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On Monday, March 26, "Survival of the Fittest" gets practical when we discuss "The Old Lady's Guide to Survival" (1992) by Mayo Simon. Proud, private Netty has failing eyesight; manic, pushy Shprintzy has what she calls "old timer's disease." "Together," says Shprintzy, "we make a whole person." "Touching" (Chicago Tribune) & "life-affirming" (New York Times), "intelligent" (Christian Science Monitor) & "shrewdly observed" (New Yorker), "this 'Guide' looks straight into the horizon without blinking" (San Francisco Chronicle).
Our March meeting will feature playwright Mayo Simon himself. A Chicago native, Simon graduated from Footlights co-sponsor, the University of Chicago. He has written extensively for film & television, including the TV series "Playhouse 90," the films "Marooned" (1969) & "Futureworld" (1976), & the Academy Award-winning documentary "Why Man Creates" (1968). Simon's numerous plays include "Walking to Waldheim" (1967), "These Men" (1981) & "A Rich Full Life" (1985).
To attend our March meeting you'll need a reservation. Get on our waiting list by contacting Mark Gruenberg (202-638-0444 & [email protected] ). Please contact Mark if you have a reservation but can't attend after all. We'll meet at Luna Books, 1633 P St., NW (3d floor) (202-332-2543), 3 blocks east of Dupont Circle. Dinner begins at 6:30; our discussion takes place 7:30-9:30. "Survival" is your reward at Backstage Books, 545 8th St., SE, & for a special Footlights discount at Politics & Prose, 5015 Connecticut Ave., NW; & Olsson's Books & Records, 1307 19th St., NW & 7647 Old Georgetown Rd., Bethesda.
On Thursday, April 19, "Survival of the Fittest" goes right to the source when we discuss "After Darwin" (1998), by Anglo-American playwright Timberlake Wertenbaker. This "brain-teasing new play" (Sunday Times) dramatizes the development of Darwin's theory of evolution on his voyage to the Galapagos, & his arguments with the ship's captain, a devout Anglican--all set as a play within a play, in which an ambitious amoral actor plays Darwin & a principled patrician portrays the captain. "Fascinating" (Guardian), "passionate" & "engaging" (Daily Mail), "After Darwin" sustains "genuinely tragic tension" (Financial Times) through "a strangely poetic ending" (Spectator). Georgetown Professor John Haught will lead our discussion. Haught is the director & founder of the Georgetown Center for the Study of Science and Religion, & author of "God After Darwin: A Theology of Evolution" (2000). We'll take reservations starting 9:00 p.m. March 26; call 202-638-0444 or e-mail [email protected] .
We may still have tickets for our next two theater trips, both to plays we discussed years ago but never attended. On Saturday, March 10, at 2:30 p.m., we'll attend George Bernard Shaw's "Major Barbara" (1905). Tickets are $12. On Sunday, April 22, at 3 p.m., we'll see David Mamet's "American Buffalo" (1975). Tickets are $18. Both events take place at Source Theatre, 1835 14th St., NW, & include a post-show discussion. For ticket information contact Robin Larkin (240-669-6300 & [email protected] ).
Mark your calendar now for our Sunday, May 6 trip to the Washington Shakespeare Co. to see Footlights Advisory Board member Jose Carrasquillo direct our own Debbie Jackson in "Blood Wedding" (1933), by Federico Garcia Lorca. Watch for details in our April e-letter.
Footlights is free but not for long unless you help! We rely on contributions to fund our meager budget. Keep Footlights on by sending your check to John Glynn, 3741 Yorktown Village Pass, Annandale, VA 22003. Thanks!
Monday, March 26: "Old Lady's Guide," Luna Books
Thursday, April 19: "After Darwin," Luna Books
Tuesday, May 22: "Homecoming," Delray Viet
Monday, June 18: "Lulu," Delray Viet
Wednesday, July 18: "Andersonville Trial," site TBA
all meetings start 6:30 p.m.
watch for exciting news about our 2001-02 season!
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