This is not a play about shoes, or another adaptation of The Vagina Monologues.
Love, Loss & What I Wore makes mini-biographies from clothing choices, spanning a wide range of true stories as told by six actors from the lip of the stage.
“It’s not this huge wave of theater coming at you,” said John MacNaughton, the show’s director. “It’s one person telling a memory—connecting.” MacNaughton, who is also Creative Director at the Croswell Opera House, said that it is nice to do something on a smaller scale because it “presents something more intimate in a way that musicals have a hard time doing.”
The script was written by authors and sisters Delia and the late Nora Ephron; a work in progress that came to fruition after 14 years. The original book was written and illustrated by Ilene Beckerman. The play includes excerpts from Beckerman’s story and additional stories collected by Nora and Delia “from all walks”—giving each actress a variety of roles and providing material that promises humor, heartache, and something wonderful.
“Seeing this or reading this, whatever—you come away with loving yourself a little more. And, it’s got that. It’s so charming. It’s so true. And, it’s so honest,” MacNaughton said. “There’s a monologue about this woman buying a strapless bra that is just so freakin’ funny…”
Cast members include Becky Freligh, Diane DuRussell, Wendy Bender, Joyce Collins-Cameron, Meg McNamee, and Deveny Rosebrock. Some travel over 40 miles to participate in the Croswell’s season(s).
MacNaughton worked in New York as a casting director with a focus on commercials. He grew up in the Croswell, volunteering and working, since childhood. His first show was Tom Sawyer (1967) where he played Tom’s best friend Huck. As Creative Director, he now serves as a production manager—making sure everything runs smoothly, right down to the props.
“I’m looking forward to doing the individual work in this rehearsal process; one-on-one working the monologues. I’m also looking forward to the camaraderie that I expect will develop between the women and the laughs that always happen in rehearsals with smaller casts,” MacNaughton said.
“I love when theater teaches us about ourselves—I don’t know how often that actually happens. But, it does.”
You’ll want to check this out—but remember to dress accordingly.
7:30pm, Friday, March 27 & Saturday, March 28. 2:30pm, Sunday, March 29. Croswell Opera House, 129 E. Maumee St. Adrian, MI. 517-263-6868.