Rarely produced ‘Strife’ by John Galsworthy explores human cost of ideological battles at Theatricum Botanicum theatricum.com
What compromise is possible when human dignity and health are on the line, along with a business’s survival and the economy it supports? Will Geer Theatricum Botanicum presents a new production of Strife by Nobel Prize-winning writer and social activist John Galsworthy. Theatricum artistic director Ellen Geer and associate artistic director Willow Geer co-direct, with performances joining Theatricum’s repertory season beginning June 21.
In this production of Galsworthy’s 1909 play, Theatricum moves the story to 1890s Pennsylvania amidst the industrial unrest and labor movements of America’s Gilded Age. At the climactic peak of a labor strike, both the workers and the corporation are faced with untenable options. The play’s emphasis on the often-overlooked human consequences of these struggles—particularly the voices of women and families who endure the brunt of the turmoil—highlights how easily leaders on both sides get so caught up in their arguments, that sometimes they forget whom they are fighting for. Galsworthy avoids making clear-cut moral judgments, instead presenting a nuanced exploration of the complexities inherent in labor relations. The play’s even-handed treatment invites audiences to grapple with the intricacies of negotiation and resolution while considering the costs of extremism on both sides.
“Strife remains uncannily relevant in today’s world, where debates over labor rights, corporate responsibility, and economic justice continue to dominate headlines,” state the directors. “We hope audiences will reflect on these urgent issues, all the while experiencing this gripping story of human endurance, sacrifice, and the fragile balance between justice and compromise.”
Strife will run in rotation every weekend with Shakespeare’s Much Ado About Nothing and A Midsummer Night’s Dream, each of which open earlier in the season. Two additional productions, The Seagull: Malibu, a free adaptation of Chekhov’s classic play, and Wine in the Wilderness, by celebrated writer Alice Childress, will join the repertory season on July 12 and August 9 respectively. Unlike most theaters in the L.A. area that stage continuous runs of a single play, Theatricum will perform all five plays in repertory, making it possible, once they are all up and running, to see all five in a single weekend.
