AND MISS REARDON DRINKS A LITTLE Opens 4/11 at The Studio

Theatre Artists Studio presents And Miss Reardon Drinks a Little, a dark comedy from playwright Paul Zindel, author of the Pulitzer prize-winning The Effect of Gamma Rays on Man in The Moon Marigolds.

This biting, touching and often wildly funny play examines the tortured relationships of three sisters whose lives have reached a point of crisis following the death of their dominating mother. One sister has married and cut herself off; another has begun to drink, and the third is on the brink of madness. When the married sister comes to dinner to push to have her sibling committed to an institution, the smoldering resentments of many years burst alive. The unexpected arrival of a neighbor couple exacerbates the confrontation and propels the action to its shattering conclusion.

The sisters all work in the crumbling Staten Island school system. Ceil, the eldest, is as no-nonsense and take-charge as her mother. Catherine, foulmouthed and abrasive, drowns her romantic disappointment in pitchers of Manhattans, and sensitive Anna, the baby of the family, is dangling on the edge of a nervous breakdown after indulging in an affair with one of her male students. Neighbor Fleur Stein is an overbearing guidance counselor, deliriously flashy and obnoxious. Their skirmishing is as funny as it is fierce, all building to an explosive climax.

And Miss Reardon Drinks a Little is directed by Valley theatre veteran, Judy Rollings. When asked why she wanted to direct this play, Rollings was quick to respond. "We have some wonderfully talented women at The Studio, and I looked forward to getting a number of them all together on the same stage," said Rollings. "The language and rhythms of this play are brilliant, and incredibly important to its success. There's little time for these actors to 'think' about what they are feeling in order to play the moments. As a director, it's a challenge to respect their 'process' while, at the same time, fulfill the playwright's intent for his story and characters."

What exactly is the playwright's intent? What points is he trying to make? According to Rollings, there are many. How do we retain our innocence and live in the real world? Who do we have responsibility for? How much can family fidelity influence the choices we make? How much should we let it influence us?

And Miss Reardon Drinks a Little is directed by Valley theatre veteran Judy Rollings and features the talents of Maureen Dias, Debra Rich, Dolores D'Amore Goldsmith, Judy Lebeau, Walt Pedano, Tyler Updegraff, and Dee Rich.

Theatre Artists Studio presents And Miss Reardon Drinks a Little, April 11 through 27 at The Studio located two blocks north of Cactus Road on E. Paradise Village Parkway.

Tickets are $20 for General Admission; $10 for Students 25 & Under and $15 for Groups of 10 or More, Seniors 65 & Over & Members of the Military (active or retired). For tickets, call the box office at 602-765-0120 or visit www.thestudiophx.org.

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