Two River Theater Founder Co-Writes Play
By Mary Ann Bourbeau
RED BANK – They say writers write about what they know, and that is certainly true for Robert M. Rechnitz, Ph.D., and Kenneth Stunkel, Ph.D. Both men were professors at Monmouth University for most of their careers. Rechnitz taught American literature for 35 years, and Stunkel taught history there for nearly four decades. This experience no doubt served as the inspiration for “Lives of Reason,” a play they co-wrote, which runs at the Two River Theater through Feb. 7.
The setting is a faculty party in the English department of a small college. “Lives of Reason” brings audiences inside the world of academia and secret passions.
“I’ve been interested in acting all my life, and I studied acting in New York,” Rechnitz said. “Teaching also has an element of acting to it.”
The lead character in the play is a married professor who was once involved with the son of the college’s founder. When she comes back to the school to teach, they realize they both still love each other, but neither is ready to leave his or her mate. Their deep love must come to an end, and they are forced to come to terms with that reality.
“There isn’t a single character that isn’t a memory of people I knew,” Rechnitz said. “You make characters out of fragments of your own experience.”
Rechnitz, who along with his wife Joan established the Two River Theater in 1994, has written a few one-act plays and the beginning of three full-length plays, but this is the first one he has completed. He’s very excited to see it coming together on stage.
“Ken and I worked so well together,” he said. “I never tried collaborating with another writer before, but it went absolutely beautifully. We had a meeting of minds and refined each other’s ideas.”
“Lives of Reason” is directed by Jonathan Fox, the theater’s first artistic director, who is now executive artistic director of the Ensemble Theatre Company of Santa Barbara in California.
“Jonathan is a very knowledgeable theater person and has done an excellent job directing this play,” Rechnitz said.
(Edna Clare), and William Parry (Hartley Clare) in “Lives of Reason.” Photo: T. Charles Erickson
The cast is ripe with professional credits, including Mairin Lee, who made her Broadway debut a few years ago when she understudied for Jessica Chastain in “The Heiress.”
“The whole experience was completely fantastic,” she said. “To be on Broadway and have family and friends come was totally a dream come true.”
In “Lives of Reason,” Lee plays Ilona Cabot, the loose, fun and sexy woman at the center of the story.
“I was immediately attracted to her spirit and energy,” Lee said. “There is a sort of wildness to her that I found really exciting. It’s definitely the most feisty character I’ve done, and I’m having a total blast.”
Lee said she was drawn to the story because Rechnitz and Stunkel had such good insights into the world of academia and the power struggles that can take place between professors.
“From the first time I read the script, Ilona struck me as captivating,” she said. “What I liked about her is her stripped down sense of desire and honesty. It’s really cool and fun to watch.”
The 100-minute play will be staged in the Marion Huber Theater, a 110-seat state-of-the-art black box space in the Two River Theater. “Lives of Reason” is sponsored by Monmouth University & Saker ShopRite.
Tickets are $37 – $65. For more information, visit www.tworivertheater.org.
Arts and entertainment writer Mary Ann Bourbeau can be reached at mbourbeau@tworivertimes.com. Follow her on Twitter @MaryAnnBourbeau.
