Comedy. 2f, 2m.
Love. Drugs. Unexpected side effects.
Researcher Rockwell Wise believes a love vaccine will solve the problems of the world — and keep his own heart safe.
Drug developer Grace Wright wants to create a love activator that will reintroduce passion and romance to a devastated world.
Their past returns to haunt both of them, when Grace is hired to lead Rocky’s development team in the midst of a company crisis.
“Believers” is inspired by the Grimm’s fairy tale, The Frog King, and takes place in a pharmaceutical lab in the immediate dystopian future. It was selected for Playwrights Revolution at Capitol Stage Company in Sacramento, CA, in 2010, and was part of Wily West Production’s 2011 new play reading series.
“Believers” premiered August 2, 2012, at StageWerx in San Francisco, as part of Wily West Productions’ 2012 season, directed by Sara Staley, with live music by Rick Homan. Cast: Casey Fern, Maria Giere Marquis, Jon Fast, and Kate Jones.
View the production trailer:
My interview with Los Angeles Female Playwrights Initiative.
Podcast interview with 3Girls Theatre Producing Director AJ Baker.
Photos
All photos by Jim Norrena, ACT OUT Photography, of the world premiere by Wily West Productions in San Francisco.
Ask, Ilaclar, ve Yan Etkileri in Istanbul
“Believers” premiered in Istanbul, in a Turkish translation, as “Ask, Ilaclar, ve Yan Etkileri,” in March 2016. The producer was Lavanta Productions, and the production was designed with steampunk flair. It played for two years in various locations.
Reviews
“Patricia Milton has good comic chops and there are plenty of laughs to be found in this light-hearted romance. . . It is clearly stage worthy and deserves repeated productions.” ~Charles Kruger, member, Bay Area Theatre Critics Circle
“. . . a lively and often sharply funny outing . . . ‘Believers’ is the work of a sometimes bracingly original mind with a smart sense of humor, an apocalyptic imagination and a healthy distrust of pharmaceutical solutions and corporate ethics. Even at their most outlandish, Milton’s slightly futuristic situations are rooted in some frightening realities. . . [Kate] Jones displays a natural gift for comedy, and [Maria] Marquis’ sincere and wily Grace instills a belief in ‘Believers’ that keeps the play on track. Between her, Milton’s smart plot twists and the muskrats (don’t ask), there’s a lot here to enjoy.” ~Robert Hurwitt, SF Chronicle
“… Hilarious … a fun evening … Whichever pill you choose, if you are up for some high energy, muskrat silliness and some strong performances, check this one out.” ~Mark Shilstone-Laurent, Monterey Herald
Audience feedback from the Playwrights Revolution reading:
“I enjoyed this play immensely, partly because it was wickedly funny and beautifully crafted, and partly because it was so well acted … for a story to be so well told was a thing of beauty to watch. I know that Patricia is still wanting to tinker with this in its workshop stage. But in my mind, it seemed like a finished product … I also want to say thanks to you for bringing this type of artistry in story telling to our community. I love it.”