If anyone ever asked you whom you would want to have lunch or dinner with, living or dead, you might pick a favorite author, Hollywood star, politician, or historian. Taylor Swift, Michelle Obama and Mother Teresa, Elvis, Abraham Lincoln and Bill Gates come to mind. Playwright Steven Carl McCasland has created his own set of unique guests when he wrote the intriguing and entertaining play “Little Wars" set in World War II France in 1940 and being brought beautifully to life at the New Haven Theater Company weekends until Saturday, March 21 at 7:30 p.m.
The pleasure of your company is requested by literary luminaries Gertrude Stein and her long time romantic partner Alice B. Toklas in their country home in the French Alps as World War II looms nearby. They are entertaining their friend Agatha Christie who surprises them by inviting two guests of her own: Dorothy Parker and Lillian Hellman. They are all stars in the world of writing: Gertrude (Deena Nicol-Blifford) a sparkling hostess known for her wit and for entertaining artists like Picasso, Alice (Ash Lago) serving as Gertrude’s life partner as well as cook, housekeeper, typist, secretary and friend and known for writing cookbooks and being a memoirist, Agatha (Margaret Mann) regarded as the Queen of Mysteries starring Hercule Poirot and Miss Marple in some of her 66 detective novels and 14 short story collections, Dorothy (Jodi Williams) noted for her sharp witted poetry, satire and commentary, and as a voice of humor and social critique, and Lillian (Sandra Rodriguez) for her success on Broadway with such plays as “The Children’s Hour” and as a political activist.
In addition to these famous literary notaries, there are two other attendees, their housekeeper Bernadette (Lynnette Victoria) whom they rescued from a terrible situation and a mysterious woman named Mary (Abby Klein) who has a dangerous mission she conducts between France and America. What a remarkable assemblage of women to converse with and learn from for an evening. Although no food seems to be served at this dinner party, alcohol flows freely and loosens tongues.
We learn how Gertrude dislikes Lillian, especially as her play "The Children’s Hour" features two headmistresses who are accused of being lesbians, Agatha remembers the infidelity of her first husband, Dorothy relives the agony of a long ago abortion, Alice is still hurting by being called "abnormal,” and Bernadette was traumatized by being attacked by Nazis. Despite all the drama and secrets revealed, the play is sardonic, sarcastic, sassy and quite humorous.
These exceptionally gifted women are all talented actresses telling a remarkable story under the direction of John Strano as they use their distinct voices to cope with how to survive the war, especially after they learn that the prime minister of France Marshal Philippe Petain has surrendered his country.
Can they remain silent and complacent or must they speak up to stop the injustices? The stranger in their midst Mary sparks sympathy and compassion moving them to act in the face of moral wrongdoing and help her rescue Jews and get them to freedom and safety. Their story is well worth hearing, as it blends humor and history in a compelling way.
For tickets ($25), go to nhtc.ludus.com/select.php or newhaventheatercompany.com. The play is performed at the EBM Vintage Store, 839 Chapel Street, New Haven on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights at 7:30 p.m.
Come be entertained by these literary giants who gather for conversation on a fateful evening in June 1940 for a dinner party, focusing on the “little wars” that tear us down and the “big wars” like the newest one with Iran as a relevant reminder of how little the world has learned from what has gone before.
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