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8 DAILYRECORD.COM Two sisters are preparing for avisit by their mother, who lives overseas, by throwing a fancy banquet. When the mother arrives, she assumes that the man delivering food for the party is the boyfriend of one of the sisters. Sounds like the premise for a screwball comedy with wacky hijinks, right? However, the mother is visiting from Iran, and the food delivery man is actually a nuclear physicist who is investigating one of the sisters. Suddenly, the comic situation starts touching on serious topics, such as politics and social norms. The result: a play by Sholeh Wolpe, an Iranian- American poet and literary translator.

a tragic said Wolpe, citing such themes as the clash of cultures and the price people pay to maintain the appearance of being happy. keep a veneer of everything being okay on the continued Volpe. what are you willing to sacrifice to keep that veneer? Are you willing to keep it, even if means that you live a Astaged reading of will be held this Wednesday, April 12, to inaugurate this Women Playwrights Series (WPS). The annual event is sponsored by Centenary Stage Co. in Hackettstown.

For 25 years, the WPS has offered readings of works by female writers, followed by talk-back sessions with the cast and the writer. Though the authors are always female, the plots, themes, and situations speak to all genders, according to Catherine Rust, general manager of Centenary Stage Co. and program director for WPS. job of theater is to look at our said Rust. are all young writers with something to The two other plays in this WPS will be read on subsequent Wednesdays.

in by Jennifer Fawcett is a one-woman show (to be performed by Colleen Smith Wallnau, veteran of numerous Centenary Stage productions) about a mother who is making one last apple pie for her son. Rust was reluctant to divulge more of the plot. a she said. become aware that there is something more going Rust added that the play won the 2015 Smith Prize for Political Theater. The third play, by Michelle Kholos Brooks, is based on the true story of the young girls who had to taste Adolph meals before he ate them, in case they were poisoned.

have these young girls who gossip and laugh and said Rust. always reminded that, three times a day, they could (The last surviving taster, Margot Wolk, only revealed her story five years ago, when she turned 95.) As in the past, one of these three plays will receive the Susan Glaspell Award and will be presented at Centenary Stage Co. during its 2017-2018 season. Some WPS plays have been staged in New York City and elsewhere. These include the one-woman drama (about the last victim of Jack the Ripper) by Aoise Stratford and English by Lucile Lichtblau.

very important to said Rust. is such a thing as when all the attention is focused on that first production and you never get any money for the second or third or fourth Thanks to the National New Play Network, the WPS winners are made available in with productions at different theaters across the country over a period of time. The opportunity to be part of WPS gratifies Volpe. was incredibly honored when Catherine Rust called to tell me she wanted to open this she said. a chance to give voice to women is THEATER Not just for women Playwright Series returns to Centenary Stage BILL NUTT CORRESPONDENT COURTESY OF BONNIE PERKINSON Iranian-American poet and translator Sholeh Wolpe is the author of which kicks off the 25th annual Women Playwright Series at Centenary Stage Co.

2017 WOMEN PLAYWRIGHTS SERIES WHEN: April 12 through 26 SCHEDULE: by Sholeh Volpe, 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, April 12; in by Jennifer Fawcett, 7:30 p.m. April 19; by Michelle Kholos Brooks, 7:30 p.m. April 26 WHERE: David and Carol Lackland Center, Centenary College, 715 Grand Hackettstown. TICKETS: Free admission, though donations are accepted.

Reservations requested. for donations of $100 receive reserved premium seating and a pre-show reception with playwright for all three readings. INFO: 908-979-0900 or www.centenarystageco.org.