Unitarian Universalist Church of Palo Alto

Thespian Archive for 2005

February 14: "Arcadia" by Tom Stoppard

The setting is always the library of an English manor, but the scenes alternate in time between 1809 and "now". We see what really happened to Lord Byron and some of his acquaintances, and what modern scholars conclude about what happened. The reader has to stay alert to follow Stoppard, but the effort is worthwhile. Theatre Works performed this play last June.
Philip's Commentary

March14: "Mousetrap" by Agatha Christie

"THE" classic murder mystery. Eight people isolated by a snowstorm in a manor house in the country. One of them gets murdered. Who did it? Will there be more murders? What dark secrets from the past will be revealed before we find out? This play opened in London's West End in 1952 and is still running.
Philip's Commentary

April 11: Morality Plays

A double bill of two short plays. "Our Times" by Hank Blakeley is a modern morality play concerned with the relation between the Patriot Act and individual freedom; it was originally produced at the Unitarian Universalist Church in Reston VA, and was performed at last year's General Assembly. "The Burning of the Books" by Stephen Vincent Benet is a radio play in free verse, first aired in 1942.
Philip's Commentary

May 9: "Communicating Doors" by Alan Ayckbourn

A mixture of mystery, time travel, kinky sex, humor, and suspense by England's most versatile living playwright. In the past decade this play has been performed in San Jose and at the Sunnyvale California summer series.
Philip's Commentary

Monday, June 13 and Tuesday, June 28: Sabrina Fair, by Samuel Taylor

An amusing comedy involving romance between chauffeur's daughter and his boss's son. Wonderful characters to read.
Philip's Commentary

Monday, July 11 and Tuesday, July 26: Death of a Salesman, by Arthur Miller

Miller's best known play, read in honor of his passing earlier this year.
Philip's Commentary

Monday, August 8 and Tuesday, August 23: Death Trap, by Ira Levin

The Murderer is known; but who is the victim? And what happens after the first murder? There's a surprise in every one of the six scenes.
Philip's Commentary

Monday, September 12: Two short plays

1. Desire by Pablo Picasso
The sort of play one might expect from the well-known artist.
2. Hands Across the Sea, by Noel Coward
A one-act gem by the master of British drawing-room comedy
Philip's Commentary

Monday, October 10: Mrs. Warren's Profession, by G. B. Shaw

Another masterful putdown of social pretension written as only Shaw can write
Philip's Commentary

Monday, November 14: Bedroom Farce, by Alan Ayckbourn

our married couples have various encounters in three bedrooms. But it's all good, clean fun.
Philip's Commentary

Monday, December 12: Inspecting Carol, by Daniel Sullivan

A very amateur theatre group prepares to put on the Dickens' Christmas classic with hilariously dreadful results.
Philip's Commentary

For more information contact thespians-info@uucpa.org

Philip Hodge, Chair