Chattanooga Times Free Press - ChattanoogaNow
East Brainerd Theater presents Pulitzer-winning play ‘Wit’
East Brainerd Community Theater will present four performances of “Wit,” the Pulitzer Prize- winning one- act play by Margaret Edson tonight through Sunday, Feb. 22-25.
Performances will be held in the fellowship hall of Christ United Methodist Church, 8645 East Brainerd Road.
“Wit” tells the story of 50-year-old English professor Dr. Vivian Bearing, after she has been diagnosed with a terminal illness, says producer Stephanie Pearson. As Bearing nears the end of her life, she starts to ask hard questions about what she did wrong and what comes next.
At the hospital, she recognizes that doctors are interested in her for her research value and tend to ignore humanity in favor of knowledge. Gradually, she realizes that she would prefer kindness to intellectualism.
Despite the sober story plot, director Pearson says “Wit” is not a play about cancer.
“Cancer is the context and the catalyst, but it is really about a woman who is discovering what is really important in her life,” Pearson describes.
Kitty Reel plays Dr. Bearing in this production. The cast includes Anthony Mrotek, Greg Rambin Sr., Kendra Gross, Jennifer Johnson, Harrison Ivins, Josh McCommon and Rachel Truex.
“Wit” is directed by Katie Olsen.
In conjunction with this production, the cast is partnering with Supporting Our Sisters (SOS), a new cancer support group for women at the church.
“Normally, with all our productions we try to have a mission- oriented component,” says Pearson of EBCT’s outreach. “We always pick a nonprofit we partner with for our shows.”
The cast and crew donated items to make a dozen chemo kits for women undergoing chemotherapy. The ki t s include blankets, socks, hand l otion, journals, mints, lip balm and books.
Additionally, a freewill offering will be collected in the lobby prior to each performance to support the work of SOS, she says.
Tickets may be purchased for $10 in advance on the church website, www.christchurchchatt.org, or EBCT’s website, www.ebctchatt.com. They will be an additional $5 at the door.