2002–2003
Come Back Little Sheba
by William Inge
directed by Sean Ruprecht-Belt
October 11, 12, 13, & 18, 19, 20
Inge’s drama tells the sad story of a middle-aged couple. Doc seems able to numb the pain of his black and white existence only with drink, while Lola, desperate for warmth and affection, still longs for her little lost dog, Sheba, missing for nearly a year. When a young woman rents a room from Doc and Lola, their home is suddenly inhabited by the ghosts of their failings — Doc’s professional failings, Lola’s failings as a wife and mother, and the shared failings of their marriage.
Desdemona: A Play About a Handkerchief
by Paula Vogel
directed by Naomi Duncan
December 6, 7, 8, & 13, 14, 15
This look behind the scenes of one of Shakespeares most heralded tragedies focuses on Desdemona, wife of Othello, and her search for her missing token of affection from her husband: an embroidered handkerchief. This witty three-woman show not only looks at what conversations may have taken place behind closed doors throughout Shakepeare’s tale of rage and mistrust, but also at the anatomy of relationships and the expectations placed upon a womans virtue, mind, and emotional well-being in society.
A Moon for the Misbegotten
by Eugene O’Neill
directed by Steve Callahan
February 14, 15, 16, & 21, 22, 23
A Moon for the Misbegotten focuses on three remarkable characters: Josie, a towering Irishwoman with a ruined reputation; Phil Hogan, her conniving father; and James Tyrone, Jr., Hogan’s landlord and drinking companion. As an off-hand joke during one of their drunken bouts, Tyrone threatens to sell his land and evict Hogan. To secure his farm, Hogan schemes to take advantage of the affection between his daughter and Tyrone. In the play’s poignant conclusion, these two misbegotten lovers come together to realize the truth about themselves and the tragedy of their future.
A Perfect Party
by A. R. Gurney
directed by B. Weller
April 4, 5, 6, & 11, 12, 13
Tony, a perfectly WASPish professor of American Literature, quits his job when he recognizes his perfect callingparty planning. And to prove it, he will host the perfect party. All walks of American life are perfectly invited to perfectly attend, including a critic from the New York Times in hope of getting the perfect review. Tony is perfectly positive his perfect party willshow the critic, his wife, the couple next door, and the world at large that though WASPs have seen their perfect influence on American society in decline, they are still the perfect entertainers. Will Tony succeed? Not without perfect pride, perfect misunderstandings, and perfect shenaningans a perfect combination, for a perfect comedy.