The history of the play has, much like the plot, come full circle. Arthur Schnitzler wrote Reigen (or “round dance”) in 1897. This dramatic expose led characters of different ages and social strata through a round robin of sexual encounters. So scandalous for its time, the play wasn’t produced until 1921. Closed by Vienna police soon thereafter, Reigen remained in the spotlight: the actors had to endure a six-day trial on charges of obscenity! In 1950 Max Ophuls boldly entered the circle when he turned Reigen into the screenplay La Ronde (earning an Oscar nomination against A Streetcar Named Desire). English playwright David Hare entered this roundelay with his version of the story in 1998, changing the title to The Blue Room. Sam Mendez (American Beauty) directed the two-person, ten-character cast starring Nicole Kidman (who stirred a lot of attention with her bare-all performance) and Iaian Glen (ditto). In one century, the story went from scandal to success yet still remains faithful to the original.

“The play,” according to director Lauren Caldwell, “is an examination of the primitive sexual needs of people in all social categories.” Set in present day, The Blue Room introduces us to characters we have seen and perhaps touched before: a cab driver, a married woman, a student, a playwright, a model, a politician, etc. Through a sexual daisy chain, the play explores the twilight world of its characters’ hunger. Without sacrificing humor, The Blue Room’s quick-paced change of characters and settings makes for an evening of thought-provoking, entertaining and memorable theatre.