Review Fix chats with Eric Marlin about his upcoming production, What a World! What a World!
About Eric Marlin:
Eric Marlin (Playwright) has been produced and developed by the Public Theater, Theatertreffen Stückemarkt, Ars Nova’s ANT Fest, PRELUDE, the Civilians, Dutch Kills Theater Company, Edinburgh Festival Fringe, The Tank, Dixon Place, Samuel French, HOT! Festival, Exquisite Corpse Company, and PTP/NYC. Winner of the Samuel French OOB Short Play Festival. Finalist for SPACE at Ryder Farm, the Jewish Plays Project, FMM Fellowship for Works in Heightened Language, and four-time finalist for the O’Neill National Playwrights Conference. Residencies: Baryshnikov Arts Center, Civilians’ R&D Group, Montclair’s New Works Initiative. He has worked as a producer and stage manager for the Bushwick Starr, New Georges, WP Theater, Red Bull Theatre, CTown, PTP/NYC, Public Theater, and the New Ohio Ice Factory Festival. MFA: Iowa Playwrights Workshop. BA: Bennington College
About The Production:
The Tank NYC (Meghan Finn, Artistic Director; Johnny G. Lloyd, Artistic Director; Molly FitzMaurice, Managing Producer) will present the World Premiere of What a World! What a World! written by Eric Marlin (bad things happen here, 2018 Edinburgh Fringe Festival) and directed by Ilana Khanin (We Need Your Listening at Ice Factory/New Ohio) at The Tank (312 W 36th St., New York, NY 10018), July 9-August 2.
The 1943 melodrama The Pearl of My Oyster could be a camp masterpiece, an erotic transfixion, a flicker of joy amidst utter terror, or it might just be a dumb old movie. Two performers try to sort it out and things get heated…does anyone need an Altoid?
What a World! What a World! was workshopped at ANT Fest 2019 and Prelude Festival 2023 (supported by the Puffin Foundation).
The cast will feature Queen-Tiye Akamefula (Black Girl Magic Show at JACK) and Annie Hoeg (Slow Field at Theaterlab) with Costume Design by Megan Rutherford (Smart at EST), Dramaturgy by Luke Daniel White, and Stage Manager/Assistant Director Madelyn Barkocy.
Review Fix: What inspired this production?
Eric Marlin: There were two strands. First was the 2019 Met Gala, with the theme “Camp: Notes on Fashion.” I watched in fascination as every gay guy litigated which celebrity outfits embodied “legitimate” camp and which fell short. Obviously, this was very silly discourse. But underneath were earnest questions about queer aesthetics and gender performance.
The other strand was classic Hollywood melodrama, particularly the films of Douglas Sirk and Powell & Pressburger. I love their embrace of emotional maximalism, which runs counter to my own artistic impulse towards restraint and minimalism.
Review Fix: Who is the unsung hero of this production?
Marlin: Definitely actor and writer Nia Farrell, who performed in earlier versions of this piece. Her artistry is woven into the text we are performing today. Also, dramaturg Luke Daniel White, who has always pushed me to find the vulnerability beneath the glamor of this play.
Review Fix: What was it like on set?
Marlin: Ilana Khanin is one of the greatest collaborators I’ve ever worked with. We have a profound trust in one another, and as a result, I pretty much stay out of her way and let her explore. She has transformed this play into almost a dance piece, and through this staging, pulled out new meanings from the text I could never find.
Review Fix: How is it different from your other work?
Marlin: What a World! What a World! offers more glitter, less crying, and wilder costumes than my other plays. And on that note, Megan Rutherford’s costumes for this show are totally insane and delicious. You won’t want to miss them!
Review Fix: Who do you think will enjoy it the most?
Marlin: Lovers of classic Hollywood melodramas from the 30s, 40s, and 50s. Gay people with strong opinions. Anyone who has ever felt weird about their gender.
Review Fix: Why do you think it matters today?
It’s a great moment in the American theatre for plays that reject the binary of serious/silly. I hope that What a World! What a World! is a proud and stupid addition to this canon.
Review Fix: What’s next?
Marlin: I’m working on a 90s teen melodrama about apocalyptic anxieties, religious cults, and serial killers, set in Orange County, California. And, tragically, I’m starting a podcast! It’s called Most Likely To Teen Movie, where we watch, analyse, and celebrate the canon of teen movies. Follow us on Instagram @mostlikelytoteenmovie to know when the first episode drops.
Review Fix: Where can people find out more?
Marlin: You can follow our instagram @whataworldplay, or visit The Tank’s website for tickets – https://thetanknyc.org/calendar-1/2026/4/8/whataworld
Review Fix: Anything else you’d like to add?
Marlin: A shoutout to the real MVPs of this production, Queen-Tiye Akamefula and Annie Hoeg, both singular performers. Even if you have beef with me (and I get it), you must come see them work their magic.
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