Valley Song

About

This staging of Valley Song served as the West Coast premiere of Athol Fugard's first post-apartheid play. Directed by Lisa Peterson, the production was characterized by its beautiful simplicity and spare execution, utilizing only two actors to portray three distinct characters. The visual aesthetic was anchored by Loy Arcenas’s efficient set design—a platform and screens evoking the ruddy colors and expansive horizons of the arid Karoo. The creative team also included costume design by Norah Switzer, lighting design by Brian MacDevitt, and original music by Didi Kriel. The staging emphasized Fugard’s poetic language and stark visual imagery, with the director keeping the physical action precise and understated so the emotional stakes could take precedence. The production was presented by La Jolla Playhouse at the Mandell Weiss Theatre in 1996.