"JOHN" by Annie Baker at Hyde Park Theatre from Eric Graham on Vimeo.

Enthusiastic reviews across the board:

"A dark comedic gem. So exceptional on so many multiple levels that I am likely to wear out my thesaurus . . . Ken Webster has an obvious feel for the work of Baker and it shows . . . The set, by Mark Pickell, is a stunner. It is one of the best interior design pieces I have seen in several years. . . . The cast here is exceptional. Katherine Catmull is deliciously pixilated as Mertis. Zac Thomas is a study in passive aggressive pain. Catherine Grady delivers a tightly wound Jenny who is the soul of hidden secrets. Lana Dietrich, as Genevieve, is absolutely hilarious. . . . A wonderful new play, being done with class, style and expertise at Hyde Park Theatre. A terrific ride that you will be glad you took. You should make reservations now, because word of mouth will sell this whole run out. This is one not to miss!"
- Broadway World Austin

"A bed & breakfast at night, near a former battlefield. A strange proprietor who claims her sick husband is just behind those doors, but you never see him. Ghost stories. A creepy doll. Rooms you're not supposed to go into. And a storm that traps everyone inside. These are all great ingredients for a horror story, and playwright Annie Baker has jumbled them together in a loopy, fun twist on the genre . . . A smart production of a wise and rare play."
- Austin Chronicle

"To see Ken Webster direct a Baker play is to watch a master at his best. A fine cast of Hyde Park newcomers and regulars alike, whose skills meld into a lovely tapestry or humor and pathos. . . . A smartly directed look at several generations of women brought together at a bed and breakfast, which combines a modern, active script, and a cast with amazing chemistry."
- Austin Arts Watch

"If you want to see an Annie Baker play in Austin, Hyde Park Theatre is the place to go. . . . A tense, macabre feeling resonates throughout the production . . . Exquisitely detailed set by designer Mark Pickell puts the audience right in the middle of the B&B’s living room . . . A contemporary spooky story that slowly builds in intensity towards an ultimate revelation of what may be the scariest 'ghosts' of all."
- Austin American Statesman

NOTE: There will be a talkback after the show on Friday, March 10.

From the Pulitzer-prize-winning playwright of HPT hits The Flick, The Aliens, Circle Mirror Transformation, and Body Awareness: At a bed & breakfast in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, a weird and cheerful innkeeper greets a young couple who are struggling to stay together.

In this play, by turns moving, funny, and otherworldly, Baker's hyper-realism bleeds into the eerily supernatural. The New Yorker: "So good on so many levels that it casts a unique and brilliant light."

Directed by Ken Webster, the HPT production stars Katherine Catmull, Lana Dieterich, Catherine Grady, and Zac Thomas.

John runs at 8:00 PM on Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays, March 2 - April 1, 2017. Thursdays are Pay What You Can Nights at the door. For the first four weeks (March 2 - 25), Friday tickets are $22 and Saturday tickets are $24. For the final weekend (March 30 - April 1), Friday tickets are $24 and Saturday tickets are $26. Tickets are $2 off for students, seniors, military, and Austin Creative Alliance members) Purchase tickets online or call 512-479-PLAY (7529) for reservations.

Hyde Park Theatre is located at 511 W. 43rd Street. Covered off-street parking for the patrons of HPT is available during performances in the lot at 4315 Guadalupe Street, just north of The Parlor. You can drive through The Parlor's parking lot to reach it. Evening HPT parking also available at the Hyde Park Church of Christ on the northeast corner of 43rd & Avenue B. We are grateful to them both for their generosity.

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