Dartmouth Players Theatre: The Cover of LIFE

Three Southern women---a vixen named Sybil, a pious, pie-baking homebody named Weetsie, and a sweet-yet-smart romantic named Tood---are thrust together after their husbands (all brothers) head off to war. When a reporter (beautifully played by Tamara Perlmutter) from Life magazine is sent to cover the story, she discovers appearances can be misleading and that the true story is not what it seems. This is a powerful play that uses a nice mix of comedy and tragedy while commenting on the changing role of women in society during the Second World War. Dartmouth Players has managed to assemble a cast of picture-perfect actors who all turn in strong performances. Leslie Milne is noteworthy as the crusty Aunt Ola and new-comer Sarah Mian exudes sex-appeal as Sybil, but it is Jodie Butler as Tood who truly shines as the emotional centre of this play. –Kate Watson