1977 – “For Verable, a female duet created in recognition of the separation and eventual divorce of two of my (Maida’s)  dearest Mormon friends, Verabel Call Cluff and Tony Cluff, parents of children, good friends of my children.”   The duet places the woman inside her home environment with a window, radio, bed springs suspended in the space. The work has the lead solo figure, Ellen Lang (GW undergraduate dancer), in a dream of herself as a sexually attractive woman questioning why her husband was staying out all night with another woman. Downstage was the imagined “dream self” outside of the confines of her home. The window light changed showing daytime and nighttime (inside and outside), waiting and worrying.

jpg copy of photo contact sheet of performance

There is a written script (needs to be located).

Ellen, GW dancer who was the “real” character, was human and more realistic in her movements – wringing hands and pacing back and forth – while Jean Isaacs, professional dancer from San Diego, California who was a guest faculty at GW, was exaggerated in her sexual behavior and emotional expression dancing downstage of the home environment.

Choreography and set design by Maida Withers
Music by John Driscoll
Costume Design by Beth Burkhardt (beige opaque A-line dress for Ellen and beige body leotard worn by Jean Isaacs, the mature figure).

There was a live radio on stage and whatever came up when Ellen turned on the radio was part of the music score.  There was also audio access to the police channel….somehow!

First Performance:  Marvin Theatre, Washington, DC.  (1976)
Premiere:  Washington Project for the Arts (1977)

The work may have been included in the repertory of the Three’s Company, San Diego, California by Jean Isaacs, Co-Founder of Three’s Company.

Original Sony reel to reel video transfer too dark for public use.