Classic Verse Romance Begins "Outsiders" Series

On Tuesday, September 15, Footlights begins a series of plays about "outsiders" with Christopher Fry's verse romance "The Lady's Not for Burning" (1948). In the year 1400, a cynical, weary ex-soldier arrives in an English market town & demands to be hanged. He hesitates when he meets a beautiful, eccentric woman, fleeing a mob that wants her burned as a witch. In the NY Times, Brooks Atkinson called the play a "brilliant comedy written in sparkling poetry" & compared Christopher Fry to Shakespeare. "The Lady's Not for Burning" won the NY Drama Critics Circle Award & the Shaw Prize as Britain's best play.

We will meet at The Little Cafe & Grill, 2039 Wilson Blvd., Arlington (703-522-6622), 1 block E of Court House metro (across from Wendy's). The restaurant--our first in Virginia--serves Greek & Italian cuisine. Park in the back or at the post office next door.

Dinner begins at 6:30 & our discussion at 7:30. Make reservations by e-mailing [email protected] or calling 202-638-0444. Be sure to attend if you'd like us to meet again in Virginia.

You can find "The Lady's Not for Burning" in NW DC at Backstage Books, 2101 P St., Olsson's, 1307 19th St., & Politics & Prose, 5015 CT Ave.

More "Burning"

Footlights has arranged a video viewing of "The Lady's Not for Burning," starring Kenneth Branagh, for 8 p.m., Friday, September 25, at the Unitarian-Universalist Church of Arlington, 4444 Arlington Blvd. (US-50), corner George Mason Dr. Admission is $2 & includes refreshments. For reservations & directions, call George Manno at 703-370-1838.

"Raisin" in October

On Wednesday, October 21, Footlights continues our "outsiders" series with Lorraine Hansberry's "A Raisin in the Sun" (1959), the play that "changed American theater forever" (NY Times). Our discussion will feature director Scot Reese, whose production of "Raisin" we will attend at the Olney Theatre on Saturday afternoon, November 7. Tickets are $18. Make checks payable to "Footlights" & mail to Robin Larkin, 5403 Nibud Ct., Rockville, MD 20852 ([email protected]).

Footlights on Stage

September will feature SCENA Theatre's world premiere of Footlights member Otho Eskin's "Season in Hell," starring Kryztov Lindquist as 19th-century French poet Arthur Rimbaud. Performances take place September 1-October 13, at Studio 1019, 1019 7th St., NW. For more information call 703-684-7990.

In September 1996, Footlights discussed the groundbreaking absurdist play "Waiting for Godot" (1953). From September 2-October 4, you can wait for "Godot" yourself at the Studio Theatre, 1333 P St., NW. For more information call 202-332-3300.

The Outsiders

Tuesday, September 15: "The Lady's Not for Burning" (discussion)
Friday, September 25: "The Lady's Not for Burning" (video)
Wednesday, October 21: "A Raisin in the Sun" (discussion)
Saturday, November 7: "A Raisin in the Sun" (performance)
Thursday, November 19: "The Miracle Worker" (discussion)
Monday, December 21: "The Last Night of Ballyhoo" (discussion)

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