Kate Zambreno

When Samuel Beckett's demented and lovely play gets subjected to the trademark stylistics of director Sean Graney, it becomes Beckett on crack that's then sped up a notch. A middle-aged woman finds herself increasingly buried in sand and distanced from her only companion, who barely appears on stage. She busies herself with memories and survives on delighting in mundane routine and the tiniest of things. She can go on, she must on. Donna McGough tackles the Herculean role of the eternal optimist, Winnie, unleashing a dynamic performance. McGough's Winnie ricochets around the stage like a rubber ball, although stuck in the ground the entire time. This stirring and stunning production elucidates what Beckett was striving for in what's still known as his most hopeful work--the ferocity of the human spirit, the trap of existence, and the limited nature of communication.

"Happy Days" plays at Stage Left Theatre, 3408 North Sheffield, (312)409-5578, through July 6.

(2003-06-18)

Also by Kate Zambreno

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In his debut collection, "Short People," Joshua Furst, winner of the Nelson Algren Award for Fiction, examines childhood and its discontents with utmost empathy, refusing to sentimentalize the harrowing process of growing up.
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(2003-06-04)

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Back in 1998, when the fashion designer resided in Los Angeles, camisoles she stitched together out of sari fabric brought back from a trip to Bali adorned the likes of Madonna and sold out at Fred Segal in four days. Then the Indonesian economy collapsed, crushing her nascent business just as it was taking off.
(2003-05-28)

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Tip of the Week
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Tip of the Week
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Tip of the Week
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