By Gary Wien
originally published: 02/01/2005
What do you think Touch of Rapture is about?
I think it's about love and loss. It's the idea of possessing a gift and passing it on. I've actually have always been fascinated by genetics and the idea that people will be customizing their babies and someday they may find the genetic marker for gifts such as being a musician or a painter or mathematician; someone's destiny will be completely figured out for them before they're even born. So I thought, what if a gift could be passed through shear will? And that's the impetus of the play. Also there's a red cloth that goes from scene to scene and it's about how we perceive an object. They've discovered that the person perceiving the object actually affects the object at a subatomic level. All of these ideas coalesced in my mind - my demented mind - and became this play.
Was there a particular reason that you have the play set in London?
Well, one of the characteristics of the English people is eccentricity, so I thought it would be more fun to have it take place there. There's also a big sculpture movement in England; a very active art world. And I'm allowed a lot more liberties with regards to language. I can use words like bullocks. It's a wonderful language that I couldn't use if it took place in New York.
The other thing I like is a heightened passion that takes me to unfamiliar worlds. If the characters have English accents and a kind of slanted speech it asks the audience to listen in a different way. And maybe they'll enter the whole fantastical world... Or maybe they'll resist but it's more fun for me.
The laughs in Touch Of Rapture seem to grow larger as the play moves on.
I think people need to get comfortable with the play and each other and give themselves permission to laugh. It is a comic drama.
The play is very much based in fantasy but plot driven as well.
Aristotle said the essence of drama is story and I think he means plot. I have to admit I do love plot. Look at the shows on tv that are successful - shows like Law & Order - and they're plot driven. So, because I love story I do put the story element in my plays. And sometimes it takes me a long time to figure out what the story exactly is but the characters are clear and they help write the story.
I'm just grateful when anybody agrees to my run with my perversions. I don't think I write in the normal, more conventional-linear-sequential- domestic-realism style. I prefer a more fantastical theatre and not everyone's willing to enter my demented world.
Gary Wien has been covering the arts since 2001 and has had work published with Jersey Arts, Upstage Magazine, Elmore Magazine, Princeton Magazine, Backstreets and other publications. He is a three-time winner of the Asbury Music Award for Top Music Journalist and the author of
Beyond the Palace (the first book on the history of rock and roll in Asbury Park) and
Are You Listening? The Top 100 Albums of 2001-2010 by New Jersey Artists. In addition, he runs New Jersey Stage and the online radio station
The Penguin Rocks. His personal website is at
lightyscorner.com. He can be contacted at
[email protected].
EVENT PREVIEWS
Berrie Center presents "The Lillias White Effect" featuring Broadway's Lillias White
(MAHWAH, NJ) -- Berrie Center for Performing and Visual Arts presents "The Lillias White Effect" featuring Broadway's Lillias White on Saturday, May 2, 2026 at 8:00pm. In this show, Lillias pulls back the show curtain to tell humorous, poignant and inspiring stories from both her personal and show business life that she has never shared before, onstage or off.
Aspire Performing Arts Company presents "Matilda, the Musical"
(FAIR LAWN, NJ) -- Aspire Performing Arts Company presents Matilda the Musical from May 1-3, 2026 at the Fair Lawn Community Center. Based on Roald Dahl's classic children's book, Matilda the Musical follows Matilda Wormwood, a little girl with astonishing wit, intelligence, and psychokinetic powers.
Phoenix Productions presents "Beautiful, The Carole King Musical"
(RED BANK, NJ) -- Phoenix Productions presents Beautiful, The Carole King Musical from May 1-3, 2026 at Count Basie Center for the Arts. This is the inspiring true story of Carole King's journey from teenage songwriter to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.
George Street Playhouse's 2026 Gala Benefit will honor Emily Mann with the Arthur Laurents Award for Distinguished Artistic Achievement
(NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ) -- George Street Playhouse's 2026 Gala Benefit on Wednesday, May 6th will honor Emily Mann, playwright and former Artistic Director of McCarter Theatre Center, with the Arthur Laurents Award for Distinguished Artistic Achievement. This distinguished honor has only been awarded twice before in George Street Playhouse's over 50-year history.
South Street Players presents Ken Ludwig's "A Comedy of Tenors"
(SPRING LAKE, NJ) -- South Street Players presents Ken Ludwig's A Comedy of Tenors across two weekends from May 1-9, 2026. "Laugh after laugh greets one improbable scene after another. Ludwig knows no ridiculous limits." - BroadwayWorld.com
Vanguard Theater presents Illuminating New Voices
(MONTCLAIR, NJ) -- Vanguard Theater presents Illuminating New Voices across two weekends from May 2-9, 2026. This is a curated weekend of new work presentations. The selected pieces give artists the opportunity to hear their work aloud and engage in a supportive development-focused environment.
State Theatre New Jersey presents Meredith Willson's The Music Man
(NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ) -- State Theatre New Jersey presents Meredith Willson's The Music Man for four performances from May 8-10, 2026. There's trouble in River City when a fast-talking salesman gets his heart stolen by the town librarian.
Class Act Performing Arts Studio presents "Wizard of Oz" at SOPAC
(SOUTH ORANGE, NJ) -- Class Act Performing Arts Studio presents Wizard of Oz at South Orange Performing Arts Center (SOPAC) from May 8-10, 2026. We're off to see the wizard! Follow the yellow brick road to the SOPAC stage for a delightful adaptation of L. Frank Baum's beloved tale, featuring the iconic musical score from the classic MGM film.
Art House Productions presents the 8th Annual INKubator New Play Festival
(JERSEY CITY, NJ) -- Art House Productions presents the 2026 INKubator New Play Festival from May 4-6 & May 11-13, 2026. This year's playwrights are Oded Gross, Erin Mallon, Kyle Mazer, Ferdinand Moscat, Allyson Dwyer, and Cristina Luzárraga. Audiences who attend the festival will have the opportunity to participate in conversations with the writers, directors, and actors following each performance. All readings are free to attend, but advanced registration is required at www.arthouseproductions.org.
bergenPAC's Performing Arts School to Hold Auditions for "Annie"
(ENGLEWOOD, NJ) -- This summer, bergenPAC's Performing Arts School will light up the Taub Stage with the beloved Broadway classic Annie, running July 31 through August 2, 2026. Auditions for the production will be held on Wednesday, May 13th from 4:00pm to 9:00pm. Digital audition submissions will also be accepted now through May 13th. Callbacks will be on May 20th from 4:00pm to 9:00pm.
UPCOMING EVENTS
George Street Playhouse presents "My Lord, What A Night"Friday, May 01, 2026 @ 7:30pmNew Brunswick Performing Arts Center (NBPAC) New Brunswick, NJ
