Unitarian Universalist Church of Palo Alto

Philip's Commentary On

THE LADY ‘S NOT FOR BURNING

Is this a play about the hypocrisy of petty tyranny?  Is it about the ridiculousness of the human condition?  Is it about the redemptive power of love?  Or is it a play to be read for the sheer beauty of its language?  The answer is “Yes!”

When and Where:
                   Monday, October 8, at  7 pm in Room 10 
                   Tuesday, October 23, at  7 pm in Room 9          

What:   THE LADY’S NOT FOR BURNING by CHRISTOPHER FRY          

Who:    UUCPA Thespians          

Why:    To enjoy Fry’s mastery of language, wit, and humor.

The scene is a room in the  house of Hebble Tyson, Mayor of the small market-town of Cool Clary.  The time is  1400 “either more or less or exactly”. There are 11 characters, and by their words  ye shall know them: 

Thomas:         I only want to be hanged. 

Richard:         I wasn’t born, I was . . . crammed into a poor box.

Alizon:            My birth was a great surprise to my parents.

Nicholas:        Once you know my qualities, I can drop back into a quite brilliant humility.

Humphrey:     Mother, . . . I’m tired of my little brother.  Will you please give him to some charity?

Margaret:       I would rather have to plait the tails of unbroken ponies than try to  understand Nicholas.

Jennet:           They say I have changed a man into a dog.

Mayor:            A sense of humor [is] incompatible with good citizenship.

Justice Tappercoom:   Blow your nose and avoid lechery.

Chaplain:        Would there be something I could  do?  I was asleep, you know.

Skipps:           Peace on earth and good tall women.

Which one would you like to be?  I make no promises, but if you tell me  your favorite(s) when you make your reservation (email thespians-info@uucpa.org or call me) for one of the readings, I’ll try to accommodate you.  Or you can just show up at seven o’clock and take your chances.

Philip Hodge, Chair.