Melissa Leilani Larson

BITTER LEMON

“BITTER LEMON is a prized chamber theatre jewel.” — Les Roka, The Utah Review

One act. Finlay has done Helen a terrible wrong and now they are trapped, alone together, in a strange and empty in-between. What if the only escape is forgiving the unforgivable? BITTER LEMON is a thoughtful spin on the Scottish Play that finally gives Lady Macduff her say.

“This understated two person show is thought-provoking and visceral. Larson is a celebrated Utah playwright for a reason, and this show is no exception.” — Ashlei Havili Thomas, Front Row Reviewers

“If you value intelligent theatre that has a bite, don’t miss BITTER LEMON…. I’d see this riff on Macbeth again in a heartbeat.” — Ann Poore, Artists of Utah | 15 Bytes

BITTER LEMON received a full production, a (sort of) world premiere, at Plan-B Theatre April 11 - 28, 2024 in the Studio Theatre. It was directed by Jerry Rapier with costumes by Victoria Bird, sound by Cheryl Ann Cluff, set design by Janice Chan, lights by Emma Belnap, intimacy direction by Liz Whittaker, stage management by Taylor Wallace, and scenic build and electrician work by David Knoell. The cast comprised Bobby Cody and Yolanda Stange.

“[In] this riveting production…. Larson takes liberties with Shakespeare’s script, adding depth and nuance to the female characters in the Macbeth origin story.” — Keolanani Kinghorn, Rhetorical Reviews

BITTER LEMON was commissioned by Creekside Theatre Fest, where it premiered in June 2019. The idea of the original production, conceived by Jordan Long, was for the actors to receive the script blind each night and discover the story along with the audience. There was no direction and no design. A different pair of actors performed each time: Jan Shelton Hunsaker and Andrew Hunsaker; Christie Gardner and Patrick Kintz; Elizabeth Golden and Marvin Payne; Brooke Hess Grant and M. Chase Grant; Kris Wing Jennings and Gabe Spencer; Shaunna Harmon Thompson and Benjamin Henderson.

BITTER LEMON is an “imaginative epilogue to Shakespeare’s Macbeth.” — Linda Hunt, Salt Lake Magazine