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Wednesday, December 18, we will discuss "Arcadia" (1993), by British playwright Tom Stoppard. "Arcadia" takes place in an English country house in 1809 & 1993 & "brilliantly entwines past & present in a double helix of emotion & thought" (Jack Kroll, Newsweek). The Wall Street Journal called "Arcadia" "a sly, sad comedy," Newsday called it "a marvelous suspense story," & for Time Magazine the play was "one of those by which, ultimately, the theater of our time may be evaluated."
We will meet @ La Madeleine French Bakery & Cafe, 7607 Old Georgetown Rd. (MD-187), Bethesda (301-215-9142). La Madeleine is less than 2 blocks north from the Bethesda Metro (red line), across Old Georgetown Rd. from the station. The restaurant also has free parking. Bring wine or beer if you like. Most main dishes are below $10. Dinner begins at 6:30 & our discussion at 7:30. Make your reservations early by reply e-mail or by calling Susan Kimmel (301-229-3037, eve & 202-418-1679, day), Mark Gruenberg (202-338-7013, eve & 202-638-0444, day), or Mary-Margaret McGrail (703-751-8126).
Ask for your special Footlights member discount for "Arcadia" in northwest DC @ Chapters, 1512 K St.; Olsson's, 1307 19th St.; & Politics & Prose, 5015 Connecticut Ave.; & also @ Super Crown @ White Flint Shopping Center, Kensington. Backstage Books, 2101 P St., NW, has the Samuel French edition for $5.95.
Tuesday night, January 7, 7:30 p.m., we'll attend "Arcadia" at the Arena Stage, Maine Ave. & Sixth St., southwest DC. Tickets are $24 & include a group discount, a post-performance discussion with the cast, & a small service charge. Make your check out to Robin Larkin & mail by December 18 to Robin @ 5403 Nibud Ct., Rockville, MD 20852 (240-669-6300).
This winter we discuss 3 plays that present 3 different perspectives on anger. On Thursday, January 16, we discuss David Mamet's classic "American Buffalo," in which 3 crooks in a junk shop plan a robbery, their angry words almost casually building to physical violence. Then, on Monday, February 24, we discuss the classic British "angry young man" play, John Osborne's "Look Back in Anger." Finally, on Tuesday, March 18, Archibald MacLeish's "J.B." provides a modern look at the biblical story of Job, a man with more reason for anger than most.
Watch for our "friendship" series this spring!