Sundays at Two
Matinee Readers Theatre

ABIE'S IRISH ROSE a comedy by Anne Nichols

PERFORMANCES: September 7, 14, 21, 2003 Directed by Vanita Rae Smith Abraham Levy, whose father's heart is set on his marrying a nice Jewish girl, brings home as his bride Rosemary Murphy, whom he met in France when he was with the A.E.F. and she was an entertainer. To appease his father, Abie introduces Rosemary as Rosie Murphyski. Father Levy is fooled until Rosie's father, Patrick Murphy, arrives. A comic war erupts. Abie and Rose, having been married by a Methodist minister, are married again by a rabbi to please Levy, and a third time by a Catholic priest to satisfy Murphy. Rosie's wisdom is having twins, a girl to be called Rececca and a boy to be known as Patrick Joseph, halts the family feud long enough to bring the play to a close. The play ran from May 1922 to Oct. 1927, again in 1937 and again in 1954.

TOBACCO ROAD a comedy by Erskine Caldwell

PERFORMANCES: November 16, 23 & 30, 2003 Directed by Vanita Rae Smith Adapted from the novel by Erskine Caldwell. This memorable play ran eight years on Broadway (3,182 performances) and it has been revived three times. It is the story of the Lesters of Tobacco Road....of Jeeter who dreams of planting a garden beside his ramshackle poor-white home, the idiotic son who marries a ravenous evangelist so that he drives an automobile to destruction, a daughter with strong sexual inclinations, and another who is sold into marriage for $7.00 and who keeps running back home. REVIEW

WHO'S AFRAID OF VIRGINIA WOOLF? a drama by Edward Albee

PERFORMANCES: Sundays March 2, 9, 16, 2003 Directed by Vanita Rae Smith George, a professor at a small college, and his wife Martha have just returned home, drunk from a Saturday night party. Martha announces, amidst general profanity, that she has invited a young couple--an opportunistic new professor at the college and his shatteringly naive new bride--to stop by for a nightcap. When they arrive the charade begins. The drinks flow and suddenly inhibitions melt. It becomes clear that Martha is determined to seduce the young professor, and George could care less. But underneath the edgy banter which is cross-fired between both couples lurks an undercurrent of tragedy and despair. George and Martha's inhuman bitterness toward one another is provoked by the enormous personal sadness which they have pledged to keep to themselves: A secret that has seemingly been the foundation for their relationship. In the end, the mystery in which the distressed George and Martha have taken refuge is exposed, once and for all revealing the degrading mess they have made of their lives. Ran Oct. 1962 - May 1964. REVIEW