Claire has committed a shocking crime: the murder, dismemberment, and beheading of her cousin, the deaf-mute Marie-Therese. A persistent investigator wants to know: what impelled Claire to engage in such extreme behavior? What happened in Claire's past to lead her to this point? Is Claire a madwoman? And where, oh where, is Marie-Therese's head?

That's not all. Claire has a husband, Pierre. What complicity does he have in Claire's violent acts? Did he in any way drive her to her misdeeds? Does he still love her?

The play L'Amante Anglaise (The English Lover) was first presented in French in 1967. The current production marks the U.S. Premiere of Barbara Bray's new English translation. The title of the piece involves a play on words, which becomes clear when watching the play.

Playwright Marguerite Duras (1914-1996) wrote prolifically for every medium: plays, novels, stories, screenplays, and was also a filmmaker. She is best known in the U.S. for her autobiographical novel "The Lover," made into a successful film in 1992; and for her classic 1959 screenplay for "Hiroshima Mon Amour."