A concert reading dedicated to the works of a popular contemporary writer who died in her prime-plus culinary offerings inspired by her Gourmet magazine column-will mark the 1993-94 season’s final production for City Lit Theater.
“Oh, Art! Oh, Memory! A Tribute to Laurie Colwin” will be presented on weekends Friday through June 4 in the Studio Theatre of the Chicago Cultural Center, 77 E. Randolph St. (For more information and reservations, call 312-271-1100.)
The performances will feature excerpts from Colwin’s novels, including “Another Marvelous Thing,” and will incorporate several of her best-known short stories. The writer died in 1992 at age 48.
“Kathryn Gallagher, one of the two directors (the other is Tina Thuerwachter), basically discovered Laurie Colwin for us two or three years ago and began doing readings,” Mark Richard, City Lit artistic director, said last week. “We discovered this big, sort of quiet following that we didn’t know existed.
“I think of Laurie occupying a narrow territory, but occupying it very completely. It’s this kind of rueful acceptance of all the complexities of modern life and love, without blinking or turning the other way, without putting a false face on it and without ever descending into real cynicism. It’s a somewhat wry, but somehow very loving voice that comes through-knowing but not at all arch.”
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Collaborating with the theater will be the Uncommon Ground Cafe and Espresso Bar. A dessert buffet will be offered prior to every performance, with items reflecting choices from Colwin’s magazine column. Among the fare: Wensley Cake, Coffee Fluff and Katharine Hepburn Brownies.