The Institute For The Opposite Of Longing

Fresh off of its sold out Los Angeles run, the show comes to Boston as the inaugural production of Apollinaire Theatre’s new “Black Box Residency” series, granted to innovative theatre artists in partnership with the Boston Foundation’s Open Door Grant Program.

“Beautiful, mesmerizing. Open your heart, but don’t be afraid.” – The Theatre Times /                  “A brilliant piece. This strange and gorgeous play is a revelation.” – Noho Arts District Review/   “A fascinating show. So vulnerable, so open, so human.” – Theatre Unleashed /

WINNER: 2Cents Theatre Distinctive Voice Award!

WINNER: The Producers Encore Award!

NOMINATED: Inkwell Theater Playwright’s Promise Award!

Please enter the Opposite of Longing Chamber and state your primary symptom of longing. And where do you feel it in your body? And how much do you feel it on a scale of 1 to 10? And are you running out of time?

The Institute for The Opposite of Longing can cure that thing deep in the pit of your body. But what happens when its owners and operators can’t let go of the little boy they had to give back? And can’t stop reenacting the day they packed his bags and watched him go. Or tucking him in at night or talking to his empty shoes or unpacking the bag of his things they keep hidden. What happens when these are the women who are responsible for curing that thing, that thing you feel deep in the pit of your body? Please enter the Opposite of Longing Chamber. We can help you. The process is simple.

The Institute for The Opposite of Longing can cure that thing deep in the pit of your body. But what happens when its owners and operators can’t let go of the little boy they had to give back? And can’t stop reenacting the day they packed his bags and watched him go. Or tucking him in at night or talking to his empty shoes or unpacking the bag of his things they keep hidden. What happens when these are the women who are responsible for curing that thing, that thing you feel deep in the pit of your body? Please enter the Opposite of Longing Chamber. We can help you. The process is simple.

SEE WHAT ELSE THE CRITICS ARE SAYING:

“This is a truly fascinating play. The kind of deeply fascinating that makes your eyes dry up because you just don’t want to blink and miss anything. It’s a brilliant piece. I found it riveting, mournful and hilarious in the most acutely real and acutely absurd ways.  This strange and gorgeous play is a revelation. The performances sublime and the writing astonishing and profound. If you can, see it, if you can’t…try harder.”                                                                                                                    – Samantha Simmonds / Noho Arts District Review

“This piece is beautiful, mesmerizing and sad – I’m not going to lie to you – bring the tissues and open your heart but don’t be afraid. Lindsay Beamish and Vanessa Peters have constructed the world of this theatrical experience so expertly that you are able to experience all they go through without having to take the weight of it with you. In other words, without explaining a thing, they make their story very clear and ultimately give us hope for a future where their pain, and whatever our pain might happen to be, is ultimately something we can bear.”                                                                                 – Christine Deitner / The Theatre Times

“Beautiful, powerful and deeply moving: the exploration of these women’s loss of a boy they loved deeply, and knowing that he is off there somewhere, growing up without them as his moms anymore was simply heartbreaking. The Institute for the Opposite of Longing is another example of the unique and formidable work that is possible when independent theatre practitioners are able to take risks and realize their vision on their own terms.”                                          – Nikki Muller / FringeReviewUK

“The Institute is as intriguing as it is menacing. Beamish and Peters direct and star in this clever story, which blends humor and deep pain and loss. Both artists are clear and believable, and their writing is refreshingly engaging. It’s an unsettling story… told in a creepily gratifying fashion.”                                                                                                                               –  Dana Martin / Stage Raw

“An incredibly moving and stylish piece performed beautifully by the two players. The play writes honestly about loss as a distilled and concentrated thing, dosed with humor that acts as a buffering agent, until it can’t anymore. Lindsay Beamish and Vanessa Peters deftly convey some gut-wrenching stuff in a way that’s relatable and even funny in this slightly removed world. And that is why one go the theatre.”                                                                                                                        – Shereen Khan / Bamboozled