This is an evening of straightforward readings of seven of Samuel Beckett's short pieces, some well-known and some not so. That the interpretations are conventional is a little surprising, given Forum's stated purpose of exploring genre collaborations.

Paul Danaceau is at his best in Krapp's Last Tape when he is silently reacting to autobiographical tape recordings that his character (now 70 years old) has made 30 years ago and more. His recollection of a romantic encounter in a boat by his middle-aged self is touching. He sighs, "The eyes she had!" and it's all there. His line readings on tape are perhaps a bit stilted.

Margery Berringer, also playing to tape, gives us a fine decaying Southern belle in Rockaby and another lady becoming quietly, rhythmically unraveled in Footfalls.

Come and Go is taken too slowly, while the microscopic Breath is over too soon, taking more time to set up than to perform. Brent Lowder just isn't right as the Director in Catastrophe.

Likewise Maggie Glauber takes the brain-scrambling monologue Not I too quickly. Mouth has to visit more levels and territories than Glauber does. But director Dove does go with the Auditor character (ostensibly dropped by Beckett after early performances) to reinforce Mouth's refusal to take the first person in her narrative, and he handles the isolation of Glauber's mouth well: while she is seated, a fellow cast member blindfolds her and wraps her completely in black cloth. A pin spot then illuminates the cavern of her mouth.

posted: 3:51:53 PM  

For some time I've had a stained glass panel project that a friend started for me, and she wasn't able to finish it. I brought the panel in to Virginia Stained Glass in Springfield, and they took very good care of me. They turned the job around in a week; there was a fair amount of cleanup to be done; they were matching a companion piece already completed; and they charged me for not much more than a simple repair. I really don't think they made any money on the deal. I hope the goodwill redounds to them. Thanks, Diane and Donna!

posted: 2:01:21 PM