In many a dresser, closet and dusty box up in the attic, there are pieces of clothing in whose very fibers rest the seeds of a story. In Meadville Community Theatre's production of "Love, Loss and What I Wore," those seeds bloom freely in a kaleidoscope of experiences from women of varied ages and backgrounds.
Before the beginning of the play, a series of songs pertaining in some way to clothes or one's appearance set the tone, while the vibrant array of colorful hearts and pink breast cancer ribbons affixed to the walls establish an uplifting mood.
The stage itself is sparse, its only permanent props a series of black crates and a cleverly used coat rack.
Debbie Ormston and Susan Fuller direct a cast of nine in a play that is usually done with five actresses, but there is plenty of opportunity for each of them to shine. The show is presented without an intermission, with monologues and scenes swiftly following each other. Kay Docter presents a consistent voice as Gingy, the narrator of sorts who interweaves her life story throughout all of the standalone tales. It is her monologues that bear the strongest connection to the Ilene Beckerman book that inspired Nora Ephron to write the play.
Along with Docter, the cast includes Sharon Barnes, Katie Beck, Meggan Bradshaw, Becky Brenneman, Joanne Helides Custard, Annette Hilton, Clemence Mershon and Sarah Pfleger Medvec. On their own and in conjunction with one or two others, they are sometimes hilarious and sometimes heartbreaking, but they may make their biggest impression as a cohesive unit. Particularly effective is the howlingly funny sequence featuring a barrage of advice, snide remarks and, ultimately, supportive statements from a slew of moms.
Indeed, the mother-daughter dynamic comes up again and again, from teenage squabbles to the joys of motherhood and the pain of losing one's mother. No other relationship is discussed with such frequency or intensity, though romance, friendship and relationships with other relatives all get their due as well.
In addition to the unusually large cast size, this production deviates from the original in that it is presented in a traditional play format rather than reader's theater. Also, while all of the women wear black, colorful accessories and items such as a pair of stockings and a sweater add a sense of liveliness to the stage.
Most of the clothes described in the show are left to the imagination, however, inviting those in the audience to think about their own wardrobes and the ways its contents have affected their lives.
"Love, Loss and What I Wore" is presented at Meadville Community Theatre, 400 North Main St., Meadville, on January 25-27, February 1-2. All performances are 8 p.m. except January 27, which is at 2 p.m. Tickets are $10, $7.50 for students and seniors, and available by calling 814-333-1773.