ROYAL SOCIETY OF ANTARCTICA By Mat Smart

The Royal Society of Antarctica, follows Dee as she returns to her birthplace at the blindingly bright McMurdo Station in Antarctica to work as a janitor and seek answers to her mother's disappearance in this wonderfully weird and touching new play perfectly suited to The Gift's intimate space.

"Mat Smart's "The Royal Society of Antarctica" was a hefty, world-premiere project championed by the late, great Sheldon Patinkin, who was slated to direct the piece at Gift. Following Patinkin's death, those duties were assumed by John Gawlik, who has done the Patinkin legacy proud by the precision of these scenes and the commitment to rich truth." CHICAGO TRIBUNE

"Gawlik's masterfully intimate production takes you away to an exotic frigid world filled with quirky characters played by astute actors who also display a wealth of depth and anguish." WINDY CITY TIMES

"Even though The Royal Society of Antarctica runs three hours with two short intermissions, the time goes quickly due to Smart’s engrossing story, the production’s perfect pacing and John Gawlik’s deft direction." STAGE and CINEMA

 

 

Royal Society of Antarctica by Mat Smart

"I really didn't want the show to end. I'd laughed and thought all night, and I felt like I would miss these people."  Chicago Tribune

"I really didn't want the show to end. I'd laughed and thought all night, and I felt like I would miss these people." Chicago Tribune

"Easily one of the year’s best new plays."  Stage and Cinema

"Easily one of the year’s best new plays." Stage and Cinema

"So many stellar roles that suit their members like a glove.. and they play them with set-chewing relish. There isn’t a weak link in the cast."  Newcity

"So many stellar roles that suit their members like a glove.. and they play them with set-chewing relish. There isn’t a weak link in the cast." Newcity

"Highly Recommended. An immensely touching, quirky, tragicomic surprise that features a dream cast under the exemplary direction of John Gawlik."  The Chicago Sun-Times

"Highly Recommended. An immensely touching, quirky, tragicomic surprise that features a dream cast under the exemplary direction of John Gawlik." The Chicago Sun-Times

"A very engrossing, thoughtful and funny production."  Windy City Times

"A very engrossing, thoughtful and funny production." Windy City Times

Chicago Reader  Recommended! "Quirky, fascinating, utterly believable characters, all of them played in this talented ensemble’s intense take-no-prisoners style."

Chicago Reader Recommended! "Quirky, fascinating, utterly believable characters, all of them played in this talented ensemble’s intense take-no-prisoners style."