One Flea Spare
Encyclopedia
One Flea Spare, by Naomi Wallace
, is an award-winning play set in plague-ravaged 17th Century London.
Play synopsis from Eclipse Theater:
The play is published by Broadway Play Publishing Inc.
The title is derived from the poem The Flea by John Donne
.
One Flea Spare premièred in London at the Bush Theatre
on 18 October 1995 and had its American premiere in Louisville, Kentucky at the Humana Festival of New American Plays
on 27 February 1996. The play opened in New York at The Public Theatre on 9 March 1997 and won the OBIE Award
for best play; it also won the 1996 Susan Smith Blackburn Prize
, the 1996 Joseph Kesselring
Prize and the 1996 Fellowship of Southern Writers
Drama Award.
In 2009 One Flea Spare was incorporated into the permanent répertoire of the French National Theater, the Comédie-Française
. Wallace is the only living American playwright to enter the répertoire. Only two American Playwrights have ever been added to La Comédie's repertoire in 300 years: the other being Tennessee Williams
. The play was translated into French by Dominique Hollier.
Naomi Wallace
Naomi Wallace is a playwright, screenwriter and poet from Prospect, Kentucky, United States.-Life:Wallace obtained her Bachelor of Arts from Hampshire College and did graduate studies at the University of Iowa....
, is an award-winning play set in plague-ravaged 17th Century London.
Play synopsis from Eclipse Theater:
A wealthy couple is preparing to flee their home when a mysterious sailor and a young girl appear sneaking into their boarded up house. Now, quarantined together for 28 days, the only thing these strangers fear more than the Plague is each other. Definitions of morality are up for grabs and survival takes many forms in this dark, fiercely intense & humorous play. The play deals with the clash of cultural, social, and sexual boundaries.
The play is published by Broadway Play Publishing Inc.
Broadway Play Publishing Inc.
Broadway Play Publishing Inc, along with Dramatists Play Service, Playscripts, Inc., and Samuel French Inc., is one of the four major New York play publishers and licensors of stage rights...
The title is derived from the poem The Flea by John Donne
John Donne
John Donne 31 March 1631), English poet, satirist, lawyer, and priest, is now considered the preeminent representative of the metaphysical poets. His works are notable for their strong and sensual style and include sonnets, love poetry, religious poems, Latin translations, epigrams, elegies, songs,...
.
One Flea Spare premièred in London at the Bush Theatre
Bush Theatre
The Bush Theatre is based in Shepherd's Bush, in the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham. It was established in 1972 above The Bush public house by Brian McDermott, and has since become one of the most celebrated new writing theatres in the world. An intimate venue renowned for its close-up...
on 18 October 1995 and had its American premiere in Louisville, Kentucky at the Humana Festival of New American Plays
Humana Festival of New American Plays
Humana Festival of New American Plays is an internationally renowned festival that celebrates the contemporary American playwright. Produced annually in Louisville, Kentucky by Actors Theatre of Louisville, this prestigious event showcases new theatrical works and draws producers, critics,...
on 27 February 1996. The play opened in New York at The Public Theatre on 9 March 1997 and won the OBIE Award
Obie Award
The Obie Awards or Off-Broadway Theater Awards are annual awards given by The Village Voice newspaper to theatre artists and groups in New York City...
for best play; it also won the 1996 Susan Smith Blackburn Prize
Susan Smith Blackburn Prize
The Susan Smith Blackburn Prize established in 1978, is for English-language women playwrights. Named for Susan Smith, alumna of Smith College, who died of breast cancer.-Winners:* 1978-79 Mary O'Malley* 1979-80 Barbara Schneider...
, the 1996 Joseph Kesselring
Joseph Kesselring
Joseph Otto Kesselring was an American writer and playwright known best for his play Arsenic and Old Lace, written in 1939 and originally entitled "Bodies in Our Cellar." He was born in New York City to Henry and Frances Kesselring. His father's parents were immigrants from Germany. His mother was...
Prize and the 1996 Fellowship of Southern Writers
Fellowship of Southern Writers
The Fellowship of Southern Writers is a literary organization founded in 1987 in Chattanooga, Tennessee by 21 Southern writers and other literary luminaries...
Drama Award.
In 2009 One Flea Spare was incorporated into the permanent répertoire of the French National Theater, the Comédie-Française
Comédie-Française
The Comédie-Française or Théâtre-Français is one of the few state theaters in France. It is the only state theater to have its own troupe of actors. It is located in the 1st arrondissement of Paris....
. Wallace is the only living American playwright to enter the répertoire. Only two American Playwrights have ever been added to La Comédie's repertoire in 300 years: the other being Tennessee Williams
Tennessee Williams
Thomas Lanier "Tennessee" Williams III was an American writer who worked principally as a playwright in the American theater. He also wrote short stories, novels, poetry, essays, screenplays and a volume of memoirs...
. The play was translated into French by Dominique Hollier.