The Effect
by Lucy Prebble
(october 2024, yale university production)
“In her dedication, Lucy Prebble writes that The Effect is a play ‘for four people, in love and in sorrow.’ Prebble’s dedication has been my guiding light over the course of directing this production—what does it mean to be ‘in’ sorrow, just in the same way we talk about being “in” love? What is the use of thinking about sorrow with the same respect, poetry, and humility that we use when we talk about love? Directing The Effect has forced me to wrestle with the uncomfortable thought maybe joy and sorrow are in a prickly, inseparable relationship. Maybe the adult thing to do is to look our emotions in the eye and truly feel them.
It takes extraordinary bravery to do that and that is precisely what these four formidable actors have been doing for months. It has been an honor and a privilege working with them and with our creative team too: they have made this play an environment you can be in, to stew a little in its love and sorrow and everything in-between. Directing is always an act of faith, and I could not have put mine in better hands. To my team, thank you for giving so much to this play. To the audience, welcome in. I hope you enjoy this experiment together. Give yourself over to it completely. I’ll see you on the other side. ”
- From The Effect director’s note
Cast
Connie / Isabella Walther-Meade
Tristan / José Sarmiento
Dr. James/ Layla Felder
Dr. Sealey / Abram Knott
Tristan / José Sarmiento
Dr. James/ Layla Felder
Dr. Sealey / Abram Knott
Director / Emiliano Cáceres Manzano
Stage Manager / Angelica Peruzzi
Producer / Isabella Walther-Meade
Producer / Victoria Mnatsakanyan
Composer / Natalie Brown
Lighting Designer / Nire Oloyede
Projections / Christian Killada
Costume Designer/ Betty Kubovy-Weiss
Costume Designer/ Elizabeth Stanish
Props Designer/ Elizabeth Stanish
Sound Designer / Dorothy Ha
Dramaturg / Lucas Oland
Assitant Director / Amara Neal
Photography / Elio Wentzel