| Painting Churches |
Last Modified:
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
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| Painting Churches |
by Tina Howe
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Directed by Bill Schuler
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November 2003 in the Arlington Hotel Crystal Ballroom
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Synopsis
In this wonderful comic drama, Gardner and Fanny Church are preparing to move out of their Beacon Hill house to their summer cottage on Cape Cod. Gardner, once a famous poet, now is retired. He slips in and out of senility as his wife Fanny valiantly tries to keep them both afloat. They have asked their daughter, Mags, to come home and help them move. Mags agrees, for she hopes as well to finally paint their portrait. She is now on the verge of artistic celebrity herself and hopes, by painting her parents, to come to terms with them-and they with her. As the boxes are packed, old memories are re-awakened and this unlikely trio comes to grips with their past, present, and future.
Mags triumphs in the end as Fanny and Gardner actually step through the frame and become a work of art-ineffable and timeless. What emerges is a family portrait {literally and figuratively} that is zany, heartwarming, heartbreaking and true.
''Beautifully written. . . . A theatrical family portrait that has the shimmer and depth of Renoir portraits.''-N.Y. Times.
''A radiant, loving and zestfully humorous play . . . distinctly Chekhovian. Howe captures the same edgy surface of false hilarity, the same unutterable sadness beneath it, and the indomitable valor beneath both.''-Time.
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Published by Samuel French.
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This was our first
Arlington Hotel production.
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First Arlington Performance!
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Marian Crowder as Fanny Church
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Cast
| Fanny Church: |
Marian Crowder |
| Gardner Church: |
Chris Biagini |
| Margaret Church: |
Courtney Regen |
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Our Crew
| Director: |
Bill Schuler |
| Set Design: |
Mark Britton |
| Set Construction: |
Mark Britton, Ray Johnson,
Jim & Mary Jane Cunningham, Dave Campbell,
Nyle Cearlock, Bob Stout, Jan & Dave McKillip, Bill Schuler |
| Lights/Sound: |
Dave McKillip |
| Original Recording Scripts: |
Bill Schuler |
| Voices on Recordings: |
Karla & Julia Ross,
Marian Crowder, Chris Biagini, Courtney Regan
& Bill Schuler |
| Props: |
Marion Morey |
| Costumes & Backstage: |
Kip Waldo |
| Publicity: |
Gene & Margaret Forsyth,
Ray Johnson,
Tom Clark,
Karla Parker Ross |
| Program Design: |
Dave Mckillip |
| Digital Photography: |
Thomas & Kristi Clark |
| Webmaster: |
Tom Clark & John Lukas |
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Chris Biagini as Gardner Church
Courtney Regen as Margaret Church
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OUR SPECIAL THANKS TO:
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