The next play reading of Pipeline Playwrights’ Winter/Spring 2019 Reading Series will be “The Best Worst That Can Happen” by Jean Koppen. The staged reading will be held on Monday, April 8, at 7:30 p.m., at MetroStage in Alexandria.
According to Koppen: “’The Best Worst That Can Happen’ is a comedy/drama about a mother, Margie, and her daughter, Joanna, dealing with what they consider the worst that could happen — Margie getting Alzheimer’s. It's also about Margie meddling in Joanna's career and love life, which results in Margie taking in a younger male roommate and contacting an old school chum of Joanna's. There's humor, romance, music and make believe.”
As far as challenges, she said she wanted to make sure to portray Alzheimer’s disease appropriately and find a way to balance the serious nature of the condition within a comedic storyline without trivializing the situation. “Presenting this play and getting audience reactions and feedback will let me know whether I’ve accomplished this and if there are moments that miss the mark. And humor is always a challenge. Hearing the play read in front of a live audience will help me know where the humor lands and where it doesn't,” she said.
She added: “I want audiences to identify with the characters. I want audiences to laugh and cry. I want audiences to feel hope, to feel there can be beauty in difficult times. I like plays that make me think, but I love plays that make me feel — and that's the experience I want to create for others.”
Directed by Joanna Henry, the play stars Toni Rae Salmi, Faith Potts, Brad Sperber, Kevin Dykstra, and Madeline Muravchik. Next up in the Pipeline Playwrights’ Reading Series will be “The Whole is Greater,” by Ann Timmons on April 29.
Pipeline Playwrights is a group of women playwrights based in Northern Virginia who have decided to work together to support each other’s work and get women’s voices into theatre. The group’s other members are Crystal Adaway, Ann Timmons, Patricia Connelly, and Nicole Burton.
Pipeline Playwrights will present a reading of “The Best Worst That Can Happen” on Monday, April 8, at 7:30 p.m., at MetroStage, located at 1201 North Royal St., Alexandria. The show is free, with a suggested $10 donation. Stay for the post-performance discussion and reception with the cast, Jean Koppen, and all the Pipeline Playwrights. Visit them on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pipelineplaywrights/