The Verge

Susan Glaspell’s 1921 play The Verge is a post-war portrait of a woman created and creating through destruction. Claire Archer (Miriam Silverman) attempts to transcend the constraints of modern life through the breeding of new plants, despite a literal Tom, Dick, and Harry trying to stop her. As the blossoming of her latest creation approaches, her sanity is called into question and tensions around her unique way of life explode. A piece that is by turns devastating philosophical portraiture, droll farce, and scathing feminist cry, The Verge comes together in a pressure cooker analysis of prescribed womanhood.

Set in a greenhouse, this rarely-heard play can now be seen in the perfect setting of the Brooklyn Botanic Garden’s beautiful plant-life. Audience members will be able to tour the Garden’s lush Conservatory with a complimentary glass of wine before watching Glaspell’s stunning play. Highlighting this under-appreciated, female-driven dramatic work, particularly in this unique environment, speaks directly to the missions of the three theaters collaborating to share it with audiences.