Play | The Hanslick Girls

July 9, 2017

Making Snap Judgements: The Staged Reading of “Faceless”

—Originally published April 20, 2016—

Meet the Hanslick Girls: Gwen, Eleanor and Dania. Created by writer Zach Barr, they are a trio of Northwestern students who go to see plays together. They may not have the same opinions, but their conversations tend to make for an entertaining read. Recently, Gwen and Eleanor attended a reading of “Faceless,” a new play by Northwestern senior Selina Fillinger, slated for production at Skokie’s Northlight Theatre in February 2017. Let’s hear their discussion after getting home from the show…

Dania turned a page in her biology textbook and continued reading through the assigned chapter. Halfway down the page, a paragraph about coral reef conservation was accompanied by a photograph of the study’s leading scientist, Aban Marker Kabraji. Seeing another woman of color represented in the sciences, Dania snapped her fingers a few times in approval.

At that moment, Dania heard the front door open. The similar sounds of ruffling feet and argumentative tone told her that Eleanor and Gwen had returned home from a show.

July 9, 2017

In His Prime: The National Theatre’s The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time

—Originally published March 27, 2016—

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 “The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time,” on Broadway. Let’s hear what they had to say on their way back from the theater…

Standing outside the Barrymore Theatre, Eleanor was on her phone.

“Did you see where she ran off to?” Gwen asked.

“No,” Eleanor said. “I think she just got lost in the shuffle. There are a ton of people here and they really pack them in.”

“Well, that’s Broadway houses,” Gwen explained.

July 9, 2017

Biological Doomsday Clocks: Lipstick Theatre’s “5 Lesbians Eating A Quiche”

—Originally published March 7, 2016—

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 “5 Lesbians Eating A Quiche,” Lipstick Theatre’s first play as a StuCo board member. Let’s hear what they had to say on their way back from the theater…

“That. Was. Marvelous.”

Eleanor remained sitting in her chair for a moment after the applause subsided, though Gwen and Dania quickly rose and walked elsewhere in Shanley: Gwen, to the back of the space, where she was fervently greeting and congratulating her friends working on the show; Dania, to the stage itself, where a couple of fresh, untouched quiches sat on a table, being pecked at by hungry audience members.

July 9, 2017

Talking and Screaming: Arts Alliance’s “The Who’s Tommy” and WAVE Productions’ “The Language Archive”

—Originally published May 18, 2015—

Meet the Hanslick Girls: Gwen, Eleanor and Dania. Imagined up 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 two productions on the same day: WAVE Productions’ “The Language Archive,” directed by Anna Basile, and Arts Alliance’s “The Who’s Tommy,” directed by Hannah Fisher. Let’s hear what they had to say the following day…

In her small apartment, Dania lazily turned through the pages of the program for “The Who’s Tommy.” She began to count names as Eleanor entered the room.

“Is that the program for ‘Tommy?’” asked Eleanor.

“Yeah,” Dania responded.

Eleanor murmured something quiet and walked out of the room. Dania continued to count names.

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