SJCT Goes Off-Site with Poignant Comedy

Brad Fincher and Deb Langhans in SJCT’s Velocity of Autumn – Jan Bollwinkel-Smith photo

An elderly artist, her estranged son and 100 Molotov cocktails form the setting for San Juan Community Theatre’s special Off-Site production of The Velocity of Autumn.

Eric Coble’s poignant comedy, directed by Carol Hooper, is presented at the San Juan County Fairgrounds Thursdays through Saturdays, July 6-15 at 7:30 pm and Sundays, July 9 and 16 at 5:00 p.m.

A sold-out hit during SJCT’s On Book! Readers Theatre series last fall, the 90-minute play looks at aging and family dynamics from the perspective of both generations. Island actors Deb Langhans and Brad Fincher play the mother and son. Their engaging conversation is full of wit, humor, and pain as he tries to reestablish real contact and she tries to make him see why she’s dressed to the nines and surrounded by Mason jars full of flammable liquid.  

“From my first reading of The Velocity of Autumn, I knew it was important,” says Hooper. “So often the difficulties of life pull us inward instead of allowing us to give or receive help. Whatever the relationship – parent, child, sibling –the first step toward understanding is listening to each other. And truly hearing.”

The play is a co-production with the San Juan County Fairgrounds and is presented in the Marie Boe building (seating is limited to 60 people). Tickets are $15 each; Thursdays are “Pay What You Can” at the door. Tickets are available on-line at www.sjctheatre.org or the box office (open Tuesdays through Fridays from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Saturdays from 11 am to 2 pm at 378-3210).

You can support the San Juan Update by doing business with our loyal advertisers, and by making a one-time contribution or a recurring donation.