STORY AND PHOTO BY KAREN BOSSICK
A poignant and humorous trip down memory lane covering everything women can relate to, including mothers, prom dresses, mothers buying bras, mothers hating purses, mothers…and why women wear only black, will be presented Thursday through Saturday in the Tierney Theater of The Argyros.
“Love Loss & What I Wore,” written by Nora Ephron and Delia Ephron, will be presented at 7:30 p.m. Thursday through Saturday, Sept. 18-21, in the Ketchum theater. The Thursday through Saturday shows start at 7:30 p.m.; the Sunday show, at 6 p.m.
Tickets are available at https://www.theargyros.org/.
The play, produced by The Argyros in partnership with Sawtooth Productions, is based on Ilene Beckerman’s 1995 bestselling book. It is woven from monologues and ensemble pieces.
It delves into the lives of women through the lens of their clothing and the memories attached to them, exploring universal themes of mothers, prom dresses, the trials of buying bras, the perplexing dislike of purses, and the enduring mystery of why we so often gravitate towards black.
There is, for instance, the tale of two women shopping for their wedding outfits—a memory that ends bitterly. Another tells the story of a search for dignity while buying a new bra during her treatment for breast cancer.
One woman describes how she removed miniskirts from her college wardrobe after being raped. Still another talks of her disorganized purse.
"I really feel people want to be entertained and have an opportunity to laugh. And this play delivers both in spaces," said Jon Kane, who heads up Sawtooth Productions.
The production stars Claudia McCain, Charlotte Hemmings, Courtney Loving, Melody Taylor-Mauldin and Aly Wepplo. It is directed by Colton Palmetto, who has directed several Sun Valley Shakespeare in the Park plays for nexStage Theatre.
If you think you’ve seen it before, yes, the Sun Valley Performing Arts staged the play in 2017, a year after the nexStage Play Reading Series staged a play reading.
"When we presented it at Whiskey's it sold out. So we're hoping that people who didn't get a chance to see it then will be able to see it now. And, of course, we hope those who did see it will want to come back," said Kane.
Nora Ephron also wrote “When Harry Met Sally,” “Sleepless in Seattle,” “You’ve Got Mail” and the screen play for “Julie and Julia.”