"Three Tall Women"
By Edward Albee
Starring Kate Black, Amy Ball, Joan Goldner
Directed by Thom Hofrichter
ABOUT THE PLAY
Upon its 1994 debut, this searing drama was immediately proclaimed a masterwork of the modern theatre. Three women, ages 26, 52, and 91 are separate characters in Act I; in Act II they are the same woman at different ages in her life. These tall women investigate how we change over the course of our lifetimes, how we live and love, and what we settle for.
A THEOLOGICAL REFLECTION
by the Reverend Robin Lyn Valdez, Associate Pastor of First Presbyterian Church
Much of life is lived in anticipation. We wait, not so anxiously, for the time when everything will stop. We run fast and furiously because we are in fear that when that time finally comes, nothing will be ready. We wonder if what we think has been lost can be found again, and if it is found again, whether or not we will have the capacity or desire to learn the lessons that life so often presents to us.
Edward Albee writes of three women, individually and collectively gifted, personally and emotionally broken. They each struggle to find a place to rest. When that place, different for each woman, can be seen in the distance, each fights fiercely to arrive at the next destination. When they do arrive they each realize that the same memories are waiting for them, and what they feared the most has now been met in the experience and loss of another. They have lived life without a sincere belief that they have ever really been loved or cherished. They have no apparent belief in God or the gift of God's grace.
As each character tells her story, shares her dreams, she is challenged by the woman standing right next to her. The anger comes from deep within - and there is no hope. They are known by each other through their stories only, not by any thread of belonging or long-lasting, meaningful connection.
As Christians we are given the promise of new life through the gift and grace of Jesus Christ. When life is experienced without any presence of unconditional love, we begin to question every aspect of our lives. We wonder if anyone will ever understand us, ever love us enough, ever stay with us throughout the course of our entire lives. The Psalmist writes in Psalm 139, "O Lord, you have searched me and known me! You know when I sit down and when I rise up; you discern my thoughts from afar. You search out my path and my lying down and are acquainted with all my ways. Even before a word is on my tongue, lo, O Lord, you know it altogether. You hem me in behind and before and lay your hand on me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high, I cannot attain it."
Such knowledge is overwhelming! It is life-giving as well! We are treasured by a God who came so that we would have life..and have it abundantly! The three women in Albee's play don't possess that knowledge, nor do they believe that something so satisfying could be available to them, especially in the form of a gift that asks for nothing in return.
BIOS
Amy Ball (C) is a recent grad of the IPFW theatre program. Three Tall Women marks her debut at FPT. Some of her most memorable roles include Sonya in Uncle Vanya, Honey in Albee's Who 's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?, and Kristine in A Chorus Line. In the fall she plans to move to NYC to pursue a professional life in the theatre.
Kate Black (A) returns to FPT for a second time this season having played Mrs. Webb in Our Town. She has performed at all the local theatres in roles ranging from Ma Joad (The Grapes of Wrath), to Tracy Lord (Philadelphia Story). Kate feels privileged to be working with Thom on TTW
Jack Cantey (The Boy) is an occasional community actor in Fort Wayne. Aside from two full time jobs, his interests include tennis, Joyce, and Audrey Hepburn's face.
Joan Goldner (B) once a professional singer in Chicago, has performed with many local theater groups; some roles include Eliza in My Fair Lady (Civic), Marge Channing in Applause (IPFW), Desiree in A Little Night Music (Arena), and Jaques Brel is Alive and Well and Living in Paris (FPT). Recently, she sang with the FW Philharmonic in The Gershwin Gala. Joan is Executive Director of the Fort Wayne Sports Corporation.
Thom Hofrichter (direction, light design) is delighted to be at FPT. Although he had worked professionally across this country for the 14 years prior to his job at FPT, he always considered Fort Wayne his home since he was born and raised here. Three Tall Women marks Thom's sixth show at FPT. Other's include Conversations With My Father, Schoolhouse Rock Live!, Our Town, Tartuffe, and Diaries of Adam and Eve.
Michael Todd Harris (scenic design) is most often seen on the stage, most recently in She Loves Me (Arena), and Forever Plaid (Civic). He would like to thank Thom for the opportunity to work on TTW and Ron & Virginia Badour for helping to transform what was on the page to the 3-dimensional stage. Todd holds a BFA in theatre from the University of Mobile, where he studied under the expert tutelage of Dianne Murphree and Bruce Morgan.
Orene Colcord (costume design) is a multi-talented theatre practitioner. Within the last three months she designed costumes for The Gershwin Gala for The FW Philharmonic, directed The Best Christmas Pageant Ever for Youtheatre, and is currently acting in Durang-Durang at IPFW
Susie Reed (stage manager/wig stylist) works by day for the City Fort Wayne in the Building Permits section, and by night has been learning the craft of technical theatre. This is Susie's fourth show this season; she has served on running crew and as wig-stylist for the last three.
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