[NEohioPAL]Rave Review for CVLT's Quilters

Fri Oct 24 10:16:41 PDT 2003

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Four more performances...ticket info below.  

CVLT'S 'QUILTERS' IS DEEPLY MOVING -- by Herb Hammer

Patricia Cooper and Norma Bradley Allen have studied the stories of the women who helped to settle the West in their book, "The Quilters: Woman and Domestic Art."  After long interviews with the authors, the book was turned into a musical play by Molly Neuman and Barbara Damashek.

Boring, you say?  Hardly.  "Quilters" is a deeply moving, often funny play with a melodic musical score that keeps you deeply involved in the lives of these women of the mid-1800s.  The production on the Chagrin Valley Little Theatre stage not only stays true to this fine work but is performed by six inspired women who give the play a warm, touching and affectionate quality.

It was a harsh life for these women.  After a happy childhood that ignored the reality of their bleak, dusty lives, they grow to become women who bear too many children and face death and heartbreak far too often.  

There is this one ray of brightness that gives their lives meaning.  From leftover pieces of cloth, the women sew quilts.  Counting stitches, improving their skill, a bit of their lives is stitched into each quilt, some that take years to produce.

While each of the performers play multiple roles, Wini Kovacik plays the one constant character, the matriarch whose very strength keeps the women whole.  Miss Kovacik as always gives a splendid performance.

The rest all sing and dance and beautifully perform the complex characters who lead simple, yet difficult lives.  Sally Morris, Theresa Benyo-Marzulo, Katy Doman, Diane Helm and Michele Palumbo, each with their own special talent, make you want to embrace this show.

Not to be forgotten is director Lenne Snively, who has magically tied this dramatic lesson in history together.  Her work deserves special attention.

Choreographer Deb Krutowsky keeps the dances simple with an eye on the times.

Chery Suchan has costumed the show in authentic looking mid-19th century dresses, and Edmund Wolff's simple set depicts the brown crusty world in which these women live.

We never see the men.  The authors focus on the women and their bleak lives, lives that find some happiness if only in sewing.

"Quilters" is the kind of show that takes its time pulling you in, but once you're there, you can't let go.

Chagrin Valley Little Theatre
40 River St.
Chagrin Falls, Ohio

Last four performances:  8:00pm, Friday and Saturday, October 23, 24, 31 and Nov. 1

Tickets $12.00, Seniors and Students $10.00

Box Office: 440-247-8955
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<DIV><STRONG><FONT color=#ff0000>Four more performances...ticket info below.  </FONT></STRONG></DIV>
<DIV><EM></EM> </DIV>
<DIV><EM>CVLT'S 'QUILTERS' IS DEEPLY MOVING -- by Herb Hammer</EM></DIV>
<DIV><EM></EM> </DIV>
<DIV><EM>Patricia Cooper and Norma Bradley Allen have studied the stories of the women who helped to settle the West in their book, "The Quilters: Woman and Domestic Art."  After long interviews with the authors, the book was turned into a musical play by Molly Neuman and Barbara Damashek.</EM></DIV>
<DIV><EM></EM> </DIV>
<DIV><EM>Boring, you say?  Hardly.  "Quilters" is a deeply moving, often funny play with a melodic musical score that keeps you deeply involved in the lives of these women of the mid-1800s.  The production on the Chagrin Valley Little Theatre stage not only stays true to this fine work but is performed by six inspired women who give the play a warm, touching and affectionate quality.</EM></DIV>
<DIV><EM></EM> </DIV>
<DIV><EM>It was a harsh life for these women.  After a happy childhood that ignored the reality of their bleak, dusty lives, they grow to become women who bear too many children and face death and heartbreak far too often.  </EM></DIV>
<DIV><EM></EM> </DIV>
<DIV><EM>There is this one ray of brightness that gives their lives meaning.  From leftover pieces of cloth, the women sew quilts.  Counting stitches, improving their skill, a bit of their lives is stitched into each quilt, some that take years to produce.</EM></DIV>
<DIV><EM></EM> </DIV>
<DIV><EM>While each of the performers play multiple roles, Wini Kovacik plays the one constant character, the matriarch whose very strength keeps the women whole.  Miss Kovacik as always gives a splendid performance.</EM></DIV>
<DIV><EM></EM> </DIV>
<DIV><EM>The rest all sing and dance and beautifully perform the complex characters who lead simple, yet difficult lives.  Sally Morris, Theresa Benyo-Marzulo, Katy Doman, Diane Helm and Michele Palumbo, each with their own special talent, make you want to embrace this show.</EM></DIV>
<DIV><EM></EM> </DIV>
<DIV><EM>Not to be forgotten is director Lenne Snively, who has magically tied this dramatic lesson in history together.  Her work deserves special attention.</EM></DIV>
<DIV><EM></EM> </DIV>
<DIV><EM>Choreographer Deb Krutowsky keeps the dances simple with an eye on the times.</EM></DIV>
<DIV><EM></EM> </DIV>
<DIV><EM>Chery Suchan has costumed the show in authentic looking mid-19th century dresses, and Edmund Wolff's simple set depicts the brown crusty world in which these women live.</EM></DIV>
<DIV><EM></EM> </DIV>
<DIV><EM>We never see the men.  The authors focus on the women and their bleak lives, lives that find some happiness if only in sewing.</EM></DIV>
<DIV><EM></EM> </DIV>
<DIV><EM>"Quilters" is the kind of show that takes its time pulling you in, but once you're there, you can't let go.</EM></DIV>
<DIV><EM></EM> </DIV>
<DIV><STRONG><FONT color=#ff0000></FONT></STRONG> </DIV>
<DIV><STRONG><FONT color=#ff0000>Chagrin Valley Little Theatre</FONT></STRONG></DIV>
<DIV><STRONG><FONT color=#ff0000>40 River St.</FONT></STRONG></DIV>
<DIV><STRONG><FONT color=#ff0000>Chagrin Falls, Ohio</FONT></STRONG></DIV>
<DIV><STRONG><FONT color=#ff0000></FONT></STRONG> </DIV>
<DIV><STRONG><FONT color=#ff0000>Last four performances:  8:00pm, Friday and Saturday, October 23, 24, 31 and Nov. 1</FONT></STRONG></DIV>
<DIV><STRONG><FONT color=#ff0000></FONT></STRONG> </DIV>
<DIV><STRONG><FONT color=#ff0000>Tickets $12.00, Seniors and Students $10.00</FONT></STRONG></DIV>
<DIV><STRONG><FONT color=#ff0000></FONT></STRONG> </DIV>
<DIV><STRONG><FONT color=#ff0000>Box Office: 440-247-8955</FONT></STRONG></DIV></BODY></HTML>
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