Doris to Darlene, a cautionary valentine
Mainstage Theater
Written by
Jordan Harrison
Directed by Les Waters
In the candy-colored 1960s, a biracial schoolgirl named Doris is molded into pop star Darlene by a whiz-kid record producer who culls a top-ten hit out of Wagner’s Liebestod. Rewind to the candy-colored 1860s, where Richard Wagner is writing the melody that will become Darlene’s hit song. Fast-forward to the not-so-candy-colored present, where a teenager obsesses over Darlene’s music – and his music teacher. Three dissonant decades merge into an unlikely harmony in this time-jumping pop fairy tale about the dreams and disasters behind one transcendent song.
Photos of (1) Michael Crane, Tobias Segal, Tom Nelis, de'Adre Aziza, Laura Heisler, and David Chandler; (2) de'Adre Aziza and Michael Crane; (3) Laura Heisler and David Chandler; and (4) de'Adre Aziza, Michael Crane, and David Chandler by Joan Marcus.
“This time-tripping whimsical new drama by Jordan Harrison has an affectionate, music-loving heart and a human sunburst at its center.”
— Charles Isherwood, The New York Times“A quirky and enjoyable love letter to music and its seductive power to make us lose ourselves.”
— Joe Dziemianowicz, Daily News
“Pure entertainment! In the hands of director Les Waters, Harrison’s rapturous chamber opera of a play spins and crackles like a beloved old 78.”
— Rob Kendt, Newsday