704/ 4b19 Ocot 2teefteel agd "I think the play is on the amusing side and also moving," says the New York playwright. "It ques- Performance Network launches its 2000- tions the audience's ideas of 2001 season in a new theater located at 120 right and wrong, good and E. Huron, just a half block east of Main bad. There is tremendous Street in downtown Ann Arbor. conflict between two sis- Located within walking distance from ters, and characters that the Kerrvtown shopping district, the new appear to be very altruistic 150-seat theater features wider, more com- do things that are difficult fortable seats; a lobby three times the size not to judge in the context of the old one; a member bar; convenient- of the play. The audience ly located restrooms; rehearsal hall; dress- shifts constantly in think- ing rooms; green room; offices and a grand ing who is moral." marquee on Huron. Silver, who always had an The company also is upgrading its equip- interest in theater, tried ment and fixtures, including a larger, more writing when he was 20, effective lighting system, sound system and after deciding he would not d rapes. be very marketable as an After The Maiden's Prayer, the rest of the actor. A student in the season includes: Experimental Theatre Wit, the Pulitzer Prize-winning play by Wing at New York Margaret Edson that asks profound ques- University, he started sub- tions about the value of "wit" in the face of mitting plays after gradua- life and death — Oct. 26-Nov. 19. tion. A favorable review by Fuddy Meers, a comedy about a young The New York Times helped woman's struggle to regain her fractured get him noticed. memory, by David Lindsay-Abaire Nov. "I saw that most of the 30-Dec. 23. plays produced were pretty Maggie Rose, a new comedy about life in a bad," he says. "If I could trailer park and the mysteries of the divine, write one that was just by Kim Carney — Feb. 1-March 4. mediocre, [I was sure] I Struggling Truths, a play about the Chinese could rise to the top, and invasion of Tibet and the family it tears that's what I did." apart, by Peter Mellencamp — March 15- The playwright compares April 8. himself to the character Art, the Tony Award-winning comedy Paul in The Maiden's about modern art and friendship, by Prayer. They share a ten- Yasmina Reza — April 19-May 20. dency to observe life instead of participate in it. "The germ of a play ect, Silver likes to vegetate — smok- comes from things I'm trying to fi g- ing, watching television, walking his ure out," he says. "When I get too dog and sticking to a diet. Once frustrated or have questions about extremely overweight, he cut back something, that's where the begin- tremendously to lose 70 pounds and ning of a play starts. For The keep them off. Maiden's Prayer, which is largely "My goal is to keep doing what I'm about unrequited love, the question doing and survive doing it," says was clear: How can I figure out how Silver, who just completed a new to have a life not being loved in ? ,, play on commission for a theater return outside Los Angeles. "I think that Ideas flesh out gradually for Silver, everybody's career in the theater or and he doesn't write until he knows a the arts is cyclical, periods of popu- fair amount about characters and larity and periods without popularity. their situations. He attributes his My goal is to just stay afloat." ❑ love of language, words and educa- tion to his Jewish background. "I identify myself as a Jew, but I 1/4 don't practice very much," says, The Maiden's Prayer will be per- Silver, who brought Jewish characters formed 8 p.m. Thursdays- into The Food Chain, which starred Saturdays and 2 p.m. Sundays, Phyllis Newman and is about dog- through Oct. 15, at the eat-dog attitudes. "When the chips Performance Network, 120 E. are down in life, I rediscover my reli- Huron, Ann Arbor. $ 14-$20. gious training and background." (734) 663-0681. When he's nor working on a proj- /4 Vete, A New Some 4.01-cteed eafriftey eeavetky Tleat Ask about our holiday trays Hours: Mon-Tues I 0-3 • Wed-Fri I 0-9 • Sat. 7-9 • Sun. 8-3 3426 E. W. Maple just west of Haggerty • West Bloomfield, MI (248) 926 9555 - Also visit my brother's place, Embers Deli, 3258 Orchard Lake Rd., Keego Harbor, (248) 683-3344 * STAR DELI STAR IS PROUD TO BE ONE OF AMERICA'S BEST CARRY-OUT ONLY DELIS! YOU'LL ENJOY OUR GREAT HOMEMADE GOODNESS! OUR POTATO SALAD AND COLE SLAW ARE THE BEST! EVERYBODY KNOWS WE HAVE THE FINEST HOMEMADE TUNA IN TOWN! REGULAR OR FAT•FREE! 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