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Regional Reviews: Washington, D.C. Summer, 1976
Director Vivienne Benesch demonstrates an easy confidence in the way she presents the bonds that develop between Diana (Norris), an artist, and Alice (Twyford), the hippie-ish wife of an economics professor. (The setting is college town Columbus, Ohio, during the summer of the American Bicentennial.) Originally, they meet because of a friendship between their young daughters and a need for a babysitter, but as the days and years pass the two women realize both how alike they are and how sometimes they complement each other. The two actresses comprise the entire cast, and they both find subtle ways to convey the women's unacknowledged prejudices, unwarranted assumptions, and growing emotional connection. Unseen characters, such as the two children and the college student painting Alice's house, also come to life through Auburn's writing; Norris, in addition to her own role, succeeds in the challenge of standing in for Alice's husband in some scenes. (She differentiates his character from Diana's by giving him a more plodding walk and a deeper voice with an undercurrent of exasperation.) To emphasize the elemental nature of the story, the action plays out on Lee Savage's set with only a bare wooden floor and two chairs. However, the ever-shifting patterns shown on the rear wall (lighting design by Jesse Belsky, projection designs by Stefania Bulbarella) suggest both the artworks Diana creates and the complex, textured, sometimes uneven nature of the women's friendship. Costume designer Helen Q. Huang subtly emphasizes their different perspectives through their clothes: Diana wears a sleek sleeveless top and a split skirt in neutral colors, while Alice wears a smocked burgundy blouse over her ankle-high jeans. Summer, 1976 runs through January 5, 2025, at Studio Theatre, Milton Theatre, 1501 14th St. NW, Washington DC. For tickets and information, please call 202-332-3300 or visit www.studiotheatre.org. By David Auburn Cast: |
