Fake

Fake (2009)

Fake is an American play written and directed by Eric Simonson, performed by Steppenwolf Theatre Company at Steppenwolf's Downstairs Theatre (Chicago, USA) from 10 september to 8 november 2009, starring Francis Guinan as Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. 2 hours 10 minutes (including a 15-min. intermission)

In 1914, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle invites four guests to his English country home. Each visitor has a connection to the infamous "Piltdown Man," purported to be the missing link between ape and man — later exposed as a hoax. Swinging back and forth through time, Fake investigates how "Piltdown" rattled assumptions about evolution, faith and science — and how we are transformed by our quest for the truth.

Videos

Extract 1

Extract 2

Audio Record of the play

Part 1

File:2009-fake-steppenwolf-broadcast1.mp3

Part 2

File:2009-fake-steppenwolf-broadcast2.mp3

Photos

Rebecca Eastman (Kate Arrington) & Sir Arthur Conan Doyle (Francis Guinan)
Pierre Teilhard de Chardin (Coburn Goss), Rebecca Eastman (Kate Arrington), Arthur Woodward (Alan Wilder) and Charles Dawson (Larry Yando)

Acts

Act 1

Scene 1 : Library of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle (1914)
Scene 2 : A London Flat (1953)
Scene 3 : London Natural History Museum (1914)
Scene 4 : Jonathan and Kat’s Flat (1952)

Act 2

Scene 1 : Piltdown, Gravel Pit (1914)
Scene 2 : Museum Library (1953)
Scene 3 : Library of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle (1914)
Scene 4 : Museum Library (1953)

Cast

Sir Arthur Conan Doyle (1914) / Jonathan Cole (1953) : Francis Guinan
Rebecca Eastman (1914) / Katarina Meras (1953) : Kate Arrington
Arthur Woodward (1914) / Paul Moody (1953) : Alan Wilder
Pierre Teilhard de Chardin (1914) / Doug Arnt (1953) / Voice of Sherlock Holmes : Coburn Goss
Charles Dawson (1914) / Henry Billings (1953) / Voice of Dr. Watson / BBC radio announcer : Larry Yando

Understudies

James D. Farruggio, Leslie Frame, Gary Simmers

Director : Eric Simonson
Playwright : Eric Simonson
Set Decoration : Todd Rosenthal
Costumes Design : Karin Kopischke
Lights : Joe Appelt
Sound : Barry Funderburg
Music : Barry Funderburg
Stage Manager : Michelle Medvin
Stage Manager Assistant : Kathleen Petroziello
Dramaturg : Rebecca Ann Rugg
Dialect coach : Cecilie O'Reilly

Source

"Fake" : the official programme

Conan Doyle on stage