Jonathon Cook and Devon McSherry in "Lobster Man." Photo credit TJ McSherry
Jonathon Cook and Devon McSherry in "Lobster Man." Photo credit TJ McSherry

An expanded ‘Lobster Man’ to be featured as part of USC Aiken’s Carolina Series

(Editor’s note: Because of a medical emergency, the production dates have been postponed and have been updated in this story)

Jonathan Cook first penned his “Lobster Man” short play more than a decade ago.

 Over the years, however, he couldn’t get away from the feeling that there was more to the story about a couple, who after an apocalyptic event, think they could be the last two people on the planet than his original 15-minute play portrayed.

Cook’s full-length production of “Lobster Man” was scheduled to make its debut Jan. 18 as part of the University of South Carolina Aiken’s Carolina Series at the Etherredge Center; however, due to a medical emergency involving a cast member, it is being moved to March 6. The Georgia debut will be March 13-15 at Le Chat Noir where the original short made its debut.

“Back in 2011, Le Chat Noir had just started Quickies,” said the award-winning North Augusta playwright.

Quickies was a short play festival, and Cook decided to have a go at writing his own play to be featured in it.

“I had an idea. I wrote it, and It went over well,” he said.

Since then, “Lobster Man,” has traveled the globe in its abbreviated form. It’s been staged about three times in Augusta and Aiken. Theater groups across the United States as well as in the United Kingdom and Australia have also produced the one-scene play.

Cook estimates that he’s written about 40 plays not including the ones from his student days, which he isn’t complimentary of.

During the pandemic, Cook started his “Gather by the Ghost Light” podcast and through it has met many playwrights. Conversations with them have opened Cook’s eyes to the possibilities his writings could have and fanned that spark of interest in writing longer features.

Until recently, he primarily wrote short plays because he felt they had a better chance of getting in front of an audience.

“If they do a short play festival, they take up to 10 plays sometimes; the odds are in your favor,” he said.

However, he’s learned about more theater groups interested in taking a chance on new full-length works.

He started fleshing out “Lobster Man” from one to eight scenes about a year ago. He got feedback from a few groups that workshopped it or did readings of it. He expanded his characters plus he added another dimension to highlight a visual artist – A.C. Daniel.

“One of the characters is an artist. Paintings show the progression of time. There are more paintings added to the set as time passes. The whole play takes place over two years,” he said.

Cook commissioned Daniel to paint the pieces for the show.

Cook said he’s excited to be able to bring the show to the two different venues to give more people the chance to see it.

Charmain Z. Brackett, the publisher of Augusta Good News and Inspiring: Women of Augusta, has covered Augusta’s news for more than 35 years and is a Georgia Press Association award winner. Reach her at charmain@augustagoodnews.com. Sign up for the newsletter here.

Support Local Journalism

Local stories on local people, organizations and events. That's the focus of Augusta Good News, a member of the Georgia Press Association. And you don't have to go through a paywall to find these stories. An independent voice in Augusta, Ga., Augusta Good News is not funded by a billionaire or a large corporation; it doesn't have celebrity reporters who have agents. It's local people who are invested in the community and want to tell its stories. You can support local journalism and help us expand our coverage by becoming a supporter. Through Ko-Fi, you can give once or set up a monthly gift.

Comments are closed.