Mill City Production is staging 'Crimes of the Heart,' a story of three sisters who come together after one shoots her abusive husband.
NORTH ADAMS, Mass. – Mill City Productions graces the stage again this month with its rendering of the play "Crimes of the Heart."
The Beth Henley play is about three sisters who reunite in Mississippi after one of the sisters shoots her abusive husband.
Director Jackie DeGiorgis said "Crimes of the Heart" is a tragic comedy that "tackles the human condition with humor."
"At its heart, no pun intended, the play is about family, and no matter how much they may irritate us, they are always a source of love and strength,"DeGiorgis said. "It centers around Lenny, Meg and Babe. Three sisters reunited as they deal with family problems and individual challenges taken to the extreme. Together they find meaning and happiness in their lives, even if it is only for the moment."
DeGiorgis said a lot of the play's magic comes from the performances of some MCP veteran actresses: Liz Urban, Lauren Andrews, Sam Therrien and Michelle Jensen.
"Liz is returning to the stage after a brief hiatus from acting as she takes on the much bigger role of being a mom," DeGiorgis said. "Lauren Andrews and Sam Therrien play the other two sisters, Meg and Babe. Lauren and Sam have been friends since kindergarten so the chemistry in their roles is truly sister-like. Michelle Jensen plays cousin Chick in this, her third MCP performance."
DeGiorgis said the two male roles are played by MCP newcomers Andrew Rosenburg and Brad Botto.
"Poor Brad was cornered at the deli in Stop & Shop when he was in front of me because I thought he so fit the part of Doc Porter," she said. "Both he and Andrew, who plays the young lawyer Barnett Lloyd, have been absolutely incredible and are natural actors."
DeGiorgis said a lot of the performance's character comes from the set, built and designed by Amy Van Dusen and Tim Mangun. She said the whole cast helped stock the kitchen to give it a "homey feel."
"The entire play is set in the kitchen of the MaGrath sister's old Granddad in Hazlehurst, Miss., and calls for such set pieces as a gas stove, sink and running refrigerator, as well as shelves stocked with food," she said.
DeGiorgis said if the audience can take away one word from the play it would be "hope."
"Despite all its distressing calamities, life can be bearable, hopeful, and even funny," she said. "The true crimes of the heart may not be the situations we find ourselves in, but forgetting the love and strength we have in family."
Performances start this weekend: Friday and Saturday at 8 p.m. and a Sunday matinee at 2.
There will also be performances next Friday and Saturday ( Nov. 14 & 15) at 8 and a matinee on that Sunday, Nov. 16, at 2. Admission is $10 for adults and $8 for students/seniors. Tickets are available at the door or can be purchased in advance by visiting www.millcityproductions.org.
The theater is in Building 4N in Western Gateway Heritage State Park.
"It will make you laugh, then cry, and then laugh again," DeGiorgis said.
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Mill City Production is staging 'Crimes of the Heart,' a story of three sisters who come together after one shoots her abusive husband.
