Playreaders: “Native Gardens: Good Fences Make Good Neighbors” || St. Paul’s

“Native Gardens: Good Fences Make Good Neighbors”

Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday
February 5, 6, 7

St. Paul’s

by Paula Lopuch

According to poet Robert Frost, a good fence (or wall) makes good neighbors. Conversely, does a bad fence (or wall) break down relations between neighbors? Sounds like a timely question for today and Karen Zacharias’s witty, contemporary comedy Native Gardens aims to answer it. In a fashionable neighborhood in Washington D.C., the young, upwardly-moving Hispanic Del Valles (Gina Giampaoli and Kike Carrillo) pursuing their American dream, move in next door to aging, long-time residents and WASPs, the Butleys (Anne Campbell and Jim Wright). Everything goes well initially, including philosophical differences about native plant vegetation vs an English-style formal garden, until the fence between their back yards becomes a concern. Then all hell breaks loose in a real border dispute.

Our next Playreading explores what happens when different cultures and generations clash over principles, revealing assumptions and prejudices on both sides. Handled with a light touch, the thorny issues depicted—racism, class, ageism, privilege, sexism, entitlement—are the hot buttons we observe today in US society (and around the world). This play presents many teachable moments: What does it mean to be an American? How are we all going to live together peaceably in this world? No one comes out smelling like a rose, but the good news is the couples have more in common than they think, and are willing to compromise in the end.

Directed by Paula Lopuch, with lights and sound by Patrick Green, Native Gardens runs next Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday at Playreaders Theatre, St Paul’s church.

Tickets will be sold at the door at 6:45 each evening on a first come, first serve basis. All ticket holders must be present when the doors open at 7:00 or their seat may be resold. The play will begin at 7:30 or when the house is filled.