FROM THE FOOTLIGHTS - June 1996

"EARNEST" IN JUNE

On Tuesday, June 11, we will discuss "The Importance of Being Earnest" (1894) by Oscar Wilde (1854-1900). "Earnest" satirizes everything people consider important: birth, death, love, marriage, respectability, & family. Critics have hailed it as a "masterpiece," "fresh and exquisite," a "perfect" play "unlike any other," & "a new type of play": "psychological farce, the farce of ideas."

Meeting at Luna Books, 1633 P St., NW (3d floor of Cafe Luna, 3 blocks E of DuPont Circle) (202-332-2543) at 6:30 p.m. (dinner) & 7:30 p.m. (discussion). Make reservations by reply e-mail to this address (dsobelso@ counsel.com).

Buy "The Importance of Being Earnest" for a *discount* at Chapters, 1512 K St., NW (347-5495); Super Crown, 11 DuPont Circle, NW (319-1374) & White Flint Mall (301-770-6729); Olsson's, 1307 19th St., NW (785-1133); & Politics & Prose, 5015 Connecticut Ave., NW (364-1919). Other bookstores may also have the $1 Dover Press edition.

The Washington Shakespeare Company has *cancelled* its summer season so we will *not* attend "The Importance of Being Earnest" on Sunday June 23 as previously scheduled.

SUMMER SCHEDULE SET

Wednesday, July 17: William Nicholson's "Shadowlands," about the relationship between British Catholic theologian C.S. Lewis and Jewish American divorcee Joy Davidman Gresham (catch the recent film version starring Anthony Hopkins).

Thursday, September 19: Samuel Beckett's "Waiting for Godot" (on this summer at the Shakespeare Festival in Stratford, Ontario; slightly used copies available for $4 at Backstage Books, 2101 P St., NW).

Both meetings at Luna Books, 1633 P St., NW (3d floor), DC, at 6:30 p.m. (dinner) & 7:30 (discussion).

Footlights will not meet in August.

WASHINGTON THEATER FORUM

On Tuesday June 18, from 7:30-8:30 p.m., Border's Books at White Flint Mall hosts a forum on theater in the DC area, with artistic directors Jerry Whiddon (Round House), Jim Petosa (Olney), & Eric Schaeffer (Signature). Our own David Sobelsohn will moderate. More information: 301-933-9530 ext. 13.