David Leddy/Fire Exit
Susurrus
Thu, Oct 14–Sun, Oct 24, 2010 | 10:00AM–3:00PM
Thu, Oct 21, 2010 | 10:00AM–4:45PM
Franklin Park Conservatory
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One of the major highlights of the last Edinburgh Festival was Susurrus by Glasgow playwright David Leddy, "one of Scotland's leading theatre-makers" and a "site-specific genius," according to The Scotsman. This unique audio play is presented in botanical gardens, and the title (pronounced sus-yoo-rus) refers to the rustling sound of wind in trees. Audiences experience Leddy's subtly woven narrative intimately, by listening to it on iPods. Here, you'll hear the play unfold while following a mapped route specifically designed by the playwright through the lush greenhouses of Franklin Park Conservatory and the grounds of Franklin Park.
Without actors and without a stage, Susurrus is part radio play, part recital, part lesson in bird dissection, and part stroll in the park. The listener hears snippets about opera, memorial benches, and botany, which fit together into a mournful and poignant story of love and loss. As the Guardian says, it's "a sensual reinterpretation of A Midsummer Nights' Dream with a contemporary edge. There are moments when location and content come together so powerfully that your eyes moisten and your heart lurches."
Note: As the Royal Shakespeare Company's partnership with Ohio State progresses, look to the Wex for examples of contemporary theater works, like Susurrus, that reference the Bard's timeless plays as points of departure.
Recommended for mature audiences.
Copresented by the Wexner Center and Franklin Park Conservatory.
Important info on attending Susurrus
Susurrus starts at the FPC Visitor Center and lasts approximately 90 minutes. Two patrons will be admitted every 15 minutes during the performance hours. Reserve your timed ticket in advance by calling Franklin Park Conservatory at (614) 645-5923 (weekdays, 8:30 AM to 5 PM) or (614) 645-5926 (weekends, 10 AM to 5 PM). Please arrive 15 minutes before your timeslot to check in. Patrons will be required to make a refundable credit card deposit for use of the iPod and headphones. Your ticket includes admission to Franklin Park Conservatory.
Tickets are limited. Please make your reservation promptly.
The U.S. tour of Susurrus is made possible with support from the British Council and Made in Scotland. Made in Scotland is a joint initiative between the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, the Federation of Scottish Theatre, and the Scottish Arts Council, supported by the Scottish Government's Edinburgh Festivals Expo Fund.
The Columbus presentation is made possible by the generous support of Barbara Fergus.
