The Fayette Citizen-Weekend Page
Wednesday, January 27, 1999
Three 'dark'
comedies
open at Depot
this weekend

By MICHAEL BOYLAN

Sports Editor

On Friday, Jan. 29 Offshoot Productions premieres "What Doesn't Kill Me" at the Fayetteville Depot. "What Doesn't Kill Me..." consists of three one-act plays written and directed by Offshoot Productions' artistic director Susan Steadman, Ph.D.

The plays, all dark comedies, are political in some respects but very funny overall. The characters are realistic but everything else is not. The first play, "Filling Spaces," is about being silenced by different people in society; "Tuesdays We Go to Play Group" is about the changing dynamic of a group of mothers and toddlers; and "Moving Day" is a mystery involving a control freak and two movers.

Steadman has been directing plays for more than 30 years, but it was only after the birth of her second child that she shifted her focus to writing. One of the one-acts, "Tuesdays We Go to Play Group," was written more than seven years ago. Steadman decided to revise "Tuesdays" when she began putting together "What Doesn't Kill Me..." She said her experiences with her children gave her a new perspective on "Tuesdays" so she revised it.

There is a part of Steadman in all of the main female characters in "What Doesn't Kill Me..." but she said she feels the same could be said about anybody. When asked what she hopes the audience takes away from the plays, she quipped, "Less money." On a more serious note, she answered, "I hope they have a marvelous time and maybe leave with a propensity to question some givens in society."

Most of the cast of "What Doesn't Kill Me..." has worked with Steadman before, but there are several new interns working with Offshoot on this production. "The good thing about working with the same people is you know what to expect from each other and can trust and rely on them," Steadman said. "The negative thing is that you can have a little too much fun."

The other problem for Offshoot is that there is no permanent home for them they spend a lot of time lugging materials back and forth from rehearsals to homes. They have been doing this for more than five years.

"What Doesn't Kill Me..." will run at 8 p.m. Fridays (Jan. 29 and Feb. 5), and Saturdays (Jan. 30 and Feb. 6), and at 3 p.m. Sundays (Jan. 31 and Feb. 7.) at the Fayetteville Depot. Tickets are $9 for general admission and $7.50 for seniors and full-time students. The tickets are available at the Omega Book Center in Peachtree City, the Fayette Book Shop in Fayetteville and at the door. Seating at the Depot is limited and purchase of tickets in advance is recommended.

For more information, call Offshoot Productions at 770-631-2362, fax to 770-486-9847, or e-mail to offshootpr@aol.com.

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