“Collected Stories,” October 1 through 11

Thursday, October 1, through Sunday, October 11

Richmond Hill Barn Theatre, 600 Robinson Drive, Geneseo IL

Hailed by the Los Angeles Times as a work that "gives equal weight to the opposing viewpoints of two formidable characters," Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Donald Margulies' two-woman drama Collected Stories enjoys an October 1 through 11 run at Geneseo's Richmond Hill Barn Theatre, the Village Voice adding that "Margulies holds the rich ore of his material up to the light so that it sends beams in every direction."

Based on the real-life conflict between poet Stephen Spender and novelist David Leavitt, Collected Stories examines the emotional and legal question of an author‘s right to create art based on another person‘s life story. In the play, grad student Lisa thrilled to be under the tutelage of her literary idol, Ruth Steiner. Over the years, Lisa becomes Ruth’s personal assistant and gradually her friend, as Ruth helps her hone her writing abilities. But as Lisa’s career begins to flourish and Ruth’s begins to fade, can the tenuous relationship between mentor and mentee survive ambition, rivalry, and eventual betrayal? Lisa wants to write a book about Ruth‘s life and particularly an affair with another notable figure – the book Ruth never wrote herself. Collected Stories consequently explores the complicated relationship between two independent women as they struggle to define what, if anything, is off-limits in art.

Directing Collected Stories for Richmond Hill, and helping to build its set, is Barn Theatre veteran Mike Skiles, who previously helmed such productions as Escanaba in da Moonlight, Exit Laughing, and this past spring's comedy The Charitable Sisterhood of the Second Trinity Victory Church. Amanda Wilson serves as the show's stage manager, with additional members of Skiles' creative team including set builder Jim Skiles, crew member Jonna Hicks, and lighting/sound designer and operator David Shaffer.

Skiles' two-person cast, meanwhile, is composed of two gifted actors who also frequently direct for the Geneseo venue: Jennifer Kingry as Ruth, and Dana Skiles as Lisa. Her area acting credits including roles in the Black Box Theatre's Silent Sky and the Prenzie Players' King Henry the Fifth, Kingry's recent Barn Theatre productions have included Marjorie Prime, 84 Charing Cross Road, and this summer's Steve Martin comedy Picasso at the Lapin Agile. And Sliles, who has directed such presentations as Heaven Help Me, Misery, and The Woman in Black, has a healthy acting résumé in Geneseo, as well, having appeared in shows including The Tell-Tale Farce, Laura, and The Money in Uncle George's Suitcase.

Collected Stories runs at the Richmond Hill Barn Theatre October 1 through 11, with performances Thursdays through Saturdays at 7:30 p.m. and Sundays at 3 p.m. Late seating is not permitted; no one will be admitted to the theater after the show has started. Patrons who leave the theatre during the performance will not be allowed to return to their seat until a suitable break in the play occurs. An audio-description performance will be held on Friday, October 2; Richmond Hill also offers Assistive Listening Devices (ALDs), which can be requested at the time that reservations are made.Admission is $12.

For more information and tickets, call (309)944-2244 and visit RHPlayers.com.