Plays

The Increased Difficulty of Concentration

A new translation

Translated by Stepan Simek
Directed by Yolanda Hawkins
Produced by True Comedy Theatre

Presented at the Ohio Theater.

Read an essay about the play.

THE INCREASED DIFFICULTY OF CONCENTRATION IS NOW AVAILABLE FROM THEATER 61 PRESS.

Thursday, November 2 at 8p.m.
Sunday, November 5 at Noon
Tuesday, November 7 at 7p.m.
Friday, November 10 at 8p.m.
Saturday, November 18 at 9p.m.
Sunday, November 19 at 8:30p.m.
Wednesday, November 22 at 8:30p.m.
Sunday, November 26 at Noon

Production
Composer/sound designer: William Sullivan Niederkorn
Lighting design: Jeff Nash
Set design: Phyllis Carlin
Prop design: Danielle Matland
Designer/photographer: John Matturri
Assistant director: Matthew Park

Cast
Carl Kriebel: John Hagan
Hummel: Brad Holbrook*
Lilly: Shira Kobren
Edna Hummel: Meret Oppenheim
Beck: David Ott
Max: Matthew Park
Renata: Amy Quint
Dr. Balthazar: Kate Reilly

Music performed by The Mendoza Line

Synopsis
Dr. Huml, a social scientist and writer, has a life that’s fragmenting around him. He has troubles with his wife, troubles with his mistress, and troubles with a malfunctioning form of artificial intelligence called Puzak. His life goes round and round, repeating itself until Huml barely knows where he is or who is his current lover, as he struggles inside a metaphysical French farce.

Production history
This play was produced during the Prague Spring. It later went on to win an OBIE, when it was produced at Lincoln Center.