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The Cover of Life by R.T. Robinson has been extended over Memorial Day weekend with performances on May 27, 28 and 29.
The story takes place in 1943 when Tood, Weetsie and Sybil, all married to a Cliffert brother, are living with their mother-in-law in rural Louisiana, while their husbands are serving in World War II. A local reporter’s story about the wives keeping the home fires burning catches the attention of Life Magazine. War correspondent and photographer Kate Miller, who is assigned to head south and get their story for the cover, gets more than she bargained for.
Filled with laughs and charm, The Cover of Life is a deeply affecting story about the struggle for selfworth.
Playing Tood is a newcomer to the Players stage, Lettie Dyer. Austin Strobel, also new to the Players, is playing Sybil. In the role of Weetsie is Meret Slover, recently seen in the Wimberley Players’ production of Dracula: the Radio Play. Karen Rudy — who has been in many Wimberley Players productions and most recently in It’s a Wonderful Life: The Radio Play — is playing the brides’ mother-in-law Aunt Ola. Reporter Kate Miller is played by Roxanne Strobel, returning to the Players’ stage immediately after playing Yvette in Clue: On Stage. In the role of the local reporter Addie May is Celeste Coburn, a Players’ regular last seen in the production Death by Design.
The Cover of Life, which premiered off-Broadway in 1994, is based on the life of the real Tood, who was the playwright’s mother.
In a 1993 interview for the Hartford Courant, Robinson said, “The secret of great Southern writers is being born into a family of interesting, passionate women. In my own mind, I just went and sort of sat in the living room with these women back in 1943 and listened to them talk.”
Robinson grew up in Bastrop, Louisiana, not far from the town the play is set in.
The performance is directed by Tracy Arnold with scenic designer Carroll Dolezal, lighting designer William Peeler, costume designer Kathy Maldonado and hair and makeup artist Bridget Cook. The Cover of Life is presented by arrangement with Concord Theatricals on behalf of Samuel French, Inc.
Performances will be on May 27 and 28 at 7:30 p.m. and May 29 at 2:30 p.m. All tickets are available at wimberleyplayers. org or by phone (512) 847-0575. The Wimberley Players is located at 450 Old Kyle Road in Wimberley.
