Fake
From The Arthur Conan Doyle Encyclopedia
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
Part 2
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)
© Photos : Michael Brosilow.
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
Crew
- 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