Seymour’s Fat Lady

A free adaptation of J.D. Salinger’s Franny & Zooey, adapted by Lacy Post, Carolyn Holding, and Patrick Vaill

Production took place at NYU Tisch School of the Arts, as part of the graduate acting program’s annual Freeplay festival, and featured Carolyn Holding and Patrick Vaill as Franny and Zooey, respectively, with set by Mar Urrestarazu, costumes by Glenna Ryer, lighting by Christina Watanabe, and sound design by Zach Dunham. Photos were taken by Alex Fabotti and videography by Joel Clark.

A note from the director:
The Glass family, a fictional family created by J.D. Salinger, consists of Les, his wife Bessie, and their children Seymour, Buddy, Boo Boo, Walt, Waker, Zooey and Franny. When they were younger, all seven children starred on the radio quiz program “It’s a Wise Child.” The eldest brother, Seymour, took his own life on a vacation in Florida in 1948, at the age of thirty-one. His younger brother Walt was killed two years later in the Second World War. Zooey is a professional actor in New York City. Franny is a college student and until recently, also an actress.

Our story begins in the Glass family’s Upper East Side apartment exactly two and a half days after Franny has suddenly come home, suffering from what can only politely be referred to as “exhaustion.” The year is 1957.