Are you a big fan of poetry? Have your teens recently studied poetry in school? We were invited to see The Belle of Amherst at Two River Theater and the poetic beauty of this production was a joy to witness. Maureen Silliman did an amazing job in this one character play portraying the life of poet Emily Dickinson. Her performance spans such a wide breadth of experiences and emotions while allowing you to catch a glimpse of what life was like for Emily Dickinson in Amherst.
Ms. Silliman's performance was enthralling. It enabled you to feel a part of Emily Dickinson's world and understand her relationships within her family and her seclusion from her surrounding community. We gleaned insight into the life experiences that led to how she interacted with the world around her and structured her existence. It was enlightening and the performance was quite captivating. Since my teen recently studied a whole poetry unit in school, she not only recognized some of Emily Dickinson's poems, but was also able to truly appreciate the insights into what life was like for the famous poet. There were many surprises in store for the audience during the performance and everyone was so engaged that the gasps of surprise or delight were palpable. If you are a fan of poetry or you have a teen who has been studying poetry, we highly recommend that you experience this wonderful production for yourself.
The Belle of Amherst at Two River Theater was written by William Luce and directed by Robert Rechnitz. Maureen Silliman stars as Emily Dickinson in this production. The creative team for The Belle of Amherst includes scenic designer Harry Feiner, costume designer Andrea Hood, lighting designer Andrew F. Griffin, sound designers Charles Coes & Nathan A. Roberts, and wig designer Cookie Jordan. The production stage manager is Larry Copeland.
Performance Schedule:
Wednesday, April 24th at 1pm and 7pm
Thursday, April 25th at 8pm
Friday, April 26th at 8pm
Saturday, April 27th at 8pm
Sunday, April 28th at 3pm
Thursday, May 2nd at 8pm
Friday, May 3rd at 8pm
Saturday, May 4th at 3pm and 8pm
Sunday, May 5th at 3pm
Tickets range from $23-$53 and are available from 732.345.1400 or tworivertheater.org.
