The Intelligencer – Quantum, founded by Boos in 1990, is known for staging its productions in unusual settings, in out-of-the-ordinary venues.
Its current offering, “Tamara,” a drama written in 1981 by Canadian playwright John Krizanc, is no exception: the play is being performed at Congregation Rodef Shalom, located at 4905 Fifth Ave. in Pittsburgh’s Oakland section.
Scenes take place in various rooms on three floors of the Jewish temple’s large Art Deco building.
Adding another unusual element, in this play, the 10 actors are assigned spots within the giant “set”; the audience moves from room to room, character to character.
At the start of the performance, the audience is separated into three groups and head off in three directions.
Spectators decide which cast members to follow. In this way, the audience “creates” the play as it moves.
Critic Ed Rawson observed that each actor is always on stage, so to speak, during the entire play, which lasts two and one-half hours. In the middle of the play, the audience is served dinner, with different restaurants providing the meals during the show’s run. While dining, spectators can “compare notes” on what they have witnessed in the play and share their opinions and observations on what is unfolding in the drama.
The Quantum production, which opened Aug. 5, continues through Sept. 14 at Rodef Shalom.
Demonstrating the popularity of the play, the performances slated today through next Sunday, Aug. 31, and on Sept. 4 and Sept. 7 are already sold out.
Tickets remain available for purchase for eight other performances: Sept. 2, Sept. 3, Sept. 6, Sept. 9, Sept. 10, Sept.11, Sept. 13 and Sept. 14.
John Shepard is directing the Quantum production. Krizanc’s play, which has been called an “environmental work,” opened in Los Angeles where it was staged for eight years; it then had a five-year run in New York.
Boos, who serves as artistic director of Quantum Theatre, grew up in Clinton Hills.
She graduated from Mount de Chantal Visitation Academy and attended Bethany College before transferring to a university in Pittsburgh where she completed her theatrical studies…
