Reviewed by Tony Annicone
The current show at the Edward King House in Newport is “Love, Loss and What I Wore” by Nora and Delia Ephran. It is based on the best selling book by Ilene Beckerman. The show consists of a series of 28 monologues with a 5 women cast. They are dressed in black and sit down with their scripts in front of them on stands. It covers a variety of topics about women including how mothers influenced their lives and various stages of what they wore when important events took place. Some of these include buying prom dresses, bras, boots and shoes and how the color black is a passion for them. It examines their relationships and is a time capsule as told through Gingy and four other women’s lives. Director Sharon Coleman gives each woman their chance to shine in this show including herself. She blends the comic and dramatic monologues together splendidly with this show that leaves you laughing and thinking thoughtfully at the same time.
The character of Gingy is excellently played by Cindy Killavey. She weaves the story among the other tales by describing her three marriages as “motherhood and the death of a child.” Each turning point is marked by an article of clothing. It begins with a brownie uniform and extends to her granddaughter’s dressing up in her clothes. There are many monologues so I will describe a few of them. Sharon has a very poignant monologue about her mother’s death and the similarity of the bathrobe worn by her stepmother. Stephanie Lynn Reilly has a comic one about boots, Mary Pevear swears up a storm in her monologue about the paper dress and also has one about shoes, and Carmela Geer has a comic one about the detested unorganized purse. Her standout monologue is about breast cancer. So for an intense and amusing look at a contemporary play that will resonate with you, be sure to catch “Love, Loss and What I Wore” at Edward King House before time runs out. Michelle Brennan shares the role with Stephanie.
Love, Loss and What I Wore 5 to 14 April
Edward King House, 35 King Street, Newport, RI
1(401)846-7426 x2 or www.Edward King. org
