By Shelley A. Sackett

‘The Lifespan of a Fact –Written by Jeremy Karaken, David Murrell and Gordon Farrell based on the book by John D’Agata and Jim Fingal; Directed by Sam Weisman; Lighting Design by Marcella Barbeau; Costume Design by Gail Astrid Buckley; Props Design by Lauren Corcuera; Composer/Sound Design by Dewey Dellay, Scenic Design by J. Michael Griggs. Presented by Gloucester Stage Company, 267 E Main St., Gloucester, through September 22.

Every so often, a play so resonates with its time that the audience can’t stop thinking and talking about it for days afterwards. “The Lifespan of a Fact,” at the Gloucester Stage Theatre through September 22, is such a show, and theatergoers should flock to see it for its thought-provoking, razor-sharp script and spot-on production.

Read more “Fact, Fiction or Something in Between? ‘The Lifespan of a Fact’ Asks But Doesn’t Provide Easy Answers”

Review by James Wilkinson

‘The Lifespan of a Fact’ – Written by Jeremy Kareken, David Murrell and Gordon Farrell. Directed by Sam Weisman. Scenic Design: J Michael Griggs. Lighting Design: Marcy Barbeau. Costume Design: Gail Astrid Buckley. Sound Design: Dewey Dellay. Props Design: Lauren Corcuera. Presented by Gloucester Stage Company, 267 E. Main St. Gloucester through September 22^nd.

Truth (and that’s with a capital ‘T’) is one of those words artists throw around when they’re in an especially pretentious mood. The idea that the glory of art is its pursuit of a higher truth is an idea drilled into arts students at school, mostly as a defense when their parents express concerns that they’re not pursuing a more “practical” career path. I’ve never really been able to buy into those lofty notions about truth. It’s not that I doubt art’s ability to investigate concepts, it’s that I’ve had to listen to too many hack artists use the party line as an excuse for whatever bit of nonsense they’re up to at the moment. When you counter their claim with inquiry, “Yes, but what does that mean?” you’ll usually send them stumbling into some vague definition for that grand word: Truth.

Read more “Gloucester Stage Company Tries to Measure the ‘Lifespan of a Fact’”

By Sheila Barth

BOX INFO: One-act, 90-minute play by Jeremy Kareken and David Murrell, and Gordon Farrell, based on the book/essay by John D’Agata and Jim Fingal, starring superstar Lindsay Crouse, through September 22,  at Gloucester Stage Company, 267 East Main St., Gloucester. Showtimes: Wednesday-Saturday, 7:30 p.m; matinees, Saturday, Sunday, 2 p.m.. $15-$48; discounts for military families, senior citizens, college students, 18-year-olds-under, and Cape Ann residents. 978-281-4433, gloucesterstage.com.

When is a fact a fact?

When is it necessary to tell the truth factually, not creatively?

When do details overshadow a creative effort to gather and write a compelling essay?

What is the difference between a journalist and a writer?

What about fake news? 

Read more “THE LIFESPAN OF A FACT – Gloucester Stage”