OPENING MAY 30
A tragi-comedy, by Shelagh Stephenson.
The Memory of Water, by Shelagh Stephenson, won the Laurence Olivier Award, the British equivalent of a Tony, for Best New Comedy in 1996. The story, about three adult sisters who return to the family home to bury their mother, Vi (who has died of Alzheimer’s), doesn’t sound much like a comedy. It is not a farce like On the Razzle, but a contemporary “tragi-comedy” with a mixture of love and anger, heartbreak and laughter — much like real life.
Teresa, the oldest sister, runs a mail-order food supplement business with her husband Frank, who would rather be running a pub. Mary, the most successful of the three, is a doctor having an affair with Mike, a married colleague. Catherine, the baby of the family, is forever running off with her latest Spanish boyfriend. Her response to stress is to take drugs and go shopping for shoes. Each sister has her own hopes, fears, triumphs, and failures, and each has her own very different memories of their shared childhood. During the two days leading up to the funeral, they bicker about whose memories are more correct, and a long-held, heartbreaking secret is brought out into the open. Amid the tears and laughter this ultimately joyous, life-affirming play makes a powerful statement about the nature of family, that we are always our parents’ children (no matter how hard we try not to be) and, above all, the importance of forgiveness.
The play is rated PG (not recommended for young children) for some mature language and subject matter.
The Memory of Water opens May 30, 2008; directed by Richard Scheeland.
Auditions
Funny Money
Funny Money auditions will be held Monday, August 18 at 6:30 pm. Callbacks by invitation Tuesday, August 19 at 6:30 pm. The show opens the 2008-2009 season on October 17, 2008. See The VLT Auditions page for more information.
Announcing The Very Little Theatre
79th Season 2007-2008
A musical review of the great songwriter's music, by Eric Blau and Mort Shuman.
The poignant and profound songs of Jacques Brel are still as powerful as ever, filled with romance, humor, and sophistication.
Jacque Brel opens October 19, 2007; directed by Melina Neal
The classic drama, by Clifford Odets.
The story of the Bergers, a working-class immigrant family living in the Bronx during the Depression, and their search for the American Dream.
Awake and Sing! opens January 18, 2008 ; directed by James Aday
A rollicking farce, by Tom Stoppard.
Based on the familiar plot of The Matchmaker, this show is filled with dazzling wit, delicious puns, and sly sexual innuendos.
On the Razzle opens March 28, 2008; directed by Chris Pinto
A tragi-comedy, by Shelagh Stephenson.
Three sisters with conflicting memories of their family history come together for their mother's funeral. Things get even more interesting when the mother's ghost joins the party.
The Memory of Water opens May 30, 2008; directed by Richard Scheeland.
A Southern tale, by Truman Capote.
A story set in the 1930s about an orphan boy who is sent to live with his eccentric aunts. The play follows the plight of social "outcasts," as the pure in heart battle with the forces of greed and selfishness.
The Grass Harp opens August 1, 2008; directed by Suzanne Shapiro
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