freud's last session | responses

"Ron Reed [gives a] bravura performance as Freud... Reed gives Freud some lovely twists and turns." • Jerry Wasserman, Vancouver Plays

"“Freud’s Last Session,” was stellar. Great acting, set, and music. Very moving. As do all the plays we see at Pacific Theatre, this one caused lots of discussion in our family, afterwards. Still thinking about it. And I love that Pacific Theatre makes me think." • R. Rich, Audience Comment

"Freud’s Last Stand was packed with suspense, wit, angst, passion and every other emotion under the rainbow. Ron Reed was amazing (as he always is) and the other man who played CS Lewis was equally as stellar in his role. I would recommend the play to anyone who enjoys superior theater productions. Pacific Theater continues to be one of those hidden little niches of excellent theater in Vancouver and if you haven’t seen their productions, you are missing out!" • Anita Thompson, Audience Comment

"My wife and I attended "Freud's Last Session" at Pacific Theatre in Vancouver on Saturday (May 2) and was, once again, overtaken by how masterful they are at selecting and producing live stage performances that can simultaneously entertain, educate and provoke one to ponder those deeper questions of life. ... Whether you are a skeptic, an agnostic or a fervent atheist (as was Freud and are other prominent individuals today) or are a Christian believer (as was C. S. Lewis and are many others today) you will find that this play will prod your foundational belief structures and stretch your mind into avenues of contemplation which may be foreign, or even frightening, for you... I am certain of two things: the actors (Evan Frayne and Ron Reed) give you a remarkable insight into the minds of both of these figures and you will not leave the theatre unchallenged." • Bob Quicke, Audience Response

"This Pacific Theatre production, under the direction of Morris Ertman, is intelligent, thought provoking and splendid in every respect – one of the best I’ve seen on this stage... Reed is absolutely outstanding in the role: slightly stooped, his clothes hanging a little loosely, fingers sometimes twitching, Reed is believably eighty-three and so believably in pain it’s gut-wrenching to watch... Evan Frayne, as Lewis, is in every respect equal to Reed’s Freud. As the younger, Oxford and Cambridge scholar who shows little humour (except for his laughter on the subject of flatulence) and even less humility, Frayne turns the moment of Freud’s paralysing attack of bone-wracking pain into one of such compassion, that it might bring tears to your eyes." • Jo Ledingham

"Who would have thought that a 65 minute play about an imagined conversation between Sigmund Freud and C.S. Lewis could be as spell-binding as I found this show to be? I was enthralled." • Gillian Lockitch, Review from the House

"The acting in this production is strong. Evan Frayne makes an earnest Lewis, and Ron Reed a thoughtful, vulnerable Freud." • Colin Thomas, The Georgia Straight

"Pacific Theatre Artistic Director Ron Reed is once again transformed as the seemingly resolute Freud, finding the lows, the highs, and the humour of this intellectual man. Evan Frayne is sweetly openhearted and devout as the young writer." • David C. Jones, Vancouver Presents

"I love Freud and CS Lewis and this play does them both a great service. The set was surreal. The action unbelievably great. The writing was superb. This 'discussion' between giants was something I studied as I learned psychoanalysis a quarter century ago and it goes on today." • William Hay, Facebook Response

"Mark St. Germain doesn’t offer a definitive answer to divinity, or any conclusion to the existence of a hereafter. What the playwright does provide is excellent theatre." • John Jane, Review Vancouver

freud's last session | about c.s. lewis

In FREUD'S LAST SESSION, we meet C.S. Lewis before he was, well, C.S. Lewis.  He was the same man, to be sure, but he had yet to write or publish any of the books that made him famous.  Here's some of what was to come for Lewis.

CS Lewis is known today as one of Christianity’s greatest defenders, as his reputation primarily comes from his non-fiction Christian apologetic literature (Mere Christianity, The Great Divorce, The Problem of Pain) as well as The Chronicles of Narnia, commonly seen as an allegory for the Christian faith.

Lewis was, however, a strong atheist for most of his life. Raised in a religious family, he rejected God and faith at the age of 15. It wasn’t until his adult years that he began to question his resolve, due to a combination of the writings of GK Chesterton and his friendship with JRR Tolkien, a Catholic.

It wasn’t until 1931 that Lewis converted to Christianity. The decision was specifically made while riding in the sidecar of his brother’s motorcycle, on the way to the zoo, before he had published many works.

While none of the philosophies in Lewis’ writing are necessarily new, he popularized several concepts in his fierce attempts to create logical arguments for Christian faith:

Lewis’ Trilemma is the name given to the notion that Jesus cannot simply have been a great human teacher. Due to the claims he made, he must be either a madman, an evil liar, or actually the Son of God.

The concept of a universal morality came up frequently in his writing as well. Both in his fictional stories and non-fiction, he espouses a moral code that everyone knows they should be following. He claimed that there people know what the moral law is and when they break it, as well as the fact that there must be someone or something behind these principles.

Lewis’ view of the afterlife differed from most as well. In works like The Great Divorce he suggests hell to be a place that people can leave at any time – if they are willing to give up the security of isolation and other defenses they have created for themselves.

Since his death, CS Lewis has continued to attract a devoted following, both of his Christian apologetics and fictional stories.

freud's last session | photos (batch three)

More shots of Evan Frayne and Ron Reed in FREUD'S LAST SESSION.  All photos by Damon Calderwood.

freud's last session | about sigmund freud

As the title character of FREUD'S LAST SESSION, Sigmund Freud is an iconic figure of the 20th century.  An Austrian doctor known as the Father of Psychoanalysis, he was the first to suggest treating mental illness by means of conversation between doctor and patient.  Here is some more background information about Freud and his theories.

Freudian therapy involved the patient lying on a couch (now famous) and speaking freely about their symptoms and thoughts. He developed exercises such as free association to help uncover hidden patterns causing distress.

Notable Theories:

The Subconscious: in the early 1900’s, Freud developed a model for the mind where only a small part of it is known (the conscious mind) and the rest is unconscious, or unaware, using the comparison of an iceberg. From this he developed concepts of the id, ego, and supergo.

Psychosexual Stages: one of his more controversial theories, tracing sexual development of a person from infancy forward, including his famous Oedipus Complex. Sexual pleasure, for Freud, was a broader term meant to include all pleasure. He postulated that people seek pleasure from different objects throughout their lives, and have a variety of behavioural and psychological problems based on where their development was stunted.

Dream Analysis: considering sleep to be a time when the ego’s defenses are lowered, he believed that a person’s unconscious desires and neuroses came through in dreams.

Freud’s theories are considered controversial within the behavioural sciences. Scientifically his methods were suspect as he employed case studies through which he generalized to the population as a whole. His theories as a whole came from study of himself and his patients. However, his theories have permeated culture as a whole, referenced regularly in art and entertainment to this day.

freud's last session | photos round two

Some more shots from FREUD'S LAST SESSION, featuring Ron Reed and Evan Frayne.

freud's last session | historical context

FREUD'S LAST SESSION is a fictional story firmly set in a historical time.  Here's some of the background.

Freud’s Last Session is set on September 3, 1939, the day that England entered World War II, two days after Germany’s invasion of Poland.

Immediately people began to leave London and other major cities for the country side, especially those with children. Citizens were provided with gas masks and instructed to go underground when air raid sirens sounded. Those who did not have bunkers or basements available would go to the Underground or neighbours’ homes.

A year previous, in 1938, Sigmund Freud fled growing anti-Semitism in Austria for London. He had his Vienna office replicated in London.

At this time, CS Lewis was working as a professor at Oxford University, just outside London. He had recently published his first book, The Pilgrim’s Regress, which satirized Freud.

freud's last session | the question of god

The play FREUD'S LAST SESSION is inspired by a book called The Question of God.

Written by Dr. Armand Nicholi who taught a Harvard class for years based on the opposing arguments of CS Lewis and Sigmund Freud.  He found that the two men both dealt with the same questions (pain, suffering, love, sex, and the meaning of life and death) and both had examined their views as well as alternate options in great detail, and yet both had come to conclusions that couldn't be more opposite.

The course inspired Dr. Nicholi to write the book, which became a PBS miniseries before being adapted into a play by Mark St. Germain.

freud's last session | production photos

Some production shots from FREUD'S LAST SESSION!

freud's last session | have your session with freud!

After performances of FREUD'S LAST SESSION, we're doing something we've never done before: inviting our audiences onto the stage to take photos on our set, with the actors!  That's right, you can have your very own session with Freud and then brag about it online.  Here's what people have been sharing so far:

My session with Freud! I feel so much better. Check out Freud's Last Session at Pacific Theatre #ptFreud pic.twitter.com/bnyqUIwwsN

— Susie Coodin (@SusieCoodin) April 25, 2015

Opening night of Freuds Last Session @PacificTheatre Well done gentlemen! #CSLewis #ptFreud #theatre #vancitybuzz pic.twitter.com/vu9ly85pvQ

— Giovanni Mocibob (@giomocibob) April 25, 2015

My session with Dr. Freud at @PacificTheatre on the weekend. ("Freud's Last Session") @RonReedPT #ptFreud pic.twitter.com/loznVgjZUz

— Peter Schuler (@CaptiveThunder) April 30, 2015

Just had a session with Freud! #ptFreud happy opening night last Friday! pic.twitter.com/LkIMKIUUJv

— Frank Nickel (@Frankless7) April 29, 2015

Just getting a bit of psychoanalysis. #ptFreud pic.twitter.com/hx4tAe0hen

— Zoe (@nurse_zoe) April 26, 2015

A selfie with Freud. A Freudie. Wonderful session tonight! #PTFreud #analyzethis @PacificTheatre pic.twitter.com/aWMPezpwgI

— Michael Yang (@myang604) April 26, 2015

Last night, I had a session with Freud at @pacifictheatre! #ptFreud #whatsyourneurosis

A photo posted by Andrea Loewen (@andreaxuaxua) on Apr 25, 2015 at 11:42am PDT

#ptFreud

A photo posted by @philm33 on Apr 24, 2015 at 9:35pm PDT

Freud does marital sessions now. #ptfreud

A photo posted by @alimaywhirlwind on Apr 24, 2015 at 9:33pm PDT

freud's last session | opening night photos

Friday's opening of FREUD'S LAST SESSION went splendidly!  It was the perfect way to launch the last show of our season.  Here's some shots from the post-show reception, with some of the patrons and artists behind the show.

freud's last session | pay-what-you-can preview tonight

Tonight is the pay-what-you-can preview of FREUD'S LAST SESSION!  As usual, you can buy tickets in advance for $13.99, or buy at the door and pay whatever you like. 

freud's last session | video trailer

The video trailer for FREUD'S LAST SESSION is live!  Watch this battle of wits between Freud and Lewis play out as a chess match.

freud's last session | subscriber appreciation saturdays

This Saturday is our final Subscriber Appreciation Saturday of the season!  Since FREUD'S LAST SESSION features a man who is no stranger to the PT stage, CS Lewis, we are doing a spotlight session on him, looking at past PT plays featuring him or his stories, as well as his ideas and writing.

FREUD'S LAST SESSION - SUBSCRIBER APPRECIATION SATURDAY
CS Lewis Spotlight
Saturday, April 25th at approx. 3:15pm
(following the matinee performance)
RSVP to shona@pacifictheatre.org.

freud's last session | two lewises on stage

In FREUD'S LAST SESSION, Sigmund Freud calls CS Lewis in for a meeting where they unpack the mysteries (or lack thereof) of the universe.  For our two actors, Evan Frayne and Ron Reed, this isn't their first time exploring the world of CS Lewis!  Both Ron and Evan have played Lewis in past productions - Ron in his Jessie Award-nominated role in SHADOWLANDS and Evan in THE GREAT DIVORCE.  Here's some shots from their past turns as Clive Staples Lewis.

freud's last session | photos

Some advance shots for FREUD'S LAST SESSION, taken by Emily Cooper.

freud's last session | first read

Today was the first read of FREUD'S LAST SESSION! We have been trying to bring this play, bringing CS Lewis and Sigmund Freud together for an incredible battle of wits, for about three years. Can't wait to see how it comes together!

14-15 staff picks | andrea loewen

The next in our series of staff picks for the 2014-2015 season is our Communications Manager Andrea Loewen.

CULTIVATION

There is an immediacy and excitement that comes from our staged readings, I can't wait to see this story given that treatment.  Plus, it's the first play our of our Working With playwriting group to make it into our season!

THE WHIPPING MAN

This play is brutal and captivating.  Parts of it will be difficult to watch, but the depth of character and story that it takes you through is going to be amazing.  Plus I am in love with the artists on this one!

FREUD'S LAST SESSION

I love a good intellectual conversation, and this play takes two titans of thought and pits them against each other.  Plus, we get John Emmet Tracy and Ron on stage together again!

14-15 staff picks | frank nickel

Continuing our series of staff picks for next season, here are the top three shows our Business and Production Manager Frank Nickel is looking forward to next season!

IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE RADIO PLAY

For me, its a classic tale with a twist and its been a while since we've had a proper PT produced Christmas show!

THE RAINMAKER

The design team and acting company are both amazing - powerhouse team for this one.

FREUD'S LAST SESSION

The script, the director, the actors... can't get more pacific theatre than that.

14-15 staff picks | alison chisholm

We're starting a new series featuring staff picks for the coming season, with everyone giving the top three shows they are most excited for next season, and a sentence or two about why.  We'll start with our Operations Manager and Producer Alison Chisholm!

THE WHIPPING MAN

It is such a poignant story about freedom and what it means to be free, and the cast … oh, the cast. I cannot begin to express how excited I am to have Tom Pickett back on our stage alongside Carl Kennedy and Giovanni Mocibob.

UNDERNEATH THE LINTEL

I saw this production at Rosebud Theatre just over a year ago now, and walked out with only one thought in mind: “We have to put this on at Pacific Theatre.” Nathan’s portrayal of The Librarian who decides to embark on this unexpected journey was so honest and visceral that I felt like I was leaning in over coffee to hear all the secrets my friend was sharing. Truly one of the most engaging solo shows I have ever seen.

FREUD'S LAST SESSION

This production should have been in our season three years ago. As far as I am concerned, there is no better venue for this intimate dialogue between Freud and C.S. Lewis than the PT stage. After dealing with struggles of getting rights to this show, I am so thrilled to finally share this show with the Pacific Theatre audience.