If you think modern dating is a minefield, you clearly haven’t met Bruce and Prudence.
This July, the Modern Classics Theatre Company of Long Island is diving headfirst into the hilariously chaotic world of personal ads, bizarre psychoanalysis, and romantic unpredictability with their upcoming production of Christopher Durang’s Beyond Therapy.
The Art of the Farce
At the center of Durang’s razor-sharp satire are two deeply neurotic New Yorkers—Bruce (played by Michael Goodwin) and Prudence (Elise Siegel)—who are both desperately seeking a connection. The problem? Their therapists are actively making things delightfully worse.
Prudence’s macho therapist is aggressively pushing her to be more assertive, while Bruce’s spectacularly wacky psychiatrist convinces him to place a personal ad to meet women. She conveniently glosses over the fact that Bruce already lives with his male lover, Bob (Adam Weinstock), who is understandably less than thrilled about Bruce’s sudden desire to date women.
When Bruce and Prudence finally cross paths, the result is an absolute masterclass in romantic disaster and therapeutic chaos.
Grounding the Chaos: A Conversation with Director Julie Lorson
Farcical comedy is notoriously difficult to pull off; it requires lightning-fast timing and an underlying thread of truth so the audience actually cares about the characters. For director Julie Lorson, the key to making the madness work was ensuring the cast truly understood the people behind the punchlines.
“We spent a ton of time working on character development,” Lorson explains. “Before we even blocked a single scene we created an entire world. From where they grew up, their relationship to their parents, why they are in therapy, to what they look for in a partner. All of these characters have real emotional depth—even if they are insane.”
While the cultural conversation around mental health has evolved drastically since the play was written, Lorson believes the core insecurities remain entirely universal. The production is fully embracing its 1979 setting, rather than attempting to modernize the script.
“The therapists actually have some really good advice underneath it all,” Lorson notes. “I think people will relate to why the characters are in therapy and what their therapists are telling them. We all have the same issues with insecurities in 1979 and 2026.”
Immersive Storytelling at the BACCA Arts Center
As the official theatre company in residence at the Babylon Citizens Council on the Arts (BACCA), Modern Classics is utilizing the intimacy of the space to keep the show’s momentum at a breakneck pace.
For Lorson, the venue’s layout offered a unique opportunity to eliminate one of theatre’s biggest momentum-killers: the dreaded blackout.
“There will be no scene changes! I am so excited,” she says. “Because it’s a small space we have been able to create zones with lighting so there’s no scene changes. Each scene goes immediately into the other—minus a quick costume change like changing a sweater.”
Meet the Cast & Catch the Show
A 501(c)(3) non-profit dedicated to bringing innovative and seldom-seen works to Long Island, Modern Classics has assembled a stellar local ensemble. Joining Goodwin, Siegel, and Weinstock are Jenn Rinaldi as Charlotte, Alex Rich as Stuart, and Ben Boccio as Andrew.
Beyond Therapy runs for seven performances across three weekends this July.
Event Logistics
| Date | Time | Notes |
| Saturday, July 11th | 8:00 PM | Opening Night |
| Sunday, July 12th | 2:00 PM | |
| Friday, July 17th | 8:00 PM | |
| Saturday, July 18th | 8:00 PM | |
| Sunday, July 19th | 2:00 PM | |
| Saturday, July 25th | 8:00 PM | |
| Sunday, July 26th | 2:00 PM | Closing Performance |
Location: BACCA Arts Center, 149 N. Wellwood Ave, Babylon, NY 11704
Tickets: Available through the Modern Classics Theatre Company website.
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