(PLAINFIELD, NJ) -- Catalyst Theater Company is presenting Elling, a life affirming comedy, across two weekends (November 3-5 and November 10-12, 2023) at duCret Center of Art in Plainfield. Elling is a 2007 theatrical adaption of the novel and film of the same name. Simon Bent adapted Ingvar Bjornsen's novel and the show was produced on both the West End and Broadway to critical acclaim. Photographer John Posada was on hand to take photos.
Set in Oslow, Norway, this piece is about a sensitive, mentally unstable man who must move to a psychiatric institution when his mother, who has cared for him for 40 plus years, passes away. There he meets Kjell and the pair become fast friends and roommates. After two years they are released from the institution into a government apartment in Oslo to make their way back into society.
At first even the simplest tasks of independent life prove challenging. Soon the roommates begin to blossom in their own unique ways while discovering new friends along the way. It is a comedic story of surviving trauma and dealing with the anxieties and complexities of what it means to be a functioning adult in society. It is a story of struggle, perseverance, family of choice and love.
The cast includes Scott McGowan (Elling), Brent Quan (Kjell), Robert MacLachlan (Alfons), Kathleen Clancy (Reidun), and Fernando Rockenbach (Frank).
Tickets are available for purchase online. Remaining performances are Saturday, November 4th at 8:00pm; Sunday, November 5th at 6:00pm; Friday, November 10th at 8:00pm; Saturday, November 11th at 8:00pm; and Sunday, November 12th at 6:00pm.
duCret Center of Art is located at 1030 Central Avenue in Plainfield, New Jersey.
Catalyst Theater Company is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit theater company dedicated to the creation of progressive theatrical experiences that stimulate the imagination and foster an emotional transformation through the shared experience between artist and audience.
Here are more photos from the production.
John Posada is a New Jersey based photographer specializing in photographing live theatre and music performances. For more than 15 years, John has photographed live events where he mastered the techniques of timing and capturing fast moving action under challenging lighting conditions. Currently, John has spent the last 3 years concentrating on photographing almost 200 theatre productions for over 70 different theatres. Click here for John's website.