One Big Lie

Composer: David Rhodes

Synopsis

(3M/5W, 4-piece orchestra)

In this musical epic spanning centuries—from the ancient world to our near future—Lu-Lu the God of Lies is banished from the celestial realm and makes her way among humans to plot revolution against her fellow gods and their abuse of power. Meanwhile a young woman sets out to rescue her sister from the lustful god who has abducted her.

Commissioned and produced by Crowded Fire Theater Company with Playwrights Foundation, San Francisco 2005. Workshopped at Bay Area Playwrights Festival (as All the Truth in the World) and as part of the New Dramatists Working Partners Program funded by Arielle Tepper Productions.

Crowded Fire Theater Company and Playwrights Foundation's co-production of One Big Lie, music by David Rhodes, directed by Rebecca Novick. Set Melpomene Katakelos, lights Heather Basarab, costumes Jocelyn Leiser. Cast: Cassie Beck, Adam Chipkin, Alexandra Creighton, Linda Jones, Paul Lancour, Alan Quismorio, Juliet Tanner, Mollena Williams. Orchestra: David Rhodes (piano), Sam Smith (viola), Homer Hsu (violin), and Joe Sergent (clarinets).

Click on pictures to embiggen. From Crowed Fire premiere. Photographer:  [to come]. — Click on pictures to embiggen. From Crowed Fire premiere. Photographer: [to come].

In the Press

San Francisco Chronicle interview/article by Sam Hurwitt: http://www.sfgate.com/entertainment/article/HER-BIG-FLING-2723556.php

“A play with truth-telling and the problem of power at its core… a word-dazzled, politically savvy new musical…. A cleverly satirical… take on the idealization and reverence for power in the minds of its victims, One Big Lie is a deadly serious frolic with a wary eye on the immediate future.” –Robert Avila, San Francisco Bay Guardian. Click here for full review.

“A merry musical about death, destruction and devious deities… reaffirms that Adams is a voice meant for our time.… One Big Lie, an exercise in lively, kinetic language, teases us with the answers to all the world's problems…. A blend of humanism and righteous nastiness [with] terrific dialogue and fantastic sense of humor.” –Chad Jones, Oakland Tribune. Click here for full review.

“A savvy, tantalizing, funny… and beguiling dance with the problem of evil… another vigorously meta-theatrical trip through one of Adams’ fantastical constructs…. As penetrating as it is entertaining.”–Robert Hurwitt, San Francisco Chronicle. Click here for full review.