What drew you to this project?

I was drawn to this project because I think “The Turn of the Screw” is a fantastic ghost story. I am also eager to tackle the late nineteenth-century both in terms of costume design and clothing construction.

What is the biggest challenge for you of working in spaces like the Gibson and Taylor House that aren’t normally used for theatre performances?

As a former museum worker and as someone who delights in old buildings, I am positively tickled by the idea of working in both of these historical spaces! I am not yet sure as to what kind of challenges will be presented… I guess I can say that I hope no scrappy poltergeists play “Hide-The-Costumes”!

What are you most excited about this process?

I am most excited about building a full late nineteenth-century dress for Anna as the Woman, but I am also very intrigued by figuring out changes from character to character for Stephen as the Man (hint: a top hat will be involved)!

What’s your favorite ghost story and/or have you ever had a personal ghost story?

When I was interning at Colonial Williamsburg, we were shooting a short feature on the site of the Jamestown Settlement at around midnight one night. I was sent out to my supervisor’s car to fetch something and as I was returning to the shoot, I could swear that something was watching me…and this feeling shook me directly to my core. So I bolted, like a five-year-old afraid of the dark.

Now, I’m usually the friend who watches horror movies on Netflix late at night with the lights off for funzies, so everyone I told this story to decided that I was actually a big chicken, regardless of my Romero-lovin’ bravado. However! When it broke this past year that the Jamestown Settlement had to resort to cannibalism in their most desperate hours in the winter of 1609-1610, I felt a little vindicated… maybe I had just passed through a pocket of hungry ghosts!

What drew you to this project?

Well basically Anna and Stephen. They’re both fun and talented. Who wouldn’t want to be in a rehearsal room with those two crazy kids! Also I love ghost stories and SCREW is one of the ultimate ghost stories of all time.

What is the biggest challenge for you of working in spaces like the Gibson and Taylor House that aren’t normally used for theatre performances?

Well it’s more of a challenge to think about the play in two very different places. We will basically be blocking the show twice. The focus of rehearsal is going to be about distance/proximity of characters more then it will be about “move to the chaise on this line”. This way there is a similar structure to the show in both locations for the actors to rely on and still allow for us to maximize the benefits of both of the locations.

What are you most excited about this process?

Working with Anna and Stephen…isn’t that enough? But I said that already. I’ve never actually done a site specific work quite like this, so that’s exciting, especially to do it at two different sites. And the potential to see a ghost at the Gibson house…that would be cool…I hope.

What’s your favorite ghost story and/or have you ever had a personal ghost story?

Call me a traditionalist but I’ve always loved Sleepy Hollow. I remember watching the Disney cartoon of it dozens of times as a kid. I remember reading all the Bruce Coville ghosts stories as a kid, those are pretty great if you’re a 13 year old girl.

Classic ghost story staged in two historic Boston homes

(BOSTON)-From November 8 through November 23, 2013, Simple Machine proudly presents Henry James’ The Turn of the Screw, adapted for the stage by Jeffrey Hatcher and directed by M. Bevin O’Gara.

James’ classic story of a young governess charged with caring for two orphaned children at a lonely English country estate is one of the most famous Victorian ghost stories ever written. Hatcher’s adaptation ratchets up the psychological suspense and intimacy of the story with two actors playing all the roles.

The Turn of the Screw will be staged in two historic houses in Boston. The Gibson House Museum in Boston’s famous Back Bay is a beautifully preserved 19th century home that has served as a museum for over 40 years. The Taylor House Bed & Breakfast was built as a residence in the 1850s at the height of Jamaica Plain’s golden age and has been lovingly restored in recent years to its former glory. Although both houses are from the same era, the staging in each will be unique to that location; these remarkable settings will give audiences an authentic and exhilarating atmosphere in which to experience this classic Gothic thriller.

Last March, Simple Machine launched with the New England premiere of the meta-theatrical comedy rogerandtom by Julian Schwab (a play about a play within a play). The Turn of the Screw is Simple Machine’s second venture. The company’s mission is simple: Simple Machine makes theatre that is engaging, accessible, and affordable. Productions focus on the basic elements of, and the necessity of, storytelling. By bringing the audience into the intimate spaces at the Taylor House and the Gibson House, Simple Machine co-founder Stephen Libby hopes to “bring this story to life in a way that no medium other than live theatre ever could. We create work that proves that live theatre is as vital and immediate as ever.”

The story takes place at a secluded English country estate, where a young woman takes a job as a governess to a pair of recently orphaned children. But soon after her arrival, ghostly visions and strange occurrences reveal a sinister presence around her young charges. Is the estate haunted by restless spirits? Are the children somehow complicit? Or has her fear and imagination taken hold of her?

Simple Machine co-founder Anna Waldron plays the eager young governess, determined to protect the children in her care at all costs. Stephen Libby takes on the rest of the characters of the story, from the children’s distant uncle, to the estate’s housekeeper, to the troubled 10-year-old boy.

Director M. Bevin O’Gara says “The Turn of the Screw is the ultimate ghost story. I’ve never done a site-specific show quite like this, so it’s very exciting. It’s a challenge because these are two very different locations. And the potential to see a ghost in these houses…that would be cool…I hope.”

The design team for The Turn of the Screw includes costume design by Emily Woods Hogue and Lighting Design by Ian King. Elizabeth Ramirez will be the Stage Manager.

Performance dates are as follows:

November 8, 9, 10, 15, 21, & 22
Gibson House Museum
137 Beacon Street
Boston, MA 02116

November 14, 16, 17, & 23
Taylor House Bed & Breakfast
50 Burroughs Street
Boston, MA 02130

All performances will start at 7:30 pm. The performance runs approximately 80 minutes with no intermission.
Due to the intimate nature of the venues, there will be no late seating.

Tickets are available here for $25.

The press is invited to attend the performance on November 9th at 7:30 pm at the Gibson House.

There will be a reception after the opening night performance on November 8th at the Gibson House.

Please direct all press inquiries to Stephen Libby at 857-574-0550.

Download full press release >>

STEPHEN LIBBY (Man) is thrilled to be appearing with Simple Machine, having directed our premiere production, rogerandtom, last year.  He has appeared locally playing Dylan Thomas in Boston Playwrights’ Theatre and Boston Children’s Theatre’s production of A Child’s Christmas in Wales. Audiences may remember him as Guildenstern in Bad Habit Productions’ Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead, or as Rosencrantz in TheatreZone’s production. He has also appeared with Bad Habit as Rulon Stacey in The Laramie Project and as Milton and Don in All in the Timing. At TheatreZone, he has appeared as the Non-Believer in Anger Box, Dad / Elvis in Cooking with Elvis, Eisenring in The Firebugs, and Berenger in Rhinoceros. With the Publick Theatre, Stephen has appeared as Bunny in Misalliance, Dromio of Ephesus in Comedy of Errors, and Starveling in A Midsummer Night’s Dream. He has also appeared locally with Wheelock Family Theatre, Exquisite Corps, Shakespeare Now!, Opera Boston, Makeshift Theatre Co., and on tour with Shakespeare & Company. Stephen has a BFA in Acting from Syracuse University.

ANNA WALDRON (Governess) is the co-found of Simple Machine, and appeared in our inaugural production, “rogerandtom”, last Spring.  Other performances in and around Boston include Tiffany in You For Me For You (Company One), Hero in Much Ado About Nothing (Arts After Hours), Edith in Blithe Spirit (Lyric Stage), Alex in On the Verge (The Nora), Felicity in The Real Inspector Hound (The Publick Theatre), Nell/May in Caryl Churchill’s Fen (Whistler in the Dark), Ruth in Book of Days, Mabel/Mrs. Cheveley in An Ideal Husband, All in the Timing, The Laramie Project (Bad Habit Productions), Luther, Rhinoceros, The Firebugs, Danny and the Deep Blue Sea and Cooking with Elvis (Apollinaire Theatre), The Comedy of Errors (Imaginary Beasts), Rock n’ Roll, As You Like It, and The Importance of Being Ernest (The Longwood Players).  Directing credits include Stop Kiss (Bad Habit Productions) and Alice in Wonderland (Make/Shift Theatre Co.)  This Spring Anna is directing Kiss Me Kate for The Longwood Players.  Thank you to my whole entire family, near and far, for supporting this endeavor, but most especially Stephen.

LIZ HAYES (Dialect Consultant) is a Boston-based actor, teaching artist and vocal coach. She has vocal and dialect/accent coached for many companies and institutions, including The Huntington Theatre Company, Company One, Underground Railway Theater, Boston Playwright’s Theatre, Whistler in the Dark, Boston Conservatory, Emerson College, Worcester State University and the Walnut Hill School for the Arts. Liz teaches Shakespeare at Walnut Hill and is a member of the Voice and Speech faculty at The Boston Conservatory.

EMILY WOODS HOGUE (Costume Designer) is delighted to return Simple Machine after coordinating costumes for last year’s rogerandtom! Upcoming costume design work includes Becky’s New Car at The Lyric Stage Company of Boston and Carrie the musical at SpeakEasy Stage. She will also be the assistant to the costume designer for The Whipping Man at New Repertory Theatre this winter. Ms. Woods Hogue graduated from Bennington College in Bennington, VT and holds a B.A. in both Costume Design and History. She resides in her ancestral homeland: Medford.

ELIZABETH RAMIREZ (Stage Manager) is excited to work with Simple Machine, they’ve been pretty rad. She studied English and Theater at Boston University. While there she was seen in Richard III, As You Like It, Love’s Labours’ Lost, and Dr. Horrible’s Sing Along Blog. She has also worked with Argos Productions and is currently the Artistic Director of The Calliope Project. Calliope credits include Unyfi (Director), Plaza Suite (Director), The Importance of Being Earnest (Director), Cyrano de Bergerac (Director), Hamlet (Polonius), Titus Andronicus (Lavinia). She enjoys napping and video games.

JEFFREY HATCHER (Playwright) Broadway: Never Gonna Dance (book). Off-Broadway: Three Viewings and A Picasso at Manhattan Theatre Club; Scotland Road and The Turn of the Screw at Primary Stages; Tuesdays with Morrie (with Mitch Albom) at The Minetta Lane; Murder by Poe, The Turn of the Screw, and The Spy at The Acting Company; Neddy at American Place; and Fellow Travelers at Manhattan Punchline. Other Plays/Theaters: Compleat Female Stage Beauty, Mrs. Mannerly, Murderers, Mercy of a Storm, Smash, Armadale, Korczak’s Children, To Fool the Eye, The Falls, A Piece of the Rope, All the Way with LBJ, The Government Inspector, Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde and others at The Guthrie, Old Globe, Yale Rep, The Geffen, Seattle Rep, Cincinnati Playhouse, Cleveland Playhouse, South Coast Rep, Arizona Theater Company, San Jose Rep, The Empty Space, Indiana Rep, Children’s Theater Company, History Theater, Madison Rep, Intiman, Illusion, Denver Center, Oregon Shakespeare Festival, Alabama Shakespeare Festival, Milwaukee Rep, Repertory Theater of St. Louis, Actors Theater of Louisville, Philadelphia Theater Company, Asolo, City Theater, Studio Arena and dozens more in the U.S. and abroad. Film/ TV: Stage Beauty, Casanova, The Duchess, and episodes of Columbo. Grants/Awards: NEA, TCG, Lila Wallace Fund, Rosenthal New Play Prize, Frankel Award, Charles MacArthur Fellowship Award, McKnight Foundation, Jerome Foundation, and Barrymore Award Best New Play. He is a member and/or alumnus of The Playwrights Center, the Dramatists Guild, the Writers Guild, and New Dramatists.