11 brief plays

interesting glimpse

of creative process

PORTLAND – Eleven 10-minute plays by local playwrights will be presented over four nights in the Portland Performing Arts Center Studio Theatre.

Acorn Productions will give audiences an opportunity to experience these works by nine playwrights during the third annual Maine Playwrights’ Festival from Jan. 29 to Feb. 1.

The festival will feature two alternating evenings of 10-minute plays that were developed last year in workshops conducted by Suze Allen, artistic director of Amma Performing Arts Studio.

It will feature an ensemble of 15 local professional actors under the direction of Allen, Acorn’s Producing Director Michael Levine and Harlan Baker. The festivals provide audiences with a view of promising dramatic works, which are still in their formative stages.

Plays featured this year are:

“All I want for Christmas,” by Miranda Hope. Eight year old Edgar has only one wish for Christmas but Santa won’t be able to help him.

“Endymion,” by Lynne Cullen. Lily Shorthouse’s young husband has just died. In a touching and unusual character study, she and her sister discover that love takes many forms.

“Harry and Edith,” by Karmo Sanders. Edith is exhausted by all her psychic channeling, but Harry has seen it all before.

“Mrs. Hemingway Goes Dancing,” by Nicole Wolf Gilbert. An aging woman has one last dance.

“Order Up,” by Miranda Hope. A day at a not-so-ordinary diner.

“Side by Side,” by Paul G. Charbonneau. An elderly couple makes a momentous decision.

“Surge,” by Catherine Anderson. Simone’s eggs aren’t willing to wait anymore for a donor, they plan to find their own.

“The View,” by John Manderino. A Mamet-esque tale of a man’s efforts to see another man’s view.

“The Way Around,” by Suze Allen. In a comedy of Gothic proportion, a couple works to break their vicious cycle.

“Wendell Perkins, Unbound,” by Raymond K. Long. After 34 years of marriage, Wendell has finally figured out how to put a spark in his life.

“Wolfman and Janice,” by John Manderino. Janice is a nice suburban woman with one problem: Her husband is acting very strange.

Performances are in the Studio Theater at the Portland Performing Arts Center, 25A Forest Avenue in downtown Portland.

Tickets are $8 per show or $12 for a combo ticket allowing entrance to both festival line-ups. People can call Acorn Productions at 766-3386 for tickets or more information.


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