The work of award-winning playwright, Christopher Durang, will be on display Nov. 7 and 8, when the Dessert Theater of Flint Hill's Upper School presents "Comedy by Durang." Renowned for his inventive, satiric plays, Durang employs keen observations and commentary to focus on the human condition, literary personalities, and the theater itself.
The first of the five short plays is "Mrs. Sorken." A patroness of the arts, Mrs. Sorken opens the night of performances with a loopy lecture on the history of theater interspersed with references to her reliance on prescription drugs. Next up is a send-up — co-written by Wendy Wasserstein — of "Medea," by Euripides. Tennessee William's "Glass Menagerie" gets a Durang make-over with the title, "For Whom the Southern Belle Tolls." The next piece was originally written for Robin Williams and is titled "Funeral Parlor." The final play is Durang's classic, "The Actor's Nightmare," in which an unsuspecting accountant finds himself in the middle of three plays.
A cast of comedic actors, led by Mary Pilger, Rob Kelly, and Brad Miller, will perform multiple roles. The balance of the cast includes: Aliya Robbins, Melissa Merritt, Kate Smith-Morse, and Jack Dimond. The stage managers are: Lyn Moore, Julia Korseniewski, and Dana Vetter. The director is Carlo Grossman.
The performances will be at the Olson Theater on Flint Hill School's east campus. The address is 10411 Academic Drive, Oakton. The show times are 7:30 p.m. both evenings. Admission is by suggested donation. The show is recommended for audiences ages 12 and up. For more information, call 703-584-2411.