Berkshire on Stage

Wow! A powerhouse of a new play, from the pen of TV’s Lost co-creator Jeffrey Lieber, full of plot twists, tension, and edgy and funny dialogue. A stunning physical production, taut direction, and three brilliant performances make Fever Dreams (of Animals on The Verge of Extinction) a theatrical experience, and one of the best plays I’ve seen this year. For people who like to be on the edge of their seats for two hours, and for people who like watching a puzzle unfold to realize the action is going in a different place than you thought, this explosive new drama is for you.

TheaterWorks Hartford opens its new season with a new play, Fever Dreams (of Animals on The Verge of Extinction) by Jeffrey Lieber.. Its premise may seem similar to Bernard Slade’s 1975 rom-com, Same Time Next Year (later made into a film with Ellen Burstyn and Alan Alda. Two people meet once or twice a year for their annual tryst. Fever Dreams starts off similarly. A couple, Adele, played by Lana Young and Zachary, played by Desperate Housewives and Melrose Place star Doug Savant meet up annually at a remote dilapidated cabin in the woods. This year’s tryst is different. There’s tension, and at some point, a third party, Tim DeKay (Miller) arrives. I’m not giving away any more plot. 

Fever Dreams premiered in the summer of 2023, at the Contemporary American Theater Festival, an incubator of new plays, in Shepherdstown, WV, outside Washington, DC., so were one of the first audiences to see this play, which I predict will be a popular offering at other regional theatres, if not Broadway or Hollywood.

Lieber’s writing is superb, and his three characters are brilliantly conceived. There’s drama and suspense tied together with humor. Rob Ruggiero’s staging is taut. Luke Canterella’s set is amazing…a rundown cabin in the woods that needs repairs but is also cozy enough for a weekend in the country. Sherrice Mojgani’s lighting casts an eerie glow on the cabin. Lindsay Jones has created an atmospheric score to connect the various scenes. It adds a lot to the tension and suspense.

Actors Tim DeKay, Doug Savant, and Lana Young are all making their TheaterWorks debuts. Savant, best known for his TV work, is quite comfortable on the stage, and Lana Young, who has been in a couple of Hartford Stage productions, plays particularly well against Savant and DeKay. DeKay has the most intricate role, and he’s superb.

In a few weeks, us theatre reporters will begin compiling our “Best of Theatre 2024” lists. I wouldn’t be surprised if Fever Dreams (of Animals on The Verge of Extinction) makes the list. It’s just that good. The theatre needs more imaginative pl;aywrights like Jeffrey Lieber. Kudos to TheaterWorks Hartford for bringing this exciting new play to town. 

TheaterWorks Hartford presents Fever Dreams (of Animals on The Verge of Extinction) by Jeffrey Lieber. Directed by Rob Ruggiero. Scenic design by Luke Canterella. Costume design by Alejo Vietti and Joseph Shrope. Lighting design by Sherrice Mojgani. Original music and sound design by Lindsay Jones. Cast: Tim DeKay, Doug Savant, and Lana Young. Through November 3. TheaterWorks, 233 Pearl Street, Hartford. For details: www.twhartford.org. 

Mark G. Auerbach studied theatre at American University and The Yale School of Drama. He has worked for arts organizations nationwide, and reported on the arts for print and broadcast. Mark produces and hosts ArtsBeat, On The Mark, and Survivor Stories  for WCPC15 and 89.5fm/WSKB. He’s a regular contributor to Berkshire Onstage and a member of the Berkshire Theatre Critics Association.