Opening Nights
A Body of Water

Opens Friday, Sept. 21, at Willamette Rep.

Waiting for Godot meets Away from Her — or is it Primal Instinct? Seriously, this Oregon premiere of Lee Blessing's play — so fresh that Blessing sent artistic director Kirk Boyd a revised script especially for this run — mixes suspense, grief and a special kind of wobbly uncertainty. That uncertainty, as in Ian McEwan's Atonement, comes both from authorial power and the decentering of meaning. Not to scare off any anti-intellectual audience members — the play contains emotionally powerful scenes, amusing wordplay and a tight pace (if the actors keep it up, which I hope they will). Reward the WillRep's strong script choice and enjoy some quality, fresh playwriting.

Show dates are Sept. 21-22, 27, 29 & 30 and Oct. 4-7. (There's a preview on Thursday, Sept. 20 for those who prefer to see it being fine-tuned.) For tix, go to www.hultcenter.orgor call 682-5000.