Local Playwright Presents Staged Reading Of New Work In Willimantic 9/12

There will be a staged dramatic reading of an original play by local playwright Jim Hetrick, entitled Blessed Event. The play is a dramedy (combination of Drama and Comedy) about a slightly dysfunctional French Canadian family living in Brooklyn, CT who are dealing with the impending death of the family patriarch. The reading will be held at the Burton Leavitt Theater on Main Street, Willimantic, CT on Saturday evening, September 12.

There are nine characters interacting in the show:

CHARLIE - The understanding yet stubborn patriarch for whom family comes first and who is wiser and kinder than his gruff demeanor suggests.

GERTRUDE - Charlie's doting wife who is "maternal" in the best way, constantly concerned that everybody gets along and everybody's bellies are full.

WILLIAM - The oldest son who lives his life in Brooks Brothers suits and detests getting his hands dirty, despite his blue collar roots.

JOCELYN - Recently divorced from William. She pretends to look down on the family, but , in reality, she yearns to be accepted.

MICHELE - Charlie and Gertrude's daughter. Earthy. A hippie. A real liberal thinker. Resents "classist" thinking and "old school" ideas of roles in society, but loves her family in spite of her politics.

TOM - The "other" son. Down to earth and likable. SomeoNe You would call easy going. He followed in his father's footsteps and became an automobile mechanic. Blue collar in the best sense.

CHERYL - Tom's wife. Pretty. Unassuming. An elementary school teacher. She has a special, loving bond with Charlie. She really is "family".

PHILIP - Charlie and Gertrude's youngest child. He's gay, and lives his lifestyle openly, except when it comes to his parents. He's also a very successful large animal veterinarian.

T'AUNT SOPHIE - Bizarre, eccentric, comical and loud sister to Charlie. Has an opinion on everything.

A staged, dramatic reading is, essentially, a group of actors sitting onstage and reading their lines from the script. There are no sets, no costumes, no props, no special effects. Just actors portraying their roles with passion and skill to an audience. The curtain goes up at 8 p.m. on Saturday, September 12th. After the performance, there will be a question and answer session for the audience to converse with actors and the playwright. Tickets are $8.00.

For more information, call The Windham Theatre Guild box office at (860) 423-2245 or email Jim Hetrick at hayduke1@charter.net .

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