Three Women Bonded By an Illness

How entertaining is it when real life occurrences hit the stage, laying out emotions and struggles on the table?  Extremely. People want to be able to relate and understand others, or see something in themselves that has been hiding, and theatre really allows one to do that. Women dealing with the tribulations of love, life, death and breast cancer make out the beautiful dramatic-comedy "Musical Chairs," written by Nalsey Tinberg and directed by Kate Randolph. It is an especially good play for women - those who have cancer or conquered it, or know people who have; and men, could perhaps identify with these topics or just learn something about women and how they overcome plight.

The women in the play, Rose (Bunok Kravitz, who also produced the play), Winnie (Michele Hart) and Ellen (Dina Rosenmeier) survive their diagnosises with the help of each other.  After leaving their cancer group, they decide that the three of them will be their own group.  The women are strangers, worlds apart, but bound by diagnosis, and eventually to each other. The characters' personalities is what separates them from each other, only to find that cancer brings them truly together in a special way.  Harboring secrets, they find that they can let go, and face their fears.  Rose, a lesbian, acts tough towards her cancer, and won't let it run her life.  Winnie, the eldest, has held on to her troublesome childhood memories of her mother and father far too long and is on the verge of releasing them to her new friends, which shows how much she wants to everything to be at peace if she were to die. Ellen, the youngest, wants love; and when lingering after a man named Fred, she becomes attracted to Rick, the waiter in the restaurant where the ladies always meet. Each woman shares their thoughts, those that come when contemplating mortality, defying it at the same time. Though, the subject matter may seem only dramatic, the play was wonderfully written with light-hearted moments and comedy mixed in.  The women come together and join forces, trying to surpass what has also inflicted pain and loss in this world. "These heroines share their fears and passions, their hopes and dreams on their most personal of journeys; Musical Chairs of who will live and who will not" (http://www.plays411.com/website/htmlconsumer/play_info.asp).

The game of Musical Chairs is a metaphor for their fight with death.  But, there is always the question of: Why do they so adamantly refuse to sit at the table's fourth chair, closest to the audience?  It seems to be the chair that is for the characters sit on and breakdown with emotion, where the struggles are ultimately revealed. "Musical Chairs" is a heart-felt play that tells an honest story of three women dealing with a horrible illness that is affected by so many.  You will feel, you will laugh, you may even cry - you should go see it.  

As a message:  Actress Michele Hart (who played Winnie) said about cancer, "What you go through is the worst - mentally.  Be careful. Check up on it."

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

"Musical Chairs" by Nalsey Tinberg, directed by Kate Randolph 
Stella Adler Theatre, in the Studio Theatre, 6773 Hollywood Blvd., 2nd Floor, Hollywood.  Discounted parking is available in a lot around the corner on Highland Avenue.
Now running through December 19th
Thursday - Saturday @ 8pm; Sunday @ 7pm.
Ticket Price: $20.00; Discounts Available. $15.00 for AEA, SAG, AFTRA,
seniors, students, (mention code 007 when reserving)
Reservation Line: Call (323) 960-7782 or visit www.plays411.com/musicalchairs