Page loi Whltby Free Press, WednesdaY, F ebruary 28,1996 Shoestring offers 'concerto' rendering of Glass play ByGeorgeKaf n After a sucoessful flirtation with musical., the Durham Shoestring Performers are back doing what they do best: producing plays o! substance that wont be found on other stages around here. If We Are Women, which opened last Friday, !s a wonderfully entertaining play tbat ha£ everytbing going for it: an intelligent script, clever dialogue, smart pacing and - best of ail - the -kind of four-woman cast directors must dream of. Joanna MéCIelland Glass is a Canadian piaywright trnplanted to New England, and this semi-autobiographical play explores- many rich themes; mother-daughter relationships, love and marriage, bow women get along with each other, and some deft musings on the differences between Canadians and Ainericans. She i. able te do this with humour, drama and compassion, blending emotions and dramatic styles seazlessly. While there is, much genuine laughter, the play is a very serious exploration of its themes. The most intriguing aspect of You are cordially invited to attend our 11 BRIDAL SHOW '96 Sunday, March 3, 1996 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm Scugog Hali/Arena 1655 Reach St., Port Perry .Fashion Show Featuring 1996 Bridai Fashions 2 - 3 pm By Everlasting Memories Floral & Bridal Shoppe Admission $3.00 Sponsored by the YMCA; Durhamn Region FabuousDoorPrz . ad dra fo a eeendforIw the play, though, is the voies of its characters: four distinct, attractive, compelling voices that become a virtual concerto of spoken dialogue. Glass bas woven a poetic score of these voices, with passionate arias, expressive duets and thrilling, soaring ensemble work: opera without music. The women providing the voices are talented and resouroefùl, giving this play !ts dense texture of life and love. Mary Voilmer, a reliable veteran of local theatre, is once again outstanding as Rachel Cohen, a Jewish grandmfother who continues to lbe there' for her daughter-in-law despite the fact thiat she's no longer married to her' son. Gwen ORegan is equally impressive as her counterpart, the illiterate and very earthy grandmnother from the Saskatchewan prairie. Vivian Lee and Lara Batherson provide the next two steps of womlen in this cross-generational dialogue: Jessica, who is mourning the loss of her lover, and ber own daughter Polly, who at 18 is just discovering life and can't accept the cynical iinplorings of ber mother and grandrnothers. The interplay sparkles with wtt and insight, and the four actors and director Judith Edrnondson do more than justice to this fine play, wbich was Justifiably norinated for a Governor-General's Award. Vital Spark A POPULAR DUO, Mark Haines and Tom Leighton, who perform a variety of music including CeItic and Cajun, will be at the Vital Spark Folk Club concert on Saturday night, March 2,, at the Eart of Durham pub/restaurant in Whitby. They will -be at Maggies (upstairs at the Earl of Durhami) 227 Brook St S. (the Vital Spark's previous venue, The Helfer & The Haif Pînt has closed down). Admission -is $10 *for members, $12 for non-members. For-more- information, oeil 430-2529. Dexon thriller to -be presented Friday PUB & RESTAURANT ENTERTAINMENT Fni Mar 1 - ANDREW HEATHCOTE Sat. Mar. 2- MEREDITH CU1TING MAGG119S Sat. Mar. 2 ~ VITAL SPARK'S Fri. Mar. 8 - MR. SALLEY'S VAN The" seni or members of the Drama Club will present an original murderf mystery/ psychological thriller, written by Whitby's Ed Dixon, on Friday, Mfarch 1 at tbe Whitby Courtbouse Theatre. The play follows the struggles of Sarah Lynde, an autistic girl who, inherits a large sum of money from her aunt, Elizabeth Foster. The girl i. threatened by both ber own inner demons as well as the various members of the Foster household, who are determined te, do wbatever is neo'essary te, get the money. Club members, aged 14 te 17, worked together with the Whitby playwright over a few months te corne up with the conoept and characters for Saroh Lynde. We feel that this play will be both spspenseful for the audience and cballenging for the acter.," says -Dixon. Shows are at 6, 7:30 and 9 p.m. Tickets are $2 and can be purcbased, at the door. Drama progra---s to be offered 2 2 er o k . S u W i 1 1 0&.*,ý,-... i l l èll l -, l lei, e»Ilm 112 Colborne Street East (At Green) IVIii tby 666-3034 LIVE ENTERTAINIVIENT Fri. Mar. 1 st & Sat. Mar. 2nd 9:00 - 1:00am BILLY BRANDO Sat.. March 2nd - 10am 5 NATIONS RUGBY Scotland vs. England Ireland vs. Wales Sl 5.00 Cover/Breakfast Special Sun., March 3rd Liverpool ' vs. Aston Villa Call for Times & Cover Mon., March 4th Newcastle vs. Man, Utd. -ibee -1 1 ço 9.