Portrait of a Madonna and Suddenly Last Summer
Two Tenneessee Williams Plays — One Production
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"Directed well by Leslie A. Kobylinski . . .the folks at Keegan have once again done justice to one of America’s finest playwrights."
"Two good Williams’ shows—not to be missed—"
—Arlington Weekly News TV
"What makes this production most effective . . . is the cast's focus and coordination as an ensemble." —The Washington Post
". . . a deft piece of playwrighting. . ." —Sun Gazette
". . . the stage at Gunston Theater II . . .captures the ambiance Tennessee Williams required. . ."
—Washington City Paper
". . .two different Williams plays . . . one fine production."
—DC Theatre Reviews
". . . .compelling must-see Williams"
—The Washington Post
The Keegan Theatre's Portrait of a Madonna and Suddenly Last Summer production is a
Potomac Stages Pick!
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Washington Examiner
"Directed well by Leslie A. Kobylinski . . .the folks at Keegan have once again done justice to one of America’s finest playwrights."
Tennessee Twosome
". . . The Keegan Theatre, whose recent version of Williams’ masterpiece “A Streetcar Named Desire” was theatrical dynamite, continues its Williams mini-festival with a revival of two of his one-act plays. . . Keegan’s presentation . . . boasts some fine performances. . .Directed well by Leslie A. Kobylinski . . .the folks at Keegan have once again done justice to one of America’s finest playwrights." Thurs, Dec 1, 2005--Doug Krentzlin
Potomac Stages
"A Potomac Stages Pick for a pair of stunning performances by a single actress"
“There are two reasons to see this pair of one-act plays by Tennessee Williams: Sherri S. Herren and Sheri S. Herren. . . Williams' two short pieces have the strength of plot, the uniqueness of character and the poetry of language for which he is so well known. The evening is directed by Leslie A. Kobylinski which is another good reason to see the pairing. As is her habit, she brings out the best in the entire company. . . Marybeth Fritzky has the other strong female part (this one in Suddenly Last Summer) and she acquits herself well. . . Timothy Hayes Lynch does a splendid job . . . Kudos as well go to the design team, especially Keith Bell whose sound design could well be used by other better financed companies as a guide to making both off stage and on stage sounds seem authentic.” --Brad Hathaway
The Washington Post
"Marybeth Fritzky does a splendid job. . . What makes this production most effective . . . is the cast's focus and coordination as an ensemble."
Williams's 'Portrait': A Blueprint - Keegan's Tennessee Twofer
"Marybeth Fritzky does a splendid job as Catharine. The restless darting of her eyes, the twitching of her clenched fists, the jerky way she moves her head -- all her body language suggests borderline psychosis, but she seems vulnerable, too. Also notable is Graham as the courteous Dr. Cukrowicz, who's suitably troubled by Mrs. Venable's insistence that Catharine needs a lobotomy. Herren makes an unnervingly serene Mrs. Venable, and Kathryn Fuller and Mike Sherman are convincingly uncouth as Catharine's mother and brother."
"All the characterizations benefit from [Grant Kevin] Lane's aptly chosen costumes, including a gorgeous lavender silk dress for the snobbish Mrs. Venable and an ugly green suit, paired with yellow gloves, for Catharine's mother. "
"What makes this production most effective, though -- other than Fritzky's performance -- is the cast's focus and coordination as an ensemble. When everyone's onstage, as the melodramatic moments flow, you can sense the characters' conflicting self-interests hanging ominously in the sultry New Orleans air.
Wed, Dec 7, 2005, Page C08 --Celia Wren
Arlington Weekly News TV
"Two good Williams’ shows—not to be missed—"
"One of the better actresses around town, who works with The Keegan Theatre, Sheri Herren, is the lead actress in a double-bill production at Gunston Arts Center in Arlington. . . . Herren is wonderful in each role---as the pathetic recluse in 'Portrait' and as the strong, older Mrs. Venable in 'Suddenly.' Marybeth Fritzkey as Mrs. Venable’s cousin, Catharine Holly, is riveting . . .Two good Williams’ shows—not to be missed— by The Keegan Theatre." —Rich Massabny
DC Theatre Reviews
". . .two different Williams plays . . . one fine production."
“Mounting two different Williams plays at the same time is not an easy feat to pull off but Leslie Kobylinski and Keegan are able to combine them into one fine production. The cast also does a great job. Four actors manage dual roles and all provide wonderful performances. . . . Mr. Graham who was also wonderful in Beauty Queen Of Leanne this past summer by Keegan is fantastic in both of his roles (Doctor and Elevator Operator) in this production. Ms. Fritzky as Catherine shows great emotional range in a very demanding role. . . stage design for both plays is quite good.. . . sound design for Portrait Of A Madonna showed quite a bit of imagination. Period Costumes were fantastic and well done in both plays."--Walter Ruff
Washington City Paper
". . . the stage at Gunston Theater II . . .captures the ambiance Tennessee Williams required. . ."
"Moldy shutters with ferns and ivy growing through their missing slats surround the stage at Gunston Theater II--a vision of decay in New Orleans that seems all too apt at present but also captures the ambiance Tennessee Williams required in these two one-acts. Portrait of a Madonna is the play in which he first imagined the character who would eventually become Blanche DuBois--Miss Lucretia Collins, whose air of frazzled delicacy masks a will of iron when it comes to protecting her privacy and her memories. Lately, she has been imagining that a long-lost lover has returned and has nightly been "indulging his senses"--a rape fantasy worrisome enough that the hotel manager has decided it's time she relocated to the state asylum. After intermission comes Suddenly Last Summer, another Williams one-act in which worries about the asylum loom large. Mrs. Violet Venable invites a lobotomist to interview her niece Catharine, with an eye to permanently silencing her. It's easy to see the attraction of producing the play for a company like Keegan, with its stable of accomplished actresses. The troupe is offering a discount for patrons who want to see both this show and its Streetcar Named Desire, which is currently at the Church Street Theater." --Bob Mondello
Visit Washington City Paper at: www.washingtoncitypaper.com
The Washington Post Alexandria-Arlington Extra
". . . compelling must-see Williams"
Williams One Act Plays Don't Come UP Short
". . . an absorbing evening of theater. . . [Sheri S.] Herren capably transforms herself from a dazed and delusional woman approaching middle age in 'Madonna' into a steely, cold and ruthless dowager who will go to extreme lengths to maintain appearances in 'Summer.' . . .Williams is at his most self-indulgent here, weaving into the story hints of incest, homosexuality, abuse of money and power, and even cannibalism. It can be melodramatic; in fact it cries out to be melodramatic, but [Leslie A.] Kobylinski keeps it dialed back. That makes it more realistic. . .The duel between Marybeth Fritzky as the neice and Herren as Violet has some rich moments, mostly as Fritzky's brittle Catherine starts to crumble every time she ventures near the truth of Sebastian's death, leading to a gut-wrentching monologue that shatters the old woman's world. It is dark but compelling must-see Williams." Thurs, Dec1, 2005 --Michael J. Toscano
Sun Gazette
"Both works. . .star one of my local favorites, Sheri S. Herren. . .with the assistance of solid supporting casts. . ."
"Both works. . .star one of my local favorites, Sheri S. Herren. She manages to pull off this double play – as two very different characters – with the assistance of solid supporting casts. . . Short and even tender, the production brings dignity to the central character and those around her (most notably, Timothy Hayes Lynch as the caring apartment porter). It’s a deft piece of playwrighting, alas largely forgotten to time." --Matt Reville
Washington Theatre Review
". . .Grant Kevin Lane’s set is beautiful. . ."
". . . The two acts are well matched. . .Scott Graham also offers strong support . . . Grant Kevin Lane’s set is beautiful, garnishing his arena stage with dilapidated, vine-draped trellises bathed in green light. . .
Portrait of a Madonna
Directed by Leslie A. Kobylinski
 Gunston Arts Center Theatre II, 2700 South Lang Street, Arlington, VA
November 17-December 17, 2005
Cast and Production Team
Tennessee William’s first sketch for what would become the iconic character Blanche DuBois, Portrait of a Madonna details the downfall of Miss Lucretia Collins, a middle aged spinster desperately trying to hold on to the dignity and dreams of her youth. Set in the living room of an apartment in New Orleans, Williams compresses his poetic understanding of the basic meaning of life –its tragedy, its bravery and its search for love– into the character of Ms. Collins and the onlookers who orchestrate her demise. Dedicated to “the talent and charm of Miss Lillian Gish”, Portrait would provide the launching pad for American stage star, Jessica Tandy, and her eventual casting in the groundbreaking Broadway production of A Streetcar Named Desire opposite Marlon Brando.
Suddenly Last Summer
Directed by Leslie A. Kobylinski
Gunston Arts Center Theatre II, 2700 South Lang Street, Arlington, VA
November 17-December 17, 2005
Cast and Production Team
Set in the deep south of New Orleans, Tennessee Williams’ savage drama pits two women against each other in a passionate battle for possession of the story of the death of a young man they both love. Wealthy and ferocious society matron, Violet Venable, who once traveled the world with her urbane and amusing son, Sebastian, will stop at nothing to instill her version of “the truth” against Catharine Holly, a poor relation, and eye witness to Sebastian’s final voyage and violent demise. This groundbreaking and fascinating play concerns not only terrible secrets (homosexuality, insanity, murder and cannibalism), but basic truth and falsehood, and the ways in which human beings use one another.
Portrait of a Madonna & Suddenly Last Summer Calendar
at Gunston Arts Center Theater II, 2700 South Lang Street, Arlington, VA
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Sunday |
Monday |
Tuesday |
Wednesday |
Thursday |
Friday |
Saturday |
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11/13 - dark |
11/14 - dark |
11/15 - dark |
11/16- dark |
11/17 - 8 PM PWYC |
11/18 - 8 PM PWYC |
11/19 - 2PM and 8 PM |
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11/20 - dark |
11/21- dark |
11/22 - dark |
11/23 - dark |
11/24 - dark |
11/25 - 8 PM |
11/26 - 2PM and 8 PM |
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11/27 - dark |
11/28 - dark |
11/29 - dark |
11/30 - 8 PM |
12/01- 8 PM |
12/02 - 8 PM |
12/03 - 2PM and 8 PM |
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12/04 - dark |
12/05 - dark |
12/06 - dark |
12/07 - dark |
12/08 - 8 PM |
12/09 - 8 PM |
12/10 - 2PM and 8 PM |
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12/11 - dark |
12/12 - dark |
12/13 - dark |
12/14 - dark |
12/15 - 8 PM |
12/16 - 8 PM |
12/17 - 2PM and 8 PM |
Production Images
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