On Stage: ‘Life, love, forgiveness’ focus of play
By MICHAEL SMITH World Scene Writer
7/26/2004

"Eleemosynary" is defined as being charitable, a term one might take literally considering the number of awards recently won by Heller Theater's play, which opens Friday at the SummerStage festival. But the judges at the Oklahoma Community Theater Association would tell you that this play about three generations of exceptional women received those notices the old-fashioned way: They earned it. Eight theater groups competed in the July 9-10 state play festival in Norman, and "Eleemosynary" swept the awards. It won as Outstanding Production. The play won the Ovation Award as the audience favorite. Among the eight plays, a total of five All-State acting awards were given, with three going to "Eleemosynary's" three-woman cast -- Rita Boyle, Karen Evans and Annie Ellicott. The festival doesn't issue an award for best director, but judges made an exception this year in the case of Julie Tattershall.

Rita Boyle (left) as Dorothea and Annie Ellicott as Echo share a scene in the Heller Theater production of “Eleemosynary.” MICHAEL WYKE/Tulsa World

"They don't normally give an award for that, but they said they felt very strongly about it. They said they would get me an award later," said Tattershall, artistic director at Heller, the city's little black-box theater that specializes in presenting contemporary and original plays.

Playwright Lee Blessing's work explores the complex relationship between three brilliant women: Dorothea (Boyle), a mystically inclined sort who in her 70s has deliberately cultivated eccentricity for a lifetime; Artie (Evans), Dorothea's 40ish daughter and complete opposite, scientifically minded and seeking rationality in all things; and Echo (Ellicott), the exceptional and sensitive 20ish daughter that Artie abandoned years ago to be raised by Dorothea.

The drama-comedy explores the delicate balance of love and resentment among the women -- "Eleemosynary," or charity, doesn't come easily for any of them -- as well as universal themes of life, motherhood, mystery and the human spirit. The tale will play out in the Norman Theater on a bare-bones set, making the work highly theatrical and placing all of the focus on the actors -- which is just what Tattershall wants.

"We did the play in a different way, with no light cues and allowing the performers going in and out of the light to create the mood," the director said. "All you have is the actors, three chairs and a platform. From that, they create a history of generational life, love and forgiveness. They make it work."

Ironically, an Oklahoma City theater troupe also performed Blessing's play and finished second in competition. But the shows were very different, Tattershall said.

"The play is about metamorphosis, changing and healing, and some productions focus on the tragedy of the play. I focused on the love of the play, our desperate need to be loved by our families," she said.

"Our production had people crying at the happy moments. We had people laughing."

"Eleemosynary" marks the first time that Tattershall, Heller's artistic director for more than a decade, has directed a play twice (first in 1993). The work can traditionally run upwards of 90 minutes, but the state festival requires 60-minute plays, so she had to edit the production.

"For SummerStage, we were originally going to do the full play," she said. "But when we won, we decided we should show people what we won with. I think that just makes sense."

Heller Theater's production of "Eleemosynary" for SummerStage 2004 has shows set for 8 p.m. Friday-Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday, as well as 8 p.m. Aug. 5-7. All performances are at the Norman Theater of the Tulsa Performing Arts Center, Second Street and Cincinnati Avenue. Tickets may be reserved at 596-7111, www.tulsapac.com , or the PAC box office.