Description

A Walk in the Woods depicts the developing relationship between two arms limitation negotiators, one Russian, Andrey Botvinnik, and one American, Joan Honeyman, over a year of negotiations. They eventually develop a relationship, although their personalities differ. Botvinnik is friendly and enjoys American culture, Honeyman is formal and idealistic.
Note: the play is suggested by a real-life incident, which occurred in 1982. "Negotiators Paul H. Nitze and Yuli A. Kvitsinsky left the official Geneva sessions for an unofficial "walk in the woods" and achieved a breakthrough, soon rejected by their Governments."

Credits

Reviews

A Walk In The Woods Explores Difficult Topic with Insight and Humor
- By William Harrold, Freelance Reviewer

We don’t hear as much these days about global superpowers discussing ways to reduce their arsenals of nuclear weapons, but back in the 1980s, the efforts by the United States and the Soviet Union took center stage. Specifically, the two countries conducted a series of high-level negotiations in Geneva during the 1980s, leading up to an historic meeting between US president Ronald Reagan and Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev.
A Walk In The Woods, the award winning play by Lee Blessing, brings to life a series of imagined, informal conversations between the countries’ two lead negotiators as they took breaks from formal talks to stroll, sit and chat in the woods near Geneva.
In the relaxed environment of the forest the negotiators build rapport through dialogue that is personally revealing, sometimes testy, and often lighthearted, even though their cultural, political and philosophical differences often stand in the way of deeper connection. It is fascinating to watch the characters reveal their deeper biases and motivations, and then change them based on the comments of the other.
A play with just two characters, on a sparse and unchanging set with minimal lighting design, would represent a monumental challenge for any two actors, and local stage veterans Ed Montes and Karen Buerdsell rise to the occasion admirably.
At a recent dress rehearsal Montes created his Russian persona with physical mannerisms and a believable accent, while Buerdsell brought both formality and passion to her role as the American. Under Ceil Herman’s direction the energy never falters as the actors employ the entire stage and create a steady rhythm to their dialogue.
Described as “a play of ideas, intelligence and…wit” by the New York Times, “A Walk In The Woods” opened on Broadway in February, 1988 with renowned stage actors Sam Waterston and Robert Prosky. It was nominated for two Tony Awards plus the BBC’s Play of the Year Award, and was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize for Drama.
“A Walk In The Woods” opens Friday, June 14 and runs through June 30 at the Black Box Theatre, 430 N. Main Street, Las Cruces, NM. Performances are Fridays and Saturdays at 8:00 p.m., Sundays at 2:30 p.m. (except June 17), and a special Thursday performance on June 27 at 7:00 p.m. Regular admission is $15; students and seniors are $12, and Thursday evening’s performance is $10. For more information visit the Black Box website at no-strings.org and for tickets, call the theatre at 575-523-1223.

Seating

No seating plan has been posted.