ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Friday, April 26, 1996 TAG: 9604260092
SECTION: EXTRA PAGE: 5 EDITION: METRO
TYPE: THEATER REVIEW
SOURCE: KATHERINE REED STAFF WRITER
The play remains the same, but if you missed "Grace & Glorie" last year in Mill Mountain Theatre B, now is the time to see it.
Now, more than ever.
"Grace & Glorie" is the story of an elderly woman named Grace dying of cancer in her Virginia mountain cabin. Just beyond her front door, a developer is razing her family's farm to begin building a time-share complex.
With all the noise and sensitivity of the bulldozers outside, a transplanted Yankee named Gloria enters Grace's life. Gloria is a hospice volunteer, and she wants "to help" Grace die.
Simple, plain-spoken Grace can't quite believe that anyone would want the job that Gloria is doing for free. What's in it for Gloria? And therein lies the tension - and some of the laughs - in this play by Lexington playwright Tom Ziegler.
Barbara Farrar is, again, a magnificent Grace. She wears this role as comfortably as an old shawl. Joining her in the role of Gloria - whom Grace persists in calling Glorie after an old gospel tune - is Catherine Christianson, who played the role across from Farrar last summer in an Illinois production.
Christianson finds the subtleties in this role of a woman who is struggling against the persistent pain of a terrible loss.
On the outside, Gloria is tough. She's succeeded beyond all of her wildest dreams as a consultant in a big New York City firm. She's had money and power - personally and professionally - and now has only a tragedy to define her.
Grace, too, has lost almost everything that ever meant anything to her and is struggling with the very real pain that is part of her dying. The women's pain - and their strength - is their bond. And while the previous Theatre B production - also directed by Jere Lee Hodgin - certainly suggested the interesting apposition and contrast of these two characters, Christianson's strong performance creates a much better balance.
These women have so much to teach each other - so much to teach us- that when "Grace & Glorie" ends, it seems very much like a beginning. It is a jumping off point for faith, maybe even belief, and respect for the lessons of living and dying.
Ziegler's play is a fine piece of work, and this production does it more than justice.
``GRACE AND GLORIE'' Tonight through May 5 in Theatre B of Mill Mountain Theatre in downtown Roanoke. Shows Tuesday at Thursday at 7:30 p.m.; Friday and Saturday at 8 p.m.; and Sunday at 2 p.m. Tickets are $10 and $12. 20 E. Church Avenue. For further information, call 342-5740.
LENGTH: Medium: 54 linesby CNB