All gossip, all the time
By Joan Gross

Don’t tell anybody, but Clare Booth Luce wrote a play about women gossiping. The best part is that Hillbarn Theatre is presenting the play starting September 5, and you can hear what they had to say.

Congresswoman and ambassador wrote “The Women” in 1936 over one weekend after hearing some “society types” gossip in a dressing room at Bergdorf Goodman’s in New York. The brilliant comedy pokes fun at the idleness of wealthy wives and divorcees.

For director Doyne Mraz is has been a challenge to cast this show that involves 44 women characters, all ages, types and sizes. “Few theatres have the wherewithal to do the production, because of the number of cast members and the 15 scenes. We needed to come up with several solutions. Without giving away the secrets, suffice it to say that most of the cast will represented by the ancient Greek technique or the chorus,” said Mraz.

According to Mraz the production is very modern, playing up the possibility of fury in a woman scorned. He refers to William Congreve’s play “The Mourning Bride” that contains two telling quotes. “Heav’n has no rage, like love to hatred turn’d/Nor hell a fury, like a woman scorn’d” and “music hath charms to soothe a savage breast.”

“Those two quotes are the keynote for design of the production, both in artistic creation, costumes and setting,” said Mraz.

The director explains that the play is about women who are scorned by family, by spouses, by friends and acquaintances. “But it is a charming comedy, stabbing ath the heart of the social scene in the United States. The play speaks largely of divorce and the sharing of husbands, typically a burning topic in today’s world,” said Mraz.

Artistic director Toni Tomei acted in “The Women” directed by Mraz more than 20 years ago. Tomei is delighted to have secured him for this Hillbarn assignment. “His previous work in the Bay Area is stellar, and his directing this show has brought out many actresses for the opportunity to work with him once again,” said Tomei.

A veteran actor, Mraz is well known to Peninsula as professor of theatre and director of the professional theatre conservatory at Foothill College in Los Altos for 28 years. In addition, he served as artistic director of Los Altos Conservatory Theatre (now Busbarn) for 19 years.

An exciting addition to this production will be the appearance of Clare Luce Abbey, granddaughter of Clare Booth Luce. She will add insight to the audiences experience in her “talk-back” session following the show on September 21.

This first production of Hillbarn’s 2003 season fits in perfectly with the season’s theme of storytelling. What is gossip, anyway, if not a form of storytelling? Hillbarn has been a gathering place for the community to see stories unfold onstage for many years. Through this ancient art, people recognize their similarities and differences, learning about many cultures that enrich their lives today.

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