Earl Lewin’s A Brief History of Man will have its world premiere from February 6-9, 2025 at Church Hill Theatre. Lewin asks “what if humans are just one step in a long chain of intelligent life forms? After all, people aren’t very durable, and we have many design faults.” His answers are truly funny—but with thought provoking implications. This play, workshopped last year at the Chester River Yacht and Country Club, has been tweaked and tightened to make the comedy even sharper.
Four actors take on multiple roles but, as befits a deity, God is played by only one, Will Robinson. The other characters’ names may (or may not) give you an idea of where the plot might lead. Peggy Chiras portrays both the Archangel Michael and a waiter. Steve Hazzard appears as Mephistopheles and Mod 1. Howard Mesick has fun with Adam, Man—and Fido, and Izzie Squire Southworth takes on Eve, Female God, and Latest. All the action happens in the beginning, the present, and the future.
Lewin’s long and illustrious theatre biography started with a BA in Theatre from Temple University, detoured to a career in the film/video business, and returned to live theater when he retired to Chestertown. Since then, Earl has directed or acted in dozens of shows and written numerous straight plays and musicals, including two that played Off-Off Broadway. A Brief History of Man marks Lewin’s ninth original script to premiere on Maryland’s Eastern Shore. His tenth script Tinker Street was enthusiastically received during a staged reading in Fall 2024 at the Garfield Center for the Arts at the Prince Theatre. Lewin, a published playwright, having had two One Act Plays published by Bakers Plays, brings his extensive experience to directing his own scripts. Audiences will be familiar with previous BC Productions which have been staged at Church Hill Theatre. Most recently Lewin’s troupe performed The Chevy’s at the Levy in 2021, Miracle in 2019, Hitched in 2018, Orlando Rising in 2017, Saint Georges Blues in 2016, Accidentally Wealthy in 2015, and Visiting Sam in 2014. Lewin’s two musicals She Stoops to Conquer, The Musical and Celluloid, both featuring musical scores by Dick Durham, were performed at CHT. Celluloid played Off Broadway in 2010. Lewin’s murder-musical The Burgundy Wine Mob also debuted at CHT to go on to an Off-Off Broadway production in 2012. His short script entitled Not Responsible was also featured in the Short Play Labs MidTown Festival in New York City in 2013.
What we see on stage is supported by a talented back-stage team. Bonnie Hill, a veteran CHT director, is the Producer. Experienced Stage Manager Steve Atkinson makes sure everything runs smoothly. Clark Lewin and Kevin Chiras handled the set construction and Blake Lewin was responsible for projection design. Tina Johnson provided costumes, and Doug Kaufmann did the light design. Kat Melton will run the projection system and Tom Blackiston will operate the sound system. Amy Moredock and Sarah Wright arranged the publicity
A Brief History of Man will run from February 6-9, with performances at 7:30 on Thursday, Friday and Saturday and at 2 pm on Sunday. Tickets are available online at churchhilltheatre.org or by calling the box office at (410) 556-6003. Also, visit the BC Productions Facebook page for production updates at https://www.facebook.com/bcproductionsmd.
