Thirty years ago, writer Lisa Peterson teamed up with composer-lyricist David Bucknam to adapt one of Peterson鈥檚 favorite novels: Virginia Woolf鈥檚 The Waves. 鈥淭he language is gorgeous and probably one of the most fantastic descriptions of the experience of life that I鈥檝e ever read,鈥� Peterson gushes. (She鈥檚 not the only one who feels that way; in a 2015 poll by the BBC the novel was voted the 16th greatest British novel ever written.)
The Waves follows the lives of six friends as they grow up together, lose sight of each other, and find their way back to their childhood friendships. 鈥淭he novel starts with first experiences鈥攍iterally days-old experiences鈥攐f these six characters, but it follows them up into their middle age,鈥� which is the focus of this adaptation, which is this year鈥檚 solo Mainstage musical playing Vassar College & New York Film and Stage鈥檚 Powerhouse Theatre and begins July 19.
Coincidentally, the process of writing The Waves mirrors its story: Peterson and Bucknam bonded over their love for this book and setting it to music, but then Bucknam passed away. Peterson shelved the project, but harbored a desire for people to hear Bucknam鈥檚 score. 鈥淭here鈥檚 no recording of it, so we began this process thinking we were just preserving something,鈥� she says. Recently, she found a way to come back to it and, through her collaborators, Bucknam鈥檚 creative sensibility.
She brought on Adam Gwon, a composer-lyricist and former student of Bucknam鈥檚 at NYU, to write additional music and lyrics. 鈥淗e was the first person who told me that I should be a composer, that that was where my voice lived,鈥� says Gwon. Then she recruited Tony nominee R补煤l Esparza, another student of Bucknam鈥檚 as a creative consultant and one of the six friends. (He鈥檚 joined by all-star castmates Ken Barnett, Eleasha Gamble, Douglas Lyons, Tony winner Alice Ripley, and Tony nominee Lauren Worsham.)
鈥淗e reminds me a lot of David,鈥� says Peterson of Esparza. 鈥淗e has a similar kind of fast mind, but he鈥檚 injecting鈥攁s Adam is鈥攁 new perspective into it for me.鈥�
But some elements remain the same, specifically Woolf鈥檚 voice in the piece. Because Woolf鈥檚 prose captured Peterson in the first place, she prioritized the preservation of the original words wherever she could.
鈥淧eople will hear her language spoken and sung,鈥� says Peterson, who also directs the project.
鈥淓ach of the six characters capture one part of Virginia Woolf鈥檚 personality,鈥� says Gwon, 鈥渁nd they鈥檙e six very different friends, but when you look at them together, somehow they capture something about the human experience because they all go through these iconic, spiritual journeys.鈥�
The Waves plays Vassar College & New York Stage and Film鈥檚 Powerhouse Theatre July 19鈥�29. For tickets and information .
