Play | The Hanslick Girls

July 9, 2017

H*ckin’ Good Puppers: Imagine U’s “Go Dog Go

—Originally published April 26, 2017—

Meet the Hanslick Girls: Gwen, Eleanor and Dania. Created by writer Zach Barr, they are a trio of Northwestern students who always go to see plays together. They may not have the same opinions, but their conversations tend to make for an entertaining read. Recently, the Girls saw “Go Dog Go!,” Imagine U’s french mime piece directed by Gina Marie Hayes. Let’s hear what they had to say on their way back from the theater…

“I want to go play on the stage!”

“You’re too big to play on the stage, Hazel. These are little, little children.”

Hazel grumbled and grabbed onto Gwen’s hand. As the girls attempted to make it through the traffic jam of young children and parents that clogged the pathways of the Mussetter-Struble Theatre, with Eleanor attempting to lead them through, Dania glanced over towards the stage. A parachute had been laid out, and children were running under it. She was much, much too big to be playing there – well, she was there in spirit, anyway.

Making it to the far right of the space, Eleanor began to leave, before hearing Gwen behind her.

“Eleanor! Wait up!”

July 9, 2017

Un Bel Dì: The Hanslick Girls Review Vertigo Productions’ “This Is Not A True Story”

—Originally published April 17, 2017—

Meet the Hanslick Girls: Gwen, Eleanor and Dania. Created by writer Zach Barr, they are a trio of Northwestern students who always go to see plays together. They may not have the same opinions, but their conversations tend to make for an entertaining read. Recently, the Girls saw “This Is Not A True Story,” Preston Choi’s new play presented by Vertigo Productions. Let’s hear what they had to say on their way back from the theater…

“I can only hope in writing this play I can offer some incarnation of these women a life they have choice in, a world where they decide their fate. I am flawed already by writing it, but I hope it is a better story.”

Those words, taken from the end of the Writer’s Note penned by Preston Choi in the program for this new play, had stuck with Eleanor throughout the performance. How strange it was, she considered, that this story of asian female empowerment was penned by a male author. But it was a clever admission, she considered, coupled with the play’s title. If it wasn’t a true story, certainly, at least it was a better one.

“That one was weird,” Dania said, as they walked across the quad away from Shanley.

July 9, 2017

To Love Birds: WAVE Productions’ “An Almanac for Farmers and Lovers in Mexico”

—Originally published April 3, 2017—

Meet the Hanslick Girls: Gwen, Eleanor and Dania. Created by writer Zach Barr, they are a trio of Northwestern students who always go to see plays together. They may not have the same opinions, but their conversations tend to make for an entertaining read. Recently, the Girls saw “An Almanac for Farmers and Lovers in Mexico,” WAVE Productions’ early spring pocket of magical realism. Let’s hear what they had to say on their way back from the theater…

“Well,” said Gwen, as the applause in Shanley began to die down, “That was certainly something.”

“I liked it!” Eleanor said, cheerily. “I just love love, guys.”

“I’m more of a hummingbird fan, myself,” Dania added.

“Oh, you don’t like love?” Eleanor asked, incredulously.

Dania waved the question away. “Feh.”

July 9, 2017

Constellation Of Memory: Imagine U’s “The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane”

—Originally published February 13, 2017—

Meet the Hanslick Girls: Gwen, Eleanor and Dania. Created by writer Zach Barr, they are a trio of Northwestern students who always go to see plays together. They may not have the same opinions, but their conversations tend to make for an entertaining read. Recently, the Girls saw Imagine U’s production of “The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane,” adapted from the book by Kate DiCamillo. Let’s hear what they had to say on their way back from the theater…

“I’ve been crying too much at shows lately,” Eleanor said.

Gwen laughed as she watched her friend dry her eyes with a sleeve. “Yeah, first Body Awareness and now this.”

“Can I help it if everything going up this quarter is designed to make me emotional?” Eleanor asked. “It’s all so magically sweet, it’s like watching a small child discover the true meaning of Christmas, or whatever. Can you blame me if I cry when everything I watch is pulling my heartstrings like a damn harp?”

“I guess not,” Gwen said, smiling at the image.

Category / Play