"Fog and Ice," an evening of three one-acts by Eugene O'Neill and Esther E. Galbraith
Short classic plays explore isolation, obsession and moral reckoning.

WHERE AND WHEN:
Feb. 12 thru 28, 2026
Theatre Row (Theatre Two), 410 West 42nd Street
Presented by JHW Productions
Previews February 12-14, opens February 15. Runs thru February 28 on the following schedule: Wednesdays thru Saturdays at 7:00 PM and Sundays at 2:00 PM. Added 2:00 PM matinees: Sat 2/14, Wed 2/25 and Sat 2/28 (total 16 performances).
Tickets: Standard Seating $38.00, Premium Seating $48.00.
Show's website address: https://bfany.org/theatre-row/shows/fog-and-ice-an-evening-of-three-one-acts/
Buy Tickets: https://bfany.org/theatre-row/shows/fog-and-ice-an-evening-of-three-one-acts/
Runs 80 minutes without intermission.
Critics are invited on or after February 14 (2:00 PM show). Opens February 15.
Photos: https://photos.app.goo.gl/PuP9SM3bp8yzEKpo7

NEW YORK, January 21 -- From February 12 to 28 at Theatre Row's Theatre Two, JHW Productions will present "Fog and Ice," an evening of three one-acts, two by Eugene O'Neill and one by Esther E. Galbraith. The O'Neill plays, "Fog" (1914) and "Ile" (1917), are set at sea and explore themes of human isolation, obsession, and the psychological turmoil associated with confronting the ocean. The play by Esther E. Galbraith, "The Brink of Silence" (1917), is a rarely seen one-act set in a frozen Antarctic outpost. Together, the plays explore isolation, obsession and the moments when survival demands an impossible choice. The program was assembled by veteran director Jerry Heymann, who is staging it with an ensemble of five actors.

"Fog," written and published in 1914, was one of O'Neill's earliest works, produced by the Provincetown Players in 1916. It takes place aboard an oar-less lifeboat adrift in dense fog off the Grand Banks of Newfoundland. A poet, a prosperous businessman and a silent Polish immigrant woman are lost in the fog, which serves as a metaphor for being lost in a hostile cosmos or the human condition. As dawn slowly breaks, the men's uneasy vigil becomes a fierce moral debate about optimism, social responsibility, poverty, and the value of human life. When an iceberg looms and a rescue ship passes dangerously close, the men must choose between self-preservation and risking others' lives. O'Neill uses the pervasive fog to explore psychological confusion, the fear of solitude, and the characters' differing perspectives on their predicament to illustrate the search for meaning in the face of life's perplexities. With: Jesse Castellanos, Simon Feil and Steven Rattazzi.

"Ile" is another of the earliest works of Eugene O'Neill. Its title represents the pronunciation of "oil" in the dialect of New England whale fishermen. The mutinous crew seethes against the Ahab-like captain of a steam whaling ship that has been trapped in the Arctic ice for months. The Captain's obsessive quest to return the ship loaded with "ile" (whale oil) strains his relationship with his wife. She has proved her devotion by joining him on the voyage but suffers from its isolation, cold, and brutality and begs to go home. The play contrasts the Captain's iron-willed obsession with his wife's descent into madness and the crew's dejection, using the desolate, icy environment to symbolize emotional coldness and the limits of human endurance. With: Jesse Castellanos, Charlotte Cohn, Simon Feil, John Long and Steven Rattazzi.

"The Brink of Silence" by Esther E. Galbraith is set in a remote Antarctic outpost where two men endure isolation, cold, and overwhelming quiet. A taciturn veteran called Cole reveals to his companion, Macready, that he is actually Sir Gilbert Darton, long believed dead after a failed expedition. Choosing exile over reclaiming his former life, Cole has buried himself in the frozen wilderness. When a rescue party unexpectedly arrives, its leader proves to be Darton's son, who has successfully completed the very journey that destroyed his father. Cole silently witnesses his legacy fulfilled, choosing anonymity and solitude as his son claims triumph, ending the play in quiet sacrifice and restrained emotional power. With: Jesse Castellanos. Simon Feil, John Long and Steven Rattazzi.

In this triptych of plays, the authors explore the timeless themes of the search for meaning and connection in the midst of challenging circumstances. The plays highlight elements of uncertainty, emotional isolation, and moral paralysis, conditions that feel especially current. These include "Fog" as in confusion, denial, and the inability to see truth clearly; and "Ice" as in emotional numbness, stasis, and fear of change. In our current era marked by political polarization, climate anxiety, information overload and social disconnection, these metaphors may actually feel modern.

Jerry Heymann (Director) is an award-winning director. He staged sold-out productions of Deb Margolin's "Imagining Madoff," including its initial run at 59E59 Theatres in 2019 and its Off-Broadway extension on Theatre Row the same year. More recently, he directed "Night Sings Its Songs" by Jon Fosse (2025) and "This is not a time of peace" by Deb Margolin (2024), both on Theatre Row. Selected other credits include "Call Me Charlie" with Danny DeVito (La MaMa), "My Daddy's Serious American Gift" (Tiffany Theatre, LA), "A Country For Old Men" (American Stage), "Three" (EST) and "Demeter's Lost Daughter" (St. Clement's Theatre). He earned a PhD and MFA from Carnegie-Mellon and is a member of SDC.

The idea of mounting the three plays together was the brainchild of Dr. Heymann, who discovered "The Brink of Silence" by Esther E. Galbraith in an old volume of sea plays and thought it would go nicely with the two O'Neill plays. He hadn't worked on naturalistic plays in a long time and was looking for plays that would illuminate the state of affairs today. In this, he hoped for a feeling of discovery. “I wanted to stage plays that audiences--and frankly I--had never heard of,” he says. “Plays that feel old and new at the same time.”

The design concept by Scenic Designer Brian Dudkiewicz is to create a space that felt cold and isolated, alone, and universal enough for all three plays. The overall aesthetic is informed by the sea photos of Japanese photographer Hiroshi Sugimoto, whose painterly images have clouds and space blurred into a timeless meditation.

Associate Director is Charlotte Cohn. Costume Designer is Julia Squier. Lighting Designer is Max Stroeher. Sound Designer is Andy Evan Cohen. Dialect Coach is Laura Esposito. Fight Choreographer is Leighton Samuels. Production Stage Manager is Roger Lipson. Assistant Stage Manager is Cat Copeland. Line Producer is Bethany Fitch.

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CRITICS ARE INVITED on or after FEBRUARY 14 (2:00 PM show).
PHOTOS are available for download at: https://photos.app.goo.gl/PuP9SM3bp8yzEKpo7

SOME READINGS FOR THE CURIOUS:
Interesting historical background on "Fog" and "Ile" is available on the website of Provincetown Playhouse, where these plays debuted. See: http://www.provincetownplayhouse.com/fog.html ("Fog") and http://www.provincetownplayhouse.com/Ile.html ("Ile").