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For Your (Re)Consideration: Distinguished Villa


  • Chicago, IL 60625 (map)

Ghostlight Ensemble continues its new reading series, For Your (Re)Consideration, which explores the works of historically overlooked female playwrights, with Distinguished Villa by Kate O'Brien at 2 p.m. on Sunday, April 11.

Distinguished Villa, written in 1926, tells the story of Mable Hemworth, a houseproud, lower-middle class wife more concerned with keeping up appearances than responding to her spouse Natty's affections. Natty falls for Frances Llewellyn, a bookish, artistic, neighbor, with ultimately tragic consequences. In Distinguished Villa, we see the seeds of what later became a hallmark of O'Brien's work — groundbreaking depictions of the sexual frustrations of young women, and an understanding of the wide diversity of sexuality and gender expression.

This virtual reading is directed by Chicago-based theatre artist Elizabeth Lovelady. The cast includes: August Forman, Christian Cook, Micah Figueroa, Allison McCorkle, Jordan Ford and Kim Fukawa.

The initial broadcast of Distinguished Villa takes place over Zoom at 2 p.m. on Sunday, April 11, and a talkback with the director will take place immediately following. A recording of the performance will be available afterward to stream through May 9.

Tickets are pay what you will, with a minimum of $5 per reading. For tickets or more information, visit: http://www.ghostlightensemble.com/for-your-reconsideration