Fifteen local women take the stage to bring this Readers’ Theater production to life.
Clothing serves a practical function — to keep you warm and dry, and presentable for mixed company or the workplace. But it can also be fraught with meaning. Clothes can make a personal or political statement, be weighted with symbolism, or simply conjure up memories of a particular moment in life.
“Love, Loss, and What I Wore,” which will be presented in a Readers’ Theater production at The Merc Playhouse in Twisp this weekend, examines these affecting issues in a series of humorous and touching vignettes.
“Love, Loss, and What I Wore” reveals women’s relationships as reflected in part by their wardrobes, said Missi Smith, executive director of The Merc. It provides a window into complex relationships — not only between women and their clothing, but also between women and their friends and families. “It’s a time capsule through clothes and memory,” said Smith.
As The Merc put it, the show “examines what it feels like to own nothing that fits, nothing in the right color, too many items in black, plus all of the memories that go along with what we wore and when we wore it.”
The play is by Nora Ephron and Delia Ephron and is based on the book by Ilene Beckerman. The Ephron sisters created entertainment that captures the pulse of the cultural moment with wit and insight. Their creations include the movies “When Harry Met Sally,” “You’ve Got Mail” and “Sleepless in Seattle.” Beckerman wrote the book — a memoir about her life before she had and raised five children — when she was 60 years old.
The play is directed by Rose Weagant, who’s helped create several productions at The Merc over the years. It features a star-studded cast of 15 local women. There are two performances only, on Friday and Saturday (Jan 11 and 12) at 7 p.m. Tickets are $10.
The Merc advises that the play contains adult themes and language, with “f-bombs” and references to sex.
The Merc is offering season tickets to its center-stage productions for the year. The tickets guarantee a reserved seat for their tantalizing line-up.
The line-up includes:
“Charlotte’s Web,” a stage adaptation of the beloved children’s classic, March 15 to 24
“A Diner on the Way,” a fascinating human drama — making its national debut, July 12 to 24
“Lend Me a Tenor,” the hilarious, Tony award-winning play about a world-famous opera singer, Sept. 20 to 29
“Rope,” a psychological thriller, Nov. 15 to 24
Season tickets are $72 per person.
