Valley Players premiers ‘Poet’s Choice’ March 8-17
February 28, 2024 | By Waterbury Roundabout 
Barrie (Carrie Phillips) explains how the world works to Margaret (Sarah Storjohann) in a scene from 'Poet's Choice' by Mary Pratt. Photo by Bobby Kintz of Photos by Kintz.
The Valley Players present the world premiere of the play “Poet’s Choice” on stage weekends March 8-17 in Waitsfield.
The play is the work of playwright Mary Pratt from New Haven, Vermont. Directed by Doug Bergstein of Waitsfield, “Poet’s Choice” is the 2023 winner of the Valley Players’ Playwright Award.
“One thing I really like about directing a new play is that it’s never been done before so there are no previously conceived notions about what it should look like,” Bergstein said. “It’s exciting for all those involved to create something from scratch.”
In the story, poet, writer, and English professor Margaret, played by Sarah Storjohann, faces the question: What if an angel gave you a choice between a life of happiness or fame and fortune as a result of expressing your art?
The character Pem, played by Susan Loynd of Fayston, is a fallen angel chosen by God (Cynthia Seckler, Fayston) and Satan (Gabriella Tamasi, Barre) to settle this wager. Pem comes to Earth to pose this question to an artist with admittance to heaven and wings or hell and a flamethrower on the line.
Additional cast members include Sarah DeBouter of Berlin as Anna, a philosophy professor; Wes Olds of Graniteville as a music professor, and Carrie Phillips of Waterbury playing an art professor and conceptual artist. Lighting is by Irene Halibozek of Essex Junction and State Manager is Bridget Edwards of Winooski.
Performances are Fridays-Sundays, March 8-17, at the Valley Players Theater, 4254 Main Street (Rt. 100), Waitsfield. Show times: 7:30 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays; 2 p.m. on Sundays. Tickets: $18 for evening shows, $14 for matinees. Tickets and more information are online at valleyplayers.com.
Fallen Angel, Pem (Susan Loynd, center) gets advice from both sides - from God (Cynthia Seckler, left) and Satan (Gabrielle Tamasi, right) in a scene from 'Poet's Choice' by Mary Pratt. Photo by Bobby Kintz of Photos by Kintz