States of Grace
Subject: Quicktake - "States of Grace" by Debra Wise and company
based on the writing of Grace Paley
Date: Sun, Jan 28, 8:27 PM
Quicktake on STATES OF GRACE
After more than two years of development, Underground Railways Debra Wise and various collaborators are presenting the world premiere of "States of Grace," a monodrama featuring Wise as Faith, a stand-in for activist author Grace Paley. The rest of the cast includes versatile actor Owen Doyle in his first stint as a puppeteer/actor, UConn MFA Fay Dupras who fabricated most of the puppets, and Khalil Flemming a young actor seen at BCT, WFT, and Stoneham as well as on PBS.
The script combines several of Paley's unique stories with her political concerns and her frustrations as a writer, mother, and public citizen. The puppetry is incorporated into the realistic kitchen set designed by David Fichter and constructed by Will Cabell, who won IRNEs for their previous work on "Alice Underground", URT's last adult drama created in 1997-1998. The show was directed by Greg Smucker, a longtime collaborator and lit by Karen Perlow, both of whom worked on "Alice..." The original score was created by world-music composer Evan Harlan, currently on the faculty of the New England Conservatory.
Debra's performance is convincing and heartfelt, whether arguing with her father, a puppet that appears from a kitchen cabinet, talking with her spouse who appears from the refrigerator as a humanette, or dealing with a young black neighbor played by Khalil. She even morphs into a disgruntled retired druggist, conflicted over his black neighbors. She'll next be seen at the New Rep in Austin Pendleton's "Orson's Shadow." "States of Grace" will have a special performance at Tufts on Mar. 5 before it becomes part of URT's touring repertory.
"States of Grace" by Debra Wise, Jan. 25 - Feb. 10
Underground Railway Theater at Boston Playwrights' Theatre
949 Comm. Ave., Allston / (781) 643 - 6916
Underground Railway Theater
posted by will at 8:27 PM
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