Chicago Street Theatre’s production of “Wash, Dry, Fold” offers an opportunity to launch a heralded play.
Written by New Orleans native Nedra Pezold Roberts, “Wash, Dry, Fold” was a winner in the American Association of Community Theatre’s 2016 NewPlayFest.
Valparaiso’s Chicago Street Theatre was chosen to be among the seven theaters in America given the opportunity to produce one of the festival’s winners.
“I’m thrilled,” said Roberts, describing her reaction to Chicago Street’s presentation of her work from May 20-June 4. “Look at their track record.”
“I’d love for it to have a life of its own,” Roberts, 70, said of her play. “I think it says something important.”
The story centers on sisters Trudy and Enola, who have “bickered back and forth” for much of their lives, according to Roberts.
In the meantime, they are trying to keep afloat their well-worn New Orleans laundromat.
“I try to let them explore the guilt that each is carrying,” Roberts said.
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Chicago Street Theatre will present the world premiere of her work.
“It’ll be the first time audiences actually see a full production of it,” Traci Brant, co-director, said. “We were super honored to be selected.”
Brant said her troupe underwent a “rigorous interview and application process” for the right to be the first to show the promising play to a paying audience.
The cast features Mary DeBoer as Trudy, Barbara Malangoni as Enola, Ed Hubbard as Uncle Slackjaw, Caity Mullen as Arlene and David Pera as Mick. The cast members live in Valparaiso, with the exception of Hubbard, who lives in Wanatah.
While Trudy and Enola project some mutual supportive qualities, they also have their own tug-of-war going, according to Brant.
“It’s the typical sibling back and forth; they’re very different,” Brant, a Valparaiso resident, said.
The sisters’ Uncle Slackjaw, otherwise known as simply Slack, is a former Vietnam prisoner of war who has not done well coping with the real world after enduring the nightmare of the Vietnam War.
Just like Trudy and Enola, he is confined to a metaphorical cage.
“He’s helpless; he cannot release himself from the cage,” Roberts said.
A former English and drama teacher, Roberts is an emerging playwright who has been building a stellar reputation with the help of winning works in the 2013 Southern Playwrights Competition and the 2013 American Association of Community Theatre NewPlayFest. According to the association, her plays were produced in Alabama, Ohio, California and New York in 2014.
Jonni Pera, co-director of the Valparaiso production of “Wash, Dry, Fold,” thinks the opportunity to serve up Roberts’ play provides a boost for her troupe.
“It means a whole lot,” the Valparaiso-area resident said.
While there is a serious aspect to “Wash, Dry, Fold,” Pera said it doesn’t bear an overly heavy tone.
“It isn’t a really dark drama,” she said.
In fact, the playwright said levity plays a part.
“There’s a lot of humor in the play,” Roberts said.
Bob Kostanczuk is a freelance writer.
‘Wash, Dry, Fold’
Where: Chicago Street Theatre, 154 W. Chicago St., Valparaiso
When: 8 p.m. May 20, 21, 27, 28, June 2, 3, 4; 2:30 p.m. May 29
Tickets: $20 adults; $17 students and senior citizens; $30 couch seat
Information: 219-464-1636, ext. 1; www.chicagostreet.org
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