A yuppie woman from Massachusetts, accompanied by her adoring but crude boyfriend, moves to Brooklyn and gets a job at HBO. The woman is humiliated in a leading edge Yoga class that is taught by her close girlfriend. The Yoga Teacher, filled with the power of her own kundalini, seduces the boyfriend. The Yuppie Girl gets even by usurping the Yogi girl in the divine graces of an elderly, powerful Hundu saint. Successful betrayal and revenge, it seems, comes from learning to manage the tension between effort and release, as any Yogi can tell you.
Such is an overview of “Lotus Feet,” a new play by Michael Domitrovich, to be presented by Theater for the New City from February 11 to 28, directed by the author.
The play is primarily the story of the young NYC professional, Beth, as she sacrifices her television career and relationship to follow an elderly female Yoga guru. The fallout leaves Beth’s boyfriend, Charlie, and her best friend, Jennie (the yoga teacher), struggling to reconcile Beth’s choice with their own lives. “Lotus Feet” asks whether the freedom and mysticism of the East has a place within the goal oriented pragmatism of the West. It also depicts the consequences of spirituality in the modern world.
Playwright Michael Domitrovich has a keen eye for the discontents of New York’s trendy thirtysomethings. In 2007, TNC presented his “breakthrough” play, directed by Eduardo Machado, which shone a revealing light at the habitues of New York’s gentrified Art community as they struggle to balance their new-fangled elitism with old-fashioned if trendier bohemianism. The play subsequently had an off-Broadway run at the DR2 Theatre in Union Square in the winter of 2008. According to Domitrovich, “Theater for the New City allows its artists to do the dangerous and daring, which is very freeing as a playwright.”
Domitrovich’s one act, “On Island,” premiered at “Summer Shorts 2” at 59E59 in August 2008, before traveling to Martha’s Vineyard. His short play “Real World Experience” was part of the first “Summer Shorts” at 59E59 in August 2007. His plays “Dirtfag,” “Caregivers,” “Goatgod” and “Godbrothers” have been presented in BlueBox Productions’ “Sticky” at Galapagos in Williamsburg and at the Bowery Poetry Club and La MaMa. His play “Women with a Purpose” was performed at Dixon Place. “In Other News…” was read as part of the Ensemble Studio Theater Octoberfest. Domitrovich is co-author of Eduardo Machado’s food memoir, “Tastes Like Cuba: An Exile’s Hunger for Home,” which was published in October 2007 by Gotham Press. “Dirtfag” was published in the 2009 New York Theatre Review. Domitrovich has been a guest columnist for “Paper” Magazine. He received a BFA from NYU Tisch School of the Arts.
The actors of “Lotus Feet” are Christina Pumariega (“Catch 22” at the Lortel, “All Eyes and Ears” at Theatre Row) as Beth, Quinlan Corbett (The Intiman production of “Little Dog Laughed”) as Charlie, and Lori McNally (“Reservoir Garfunkel” at EST) as Jennie, with Mary Dana Abbott, Cheri Paige, April Martucci, and Haley Roth as the ensemble of Yogis.
The creative team for Lotus Feet includes Stefanie Sertich (choreography), Nathaniel Deverich and Hunter Hebert (scenic design), Maruti Evans (lighting design), and Brian McCorkle (sound design).
Theater for the New City is located at 155 First Avenue, between Ninth and Tenth Streets, in Manhattan. Showtimes are Thursdays through Saturdays at 8pm, Sundays at 3pm. Tickets are $10 and can be purchased through the box office at (212) 254-1109 or online at www.theaterforthenewcity.net.