More Lies About Jerzy is a play written by Davey Holmes, inspired by the last days of the Polish-American novelist, Jerzy Kosiński.
It was first produced Off-Broadway in 2001, at the Vineyard Theatre in New York City. It premiered in London at the New End Theatre and in Los Angeles at the Hayworth Theatre. The play is published by Broadway Play Publishing Inc.
Synopsis A world-famous Jewish writer, Jerzy Lesnewski, is suspected as having lied about his childhood during the Holocaust.
New York reviews In its first run, the play received both positive and mixed reviews. In The New York Times, Bruce Weber wrote: "It is a work of admirable ambition and, indeed, perhaps its chief flaw is that it feels bulky and overloaded."Weber, Bruce. Review at The New York Times, 23 January 2001. In the New York Post, Clive Barnes called it “electrifying" and "completely engrossing,”Barnes, Clive. Review at New York Post, 4 February 2001. and Donald Lyons, also in the Post, wrote that it was “exciting, compelling theater, about something that matters,” and "a meditation, serious but entertaining, on the ways people invent themselves.”Lyons, Donald. at New York Post, 22 January 2001. Gordon Cox's review in Newsday called the play "a smart, complicated look at a self-made celebrity,” but that "it's too bad that Holmes felt compelled to include the truth about Jerzy in "More Lies About Jerzy," because it's all those masterfully crafted lies that give his play such intelligence and texture.”Cox, Gordon Review in Newsday The play was awarded "Critics Pick" by Time Out New York.More Lies About Jerzy at Time Out New York
Referring to the play in an interview with The New York Times, in 2001, Davey Holmes said, "I was always interested in people who invent themselves: celebrities, politicians, salesmen, actors. People who have... the choice of whether to rename themselves or not, to manufacture how they behave or are perceived."McKinley, Jesse. "The Truth About Jerzy May Never Be Known", The New York Times, 14 January 2001.
Los Angeles reviews The reviews for the Los Angeles production were mainly raves, selected as "Critic's Choice" by the Los Angeles Times, LA Weekly and Backstage. The production was "Ovation Recommended" by the LA Stage Alliance Ovation Awards. Jack Stehlin's performance in the lead role was nominated for Best Actor by the Los Angeles Times.
Casts Original New York cast; Vineyard Theatre, 2001; directed by Darko TresnjakNew York Daily News review, 22 January 2001.
Jared Harris as Jerzy Lesnewski Gretchen Egolf Daniel London Lizbeth MacKay Boris McGiver Betty Miller Portia Reiners Martin Shakar Adam Stein Gary Wilmes
Original London cast; 2002; New End TheatreLondon review , whatsonstage.com George Layton as Jerzy Lesnewski
Original Los Angeles Cast; 2010; Circus Theatricals at the Hayworth Theatre; 2010; directed by David Trainer; produced by Jeannine Wisnosky Stehlin
Jack Stehlin as Jerzy Lesnewski Kristin Malko as Georgia Fischer Cameron Meyer as Isabel Parris Adam Stein as Arthur Bausley Jordan Lund as Rysiek Zrupina Neil Vipond as Harry Frott Chet Grissom as Brett Pearson
Publication
More Lies About Jerzy is published by Broadway Play Publishing Inc. in the collection Plays From The Vineyard Theater.
References
External links
New York Times article, January 14, 2001 Komisar's Curtain-Raisers - New York Theatre Wire More Lies About Jerzy, a CurtainUp review
PLAYS FROM WOOLLY MAMMOTH The New American Theatre Writer who fictionalized Holocaust experiences becomes subject of fictional drama Theater review: 'More Lies About Jerzy' at the Hayworth Theatre [Updated] More Lies About Jerzy - Hayworth Theatre - Los Angeles - Events