Axial's Senescence: A Chilling View of the Devastation & Toxicity

Howard Meyer’s newest play, Senescence, running at Axial Theatre in Pleasantville weekends through November 18, is set in 2012 in a small, blue-collar town in New Jersey. It tells the story of three residents and a mysterious stranger – perhaps a prophet, of hope? of doom? - and how the lives of the trio are impacted, in some cases destroyed, by toxicity that appears in many forms – through destructive chemicals and through relationships. It moves towards a harrowing conclusion with immediacy and urgency as Hurricane Sandy lands.

We asked Meyer how this translates to Westchester County in 2018.

“First, I should say that I always write about people first – any message is revealed through the lives, the interactions, of the characters. Second, the effects of chemicals and the frequency of traumatic, life-altering storms has only worsened since 2012. The people in my play try to deal with devastation and, as usual, a frequent coping mechanism is denial. They discover that denial can only serve your purpose for a time, then its effectiveness wears out. Those who saw the play during opening weekend tell me that it’s given them a great deal to think about in terms of their lives and the planet. And yes, there is cause to hope – you just need to know that it can appear in unexpected guises.”

Award-winning, New York City-based filmmaker and frequent downtown theater director James Fauvell who often works with Tony and Emmy-nominated director Scott Ellis and is a member of the 2017 Lincoln Center Directors Lab, is directing. Actors are Eric Cotti, Claire McClain, Michael Kingsbaker and Westchester native Ryan Mallon.

Remaining performances ofSenescence areSaturday, November 10 and 17 at 8 p.m; Saturday matinees at 3 p.m.; and Sunday matinees at 4 p.m., November 11 and 18. Tickets are $27.50 general audiences; $22.50 for seniors and students. Axial Theatre is located on the campus of St. John’s Episcopal Church, 8 Sunnyside Ave., Pleasantville, NY. Visit www.axialtheatre.orgfor tickets and information.

Meyer’s most recent original work, Paint Made Flesh, recently completed a run at The Cell in Manhattan; it was a semi-finalist at the 2015 O’Neill National Playwrights Conference and PlayPenn and selected by The Last Frontier Theatre Conference.