Creed Bowlen and Nicole Sciacca as Frank and Alex in the premiere production

It's been described as the perfect play for a theatre with talented young actors and limited resources -- because it has four challenging roles, a lot of big ideas, and one simple set. The healthy mixture of comedy and tragedy only adds to the play's appeal.

The basic idea

Four gifted college students compete in a contest of intellect, with high-paying jobs as the prize. But in the process of answering the contest's probing questions, the four friends quickly find themselves at each other's throats and in each other's beds...

The show had its world premiere in April 2000 in the Odess Theatre at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, under the guidance of internationally renowned director Karma Ibsen. The cast featured four of Theatre UAB's most talented performers and a clever use of scenic materials by designer Kelly Allison.

The response was powerful and immediate -- word-of-mouth from the first performance drove audience members to the box office, where the rest of the week's run was quickly sold out.

Audience notes from the world premiere

Mary Elizabeth McCown as Maria in the premiere production

Because this was a premiere, the audience was given response cards on which they were encouraged to write comments about the new play. Here are few typical samples of their response:

"Seems to me every university theatre in America should be doing this play."

"I came to the show on Tuesday night because it was a class requirement. But on Saturday night I came back to see it again."

"This play has changed my life. I never thought I'd say that about a play I saw in college, but it's true -- now I have to rethink everything I learned in school."

Adam Fox as Gregorio gives his impression of a gargoyle

"WOW! I loved every syllable. It is intelligent with sex and violence as an added attraction. Enticingly unpredictable!"

"This is my favorite show at UAB -- ever."

"I like that it's funny in parts and so serious in other parts. It really covers a lot of ground!"

"MAYFLIESFAST is downright subversive -- and I mean that in a good way."

And this from Ann Reynolds, then the President of UAB:

"My husband, Tom Kirschbaum, and I greatly enjoyed MAYFLIESFAST. The production was well-paced and quite riveting. Tom thought the dialogue brought to mind the plays of Stoppard. This play should have 'good legs' and a real future ..."