Reviewed by Judy Richter
Opening Aurora Theatre Company's 23rd season, it initially focuses on two 42-year-old women who were friends and roommates in grad school.
One, Catherine (Marilee Talkington), has become a popular author and lecturer who links pornography with violent events like 9/11. The other, Gwen (Rebecca Schweitzer), dropped out, married Catherine's boyfriend, Don (Gabriel Marin), and has become a housewife and mother to their two sons.
When Catherine returns to their hometown after her mother suffered a heart attack, she and Gwen find themselves envious of one another. Gwen regrets that she didn't pursue a career, while Catherine wishes she had a real home and family.
Both come to realize that the grass isn't necessarily greener on the other side of the fence.
Helping them reach that conclusion are 21-year-old student Avery (Nicole Javier) the babysitter for Don and Gwen's younger son, and Catherine's mother, Alice (Lillian Bogovich), who is in her 70s.
Another contributor is Don, an unambitious, low-level dean at the local college. He, Gwen and Catherine did a lot of heavy-duty drinking and partying in their grad school days. Gwen has since quit drinking and joined AA, but the other two still indulge. Moreover, Don smokes a lot of pot and is addicted to Internet porn.
Much of the discussion of feminism comes during the seminar taught by Catherine in her mother's home to the only two students who signed up: Gwen and Avery. After each session, Alice serves martinis (Shirley Temples for Gwen) and joins the discussion, adding her generation's view to those of the middle-aged and younger generations. It's interesting that the oldest and youngest women seem to be the most realistic about their lives.
As directed by Desdemona Chiang in Aurora's intimate space (set by Kate Boyd), the actions and ideas sizzle.
Talkington's Catherine comes across as erudite in her academic persona yet fearful, impulsive and uncertain in her personal life. Schweitzer makes Gwen a shrill, bubbly yet uptight woman who's barely holding herself together.
Marin as Don, Javier as Avery and Bogovich as Alice all create believable characters.
Lighting by Heather Basarab, costumes by Ashley Rogers and sound by Brendan Aanes make positive contributions.
A Pulitzer Prize finalist, the play offers ample food for thought as many women still struggle for a balance between home and career and for equality with men.