Award winning play touches hearts

This weekend is the final opportunity for area residents to catch Fayette Players and Community Theater’s production of Margaret Edson’s powerful one-act play “W;t.”

“W;t” is the winner of the 1999 Atlanta Pulitzer Prize for Drama. The show opened at the newly renovated YMCA Lodge on March 2 and a special performance benefitting the Georgia Ovarian Cancer Alliance was held March 3. The benefit performance included a speaking engagement with author Edson after the show. Of the March 3 benefit, show director Jeff Allen said, “It went very well. The author seemed really pleased with it.” Allen stated that, while there weren’t as many people in attendance as he would have hoped for, “the ones that were there enjoyed it.”

The play centers on a learned, literary woman as she deals with her advanced metastatic ovarian cancer.

Fifty year old Vivian Bearing, Ph.D., a renowned English professor, specializes in the 17th century metaphysical sonnets of John Donne. Upon discovery of her cancer, she reviews her life and shares her keen observations and humorous takes on her situation with the audience.

“This script explores almost everything a cancer patient is forced to deal with including the shock of diagnosis, the rigors of tests and exams, the sickness and fatigue of treatment, the reassessment of one’s life and the fear of facing one’s own mortality,” said Allen in an interview with The Citizen while directing the Newnan Theater Company's production of “W;t.”

Cast members for “W;t” include Caroline Carr as Vivian Bearing, Tom Grandpre as Harve Kelekian, Chris Ernst as Jason Possner, Whitney Hubbell as Susie Monahan, and Celia Hoffman as E.M. Ashford. Other cast members include Chaz Ferguson, David Moye and Jacqueline Swick and the production manager is Terry Hoffman.

This is Allen’s second time directing Edson’s emotional piece. “This show is such a wonderful show, and it’s always very satisfying creating it,” he said. “You get to learn a lot while creating the show and you discover that there are more and more layers to this show each time. I’ve learned a lot.”

Complimentary refreshments will be provided to the audience on March 9-11 courtesy of Harry Norman Realtors, Peachtree City. Performances March 9 and 10 begin at 8 p.m., while the Sunday matinee begins at 2:30 p.m.

Tickets for the show are $10 for each performance and may be purchased by calling 404-822-9050 or visiting www.brownpapertickets.com/event/10156. Online purchases can be charged to all major credit cards.

The Lodge, Fayette Family YMCA is located at 215 Huitt Road in Fayetteville.

login to post comments