Next Season:
"Sharks"
By Larry Swansen
Sharks, the story of two young men who set out to make their mark in the casualty insurance industry. Scott, an early career insurance agent, befriends Richard, a recent college grad determined to enjoy the finer things in life. After the two young men become roommates (and lovers), Richard creates a scheme whereby, through a system of double-invoicing, they are able to generate high levels of early revenues on new policies, pocketing the excess in premiums generated as they do so. After the scam collapses, they are arrested, arraigned and scheduled for trial. In order to avoid prosecution by a district attorney bent on making his name on the crimes of white-collar criminals, the two plea-bargain themselves to a lower sentence; and then Richard concocts a plan whereby the two can avoid imprisonment altogether. The play ends in a stunning and ironic reversal, whereby each man is sentenced to a punishment more permanent than even his worst fears could imagine.
Sharks is a modern morality tale in which the sins of the sons are rooted in the morally ambiguous soil of our times. It is also a love story, and in that regard, it transcends gender-specific issues. Through its theme and story, the play addresses one of the most important issues of our times: the moral culpability of individuals bent on living life on a lark who must come to accept responsibility for their actions. Although the central theme of Sharks is uniquely serious, the play offers a texture that is often quite funny and ultimately very moving. In the end, Sharks is a drama of character and circumstance that evolves to a painful, bittersweet, and quite unexpected, climax.
The play is authored by Larry Swansen, a New York-based playwright. We have been working with Larry for the past year to develop Sharks to its fullest potential, and intend to produce the play in an Off Broadway production next year.
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