Rarely Performed William Inge Play Natural Affection Opens Off-Broadway

One of William Inge’s most controversial plays returns to the New York stage for the first time in 50 years! Inge’s rarely produced drama Natural Affection—which hasn’t been seen in New York since the original 1963 Broadway production—opens at off-Broadway’s Beckett Theatre on September 26 for a limited run through October 26.

Director Jenn Thompson helms the revival, which tells the story of a troubled young man who returns from reform school to find his mother (who abandoned him early in life) living with a new lover. As the tension between mother and son reaches a tipping point, this insecure family speeds onto a collision course of reckless, heartbreaking and almost inevitable violence and tragedy.

The show is led by Kathryn Erbe and bolstered by performances from Alec Beard (as the live-in lover Bernie), Chris Bert (as troubled son Donnie), Victoria Mack (as unhappy neighbor Claire) and John Pankow (as the afflicted Vince), as well as Tobi Aremu and Eve Bianco. 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.