Sliver's THE MAIDEN'S PRAYER Brings The Search For The Perfect Mate To CO. 5/8

What is the difference between loving someone and needing them? In his contemporary piece The Maiden's Prayer, playwright Nicky Silver explores five characters - siblings, life-long friends, new friends, ex-lovers, husband and wife - as they search for the perfect mate and the perfect relationship.

The dramatic comedy opens at the wedding of Taylor and Cynthia, a golden couple beloved by everyone - almost. Cynthia's alcoholic sister Libby is in love with Taylor and can take it no longer. "The hypocrisy, the bone-chilling grotesque hypocrisy!"

Libby escapes to the back yard where she discovers Paul, a charming childhood friend of Taylor's who has long harbored a secret love for the groom. The pair find commonality in their struggle with the pain of unrequited love.

Promiscuous Paul is pursued by a young man, Andrew, who at first blush seems less interested in true love than in cable television and well-located real estate. Meanwhile Libby, her life in a shambles thanks to hard drinking, surrenders to a life without love, a life where sex is more about monetary gain than affection.

The newlyweds face similar struggles as they cope with a tragedy in their marriage that shatters their illusions.

"None of the characters are really looking for a connection," said Emelie Borello, who co-directed The Maiden's Prayer with Andrew Horsford. "They're looking to fulfill something that they're missing. I love the idea of exploring those things and bringing them to light in a way The Audience can relate to."

The Maiden's Prayer bares many of playwright Silver's stylistic trademarks: actors directly engaging The Audience; rapid-fire dialogue; and a razor-thin, almost-non-existent line between comedy and tragedy.

As Silver noted in an interview with Backstage magazine, "The difference between being funny and tragic is half a note in voice pitch, a millisecond of timing, a lighting cue."

According to Borello, "The comedic sense of the play is in the reality of it, in the nature of how we as humans can relate to our experience and how we interact with one another. There's a lot of wit and sarcasm in Nicky Silver's writing but it's not comedy for comedy's sake. It's humor that comes out of real life."

The Maiden's Prayer cast features well-known OpenStage actors Tomas Herrera, Andrew Horsford, Mike Martinkus, Sydney Parks and Julie Wolf.

openstage etc presents The Maiden's Prayer at 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays from May 8 to May 24, with two Sunday matinées at 2 p.m. on May 17 and 24. Performances are in the Center for Fine Arts Photography, 400 N. College Ave. The Maiden's Prayer contains adult language and situations.

Individual tickets are $14 for all ages. Reservations are available through OpenStage Theatre, (970) 484-5237.

Center for Fine Art Photography, 400 N. College Ave., Fort Collins
Cost: All tickets $14.
Reservations: 970-484-5237
Information: OpenStage Theatre, 970-484-5237 or www.openstage.com