William Inge’s Natural Affection, Starring John Pankow and Kathryn Erbe, Begins Performances

A revival of William Inge’s rarely produced play Natural Affection begins performances on September 17 at the Beckett Theatre on Theatre Row. Directed by Jenn Thompson, the off-Broadway engagement—starring stage and screen stars Kathryn Erbe and John Pankow—opens on September 26 and runs through October 26.

Inge’s drama tells the story of a troubled young man who returns from reform school to find his mother (who had abandoned him early in life) living with a new lover. As the tension between them mounts, their fight for forgiveness and connection gives way to desperation, setting this insecure family on a collision course of reckless, heartbreaking and almost inevitable violence.

Erbe and Pankow are joined in the cast by Alec Beard, Eve Bianco, Victoria Mack, Tobi Aremu and Chris Bert. The creative team includes set design by John McDermott, costume design by David Toser, lighting design by Mary Louise Geiger, sound design by Toby Algya and prop design by Lauren Madden.

The production marks Natural Affection’s first New York City revival since it opened on Broadway in 1963.