"Baltimore Waltz"
At The Factory Theatre
October 10 - 18

Holland Productions will present Paula Vogel's "The Baltimore Waltz" at The Factory Theatre, 791 Tremont Street, from October 10 - 18. Vogel penned "The Baltimore Waltz" as a eulogy to her brother, who passed away from AIDS in 1988. Depicting a fictionalized journey that Vogel and her brother were never able to take in life, the play originally opened to rave reviews in 1992 at the Circle Repertory Theatre in New York. Cherry Jones starred.

Told through a series of vignettes, "The Baltimore Waltz" follows the story of first grade teacher Anna and her brother Carl at they travel through Europe attempting to find a mysterious doctor who can cure Anna's newly diagnosed terminal illness ATD (Acquired Toilet Disease).

As Anna struggles to fill her final moments on earth, she seeks comfort through history, culture, sex and finally her relationship with her brother. The result is a humorous and heartbreaking comedy that explores what it means to cope with grief and celebrate life.

The cast includes Terrence Haddad (Gurnet Theatre Project's "Essential Self Defense") as Carl, Melissa Pharr as Anna (Boston Actors Theater's Summer Play Festival) and Samson Kohanski (Speakeasy's "History Boys") as the Third Man.

The Pulitzer Prize-winning Vogel is often known for mixing biting sarcasm and humorous wit with touching moments. "The Baltimore Waltz" is no exception as it cleverly satirizes the government's response to the AIDS epidemic.

The play is sometimes criticized for being a dated piece that critiques the culture of the 1990s. Dramaturg Lydia Anderson says this criticism misses the point, She comments, "Vogel herself calls 'The Baltimore Waltz' a play about grief and family, which is something everyone can relate to."

While the issues may change, at the core of the piece is the relationship between Anna and her brother, which remains timeless.

"Loss is a universal experience," says director Krista D'Agostino. "Whatever the
backdrop to loss may be – disease, natural disaster, war – we can all relate. How we cope is what makes our loss personal. Vogel takes us through her experience in which grief and comedy live side by side. She invites us to see that within our grieving we are able to find a celebration of life."

Paula Vogel has been a major force in American theater since the early 1990s. Her most well-known play remains the Pulitzer Prize-winning "How I Learned to Drive." Other works include "Desdemona: A Play About a Handkerchief," "And Baby Makes Seven" and "The Long Christmas Ride Home." Currently, Vogel is the Playwright in Residence and Chair of the Playwriting Department at Yale University.

"The Baltimore Waltz" marks Holland Productions' second full-length production at The Factory Theatre, following their inaugural presentation "Swimming after Dark" in 2006.

For tickets, visit www.theatermania.com.

-- OnStage Boston

10/03/08

 

 

 
 
 
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