The Ruins a play through music
Review by Ernest Edwards/Ernest Goes To The Theatre
First let me say, I went to this play on Wednesday October 1, 2025. I am still able to wear shorts and short sleeves, at night, when going to the theater. I am enjoying the warmer than normal temperatures. Looks like more seasonable temperatures are on the horizon for next week.
The Ruins is making its world premiere at the Guthrie Theater at the Dowling Studio on the 9th Floor. It’s a new play by actor/playwright George Abud, along with Sydney Shepherd rounding out the cast.
The plays continues through October 12, 2025. Check out www.guthrietheater.org for tickets. With a run time of 1 hour and 40 minutes that is perfect for a work night.
This is my first play of the Guthrie Theater’s 2025/2026 season.
With the Dowling Studio, the space can be configured anyway that it needs to be for a production. It can be a proscenium stage setting, a thrust stage setting, or as with The Ruins it can an arena setting. That really helped to make this play more intimate. The story takes plays in one room. The play focuses on George and Sydney who are at this place, as their days are numbered. I didn’t ever really figure that part out. We do know that neither one has any family and this facility is for these circumstances. To pass the time and to get to know each other better, as they are sharing a room the until the end for each of them. They play music. George plays an Oud, and Sydney plays the cello. And they teach each other about music and share poems from favorite authors.
Something else the play does is asks the questions “are you good enough?” I know, that can a very deep question. This play does draw you in.
It’s very unique and special play. Glad I got to see the world premiere here in Minneapolis. George Abud has a very good play that he has written.
