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Volume 71, Issue 88,
Monday, February 13, 2006
Life & Arts
UH prof works wonders in forceful 'Wondergirl'' by MELISSA STEUFFERT
Wondergirl captures the hearts of audiences by bringing to light the hardships and torment people face when dealing with premature infants, and raises questions about dealing with patients' quality of life. The play, written by UH theater professor Rutherford Cravens, shows the struggle that a young couple goes through after giving premature birth to twins, losing one and doing everything they can to keep their baby Annie alive. It sheds light on controversial medical topics such as abortion and experimental treatments. It delivers powerful messages and makes audiences think about issues they perhaps would have never thought about before. Shannon Emerick, as first-time mother Jenny, epitomizes what it means to be a caring mother, struggling to figure out what is best for her child and not wanting to face the reality ahead of her. David R. Wald, who plays Jenny's husband Hal, portrays his character in such a powerful way that the agony of not being in control of his baby girl's fate shines through. In monologues the audience gets to see a glimpse of what goes through the minds of these distraught characters, and it isn't surprising to hear sniffles and see people reaching for tissues. The Main Street Theater's intimate setting also adds closeness to the play. The simplicity of the set keeps the focus on the characters and issues, and the energy the characters radiate is felt. ` Wondergirl runs through Sunday at the theater, 2540 Times Blvd. in Rice Village, with showings at 7:30 p.m. Thursdays, 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and at 3 p.m. Sundays. Ticket prices range from $25-$35 for adults, but $10 tickets are available at the door for students with a valid school ID. The shows on Thursday and Sunday will all have a post-show panel discussion with Cravens, area professionals and Wondergirl director Cheryl L. Kaplan. The panel will address the various issues raised in the play. For more information on the Main Street Theater and its events, visit http://www.mainstreettheater.com/home.html.
Wondergirl 2540 Times Blvd.
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