Review Fix Exclusive Midtown International Theatre Festival Coverage: Ellany Kincross Talks ‘Lies In-between’

Review Fix chats with playwright Ellany Kincross, who discusses her new production at the Midtown International Theatre Festival.

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About Lies In-Between:

Lies In-between by Ellany Kincross, directed by Adam Chisnall; starring Ellany Kincross. Jeremy and Marlena are dealing with an infidelity in their marriage. Is each one of them saying what they truly mean or what they think the other wants to hear?

Review Fix: What was the inspiration for this project?  

Ellany Kincross: Relationships.  How do we communicate with our significant others?  Do we speak our truth or do we say what we think our partners wants to hear?  What happens when we speak our truth?  What happens when we don’t.  

Review Fix: What’s your creative process like?

Kincross: I think all writers are observers.  We see something or hear something and we want to know more about it.  We explore it.  In Lies In Between, I talk about seeing a couple slow dancing in a Crocs store.  I really did see that couple dancing in that store.  The image stayed with me.  It was a romantic moment that I was privy to.  I saw them while they were joyous and loving, but asked myself what about when they weren’t?

Review Fix: What makes this different or special?

Kincross: This piece is slice of life for when a relationship is in a tough place.  Can these two people get through this rough patch and find love again or is their love gone?  We’ve all faced this dilemma.  We all have sad love stories and happy love stories.  

Review Fix: What did you learn about yourself through this process?

Kincross: I’ve gone back and looked at who I was in my past relationships and where I stood with regard to speaking my truth.  It was eye-opening and enlightening.  I think who you are depends on who you are with.  Who is this partner and how do you love them?  

Review Fix: How does it feel to be a part of something like this?  

Kincross: This is my first experience with The Midtown International Theatre Festival.  I love the fact that they’ve been around for such a long time supporting aspiring playwrights and giving them an opportunity to bring their plays to life.  I’m really excited for my play.  I wrote this play and am performing in it as well.  Wearing two hats is interesting, but I’m thrilled to bring a character I wrote to life.  

Review Fix: What are your ultimate goals for this production and for the future?

Kincross: I would love the play to be well-received, but I mostly want this play to be a conversation starter.  I’d love for someone to walk out of the theatre and talk about the play on the way to have dinner or a drink and share how they perceived the relationship and what choices they may or may not have made. 

Review Fix: What do you think your audiences will enjoy the most?

Kincross: The end is unexpected.  I think it will make someone think back to what they saw and heard and wonder if they’d missed something that should have been apparent to them.  

Review Fix: What’s next?

Kincross: I have another play, a 30-minute one-act, that I’ve been revising.  It’s almost done.  I’d love to bring it to MITF.  I am always getting ideas for new pieces.  I jot down notes, do research and then put everything aside until I’m ready to begin writing.  I’m grateful that the creative juices are always flowing.