Saturday, April 7 – For Whom the Southern Belle Tolls

8 p.m.

through April 28

Footlight Theater at the

Parliament House

410 N. Orange Blossom Trail

wanziepresents.com

$12.50-$15

Local campresario Michael Wanzie’s latest offering is a trio of short plays by Christopher Durang, anchored by his parody of The Glass Menagerie titled For Whom the Southern Belle Tolls. Instead of fragile, limping Laura and her twinkly glass animals, we have neurotic Lawrence, whining about his imaginary eczema and obsessing over a dull collection of glass cocktail stirrers; the irreverent treatment of the holy Tennessee Williams relic exposes its characters as a pack of bores and boors. (Feels good to snicker at an 8th-grade classic, doesn’t it?) Like all the best provocateurs, Durang sneaks the serious stuff past you by wrapping it in layers of absurdity. While Wanzie’s own plays (and choices of repertory) tend toward the same over-the-top lamé-curtain-chomping, it remains to be seen whether this production will lean in and shiv you in the gut with existential despair as you chortle. Regardless, a laff riot will be had by all. – Jessica Bryce Young