNC.org
