All photos by Jon Lewis.
Marilyn Robrahn has put community (with a Capital C!) into community theater.
In addition to casting a strong group of actors for Nora and Delia Ephron’s “Love, Loss and What I Wore,” which opens Saturday at Riverfront Playhouse, Robrahn has lined up five women from the community to sit in for a night as guest actors. (She’s also invited a pair of Riverfront alums, Susan Daugherty and Danna Swannanberg, to take a turn as well.)
“We’re going to plunk a guest actress on stage for one night each,” Robrahn said. “The idea was to bring the community into community theater. It has never been done here before and I love the idea.”
Nadia Salsedo Elwood, center, and Malorie Glavan, right, rehearse a scene.
Robrahn said the unique casting decision also serves as a reminder to theater fans that just because Riverfront has a new home “and everybody is jazzed about that, it doesn’t mean we’re going stagnant.”
“Love, Loss and What I Wore” is far from stagnant. Based on the book of the same name by Ilene Beckerman, the play involves five women, all dressed in black, who perform a series of monologues about the highs, lows and in-betweens in their lives. Each recollection is triggered by an item from their wardrobe.
Childbirth, death, divorce, the prom, sibling rivalries and cancer are just some of the 28 images brought to life. “Every piece is a snapshot of life that I think everyone has experienced—at least one or two, or maybe all,” said Robrahn, adding by way of example that “we don’t all have cancer, but we know somebody who does.
“It’s heartfelt: looking into the souls of individuals who happen to be women. They’ve experienced it, and they tell you by remembering ‘this is what I wore.’”
Samantha Fork in a scene from “Love, Loss and What I Wore.”
The always delightful Tammy Jones has been cast as the lone recurring character, Gingy, who is based on Beckerman. “You go through her marriages and the loss of a child,” Robrahn said. “In between, there are ensemble pieces and monologues that talk about other things, like mother-daughter rivalries, rape and divorce, but they’re all handled with care.”
In addition to Jones, cast members include Samantha Fork, Malorie Glavan, Kaxia Wilkens, Nadia Salsedo Elwood, Kris Dickey, Jessica Mann, Brenda Sinclair and Brandon Nascimento.
Guest actors are Sandy Waldkrich (Sunday), Daugherty (May 27), Nicole Lightfoot (May 29), Melissa Fanoe (June 3), Ronda Ball (June 4) and A News Café publisher Doni Chamberlain (June 5).
The play opens at 7:30 p.m. Saturday and continues on weekends through June 11 with 2 p.m. Sunday matinees scheduled for May 29 and June 5. Tickets are $25, opening and closing nights; $20, evening performances; and $15, matinees. Call 243-8877 or visit www.cascadetheatre.com.
