The Theater Company / David Zimmerman present
Bartholomew Fair, NJ
Written by Billy Mitchell

Lies, disguises, puppets and New Jersey -- IN VERSE!

Ladies and gentlemen, what could be worse
than sixty-eight minutes of nothing but verse?
We five humble actors raise words from the page
and bring them to life on this unadorned stage.
And you, lads and lasses, give us your attention
whilst we create characters rich in dimension.

So begins Bartholomew Fair, NJ.

Gently inspired by Ben Jonson's classic 1641 comedy, but set in north New Jersey in 1985, Bartholomew Fair, NJ follows John & Win Littlewit as they visit the fair to see a performance of John's all-puppet adaptation of Romeo & Juliet. Along the way they are joined by Win's mother, (The Dame), and her two suitors (a pastor and a "teamster"), assorted booth owners, a rich motor-mouth and his mute fiancée, a stuttering errand boy, a rocking balladeer, a puppeteer named Chester, a detective in disguise (and his wife), and others -- all performed by a cast of 5 hysterically talented actors.

Written in rhyming couplets, the play pays homage to the five-act structure of Ben Jonson's original, while taking delightful liberties and condensing the action to a frantic 80 minutes (including an Induction and Epilogue).

But that all happens soon, so spread your blanket, wool or kersey,
And watch the wild shenanigans at Bartholomew Fair, New Jersey!

See you at the fair!

Running time: 80 minutes

Venue: The MainStage Theater - 312 W. 36th St., 4th floor

Audience: Appropriate for all ages