Readers Theatre presents short stories
The Union Staff
» More from The Union Staff
12:01 a.m. PT Apr 10, 2008
Though all stories are not literature, much of literature begins as a story - one that we want to reread to plumb its deeper pleasures.
The short stories being presented at Miners Foundry on Sunday are literature. They include "The Lottery" by Shirley Jackson, "The Way Up to Heaven" by Roald Dahl, "Eine Kliene Mothmusic" by S.J. Pearlman and "The Little Hatchet Story" by Anon, all ably directed by Tim O'Connor.
Two of them deserve special mention. According to the director notes, "The Way Up to Heaven," fiction of compelling realism by Roal Dahl, first appeared in the New Yorker magazine in 1954. This was a huge digression from what earned the author best-selling status: children's books, such as ""Charlie and the Chocolate Factory."
Dahl said, "When writing stories, I cannot seem to rid myself of the unfortunate habit of having one person do nasty things to another person. In this particular story, the nasty thing that one person does to the other is far, far nastier than would appear at first sight. I therefore invite you, when it is all over, to sit back and allow your imaginations to explore and to relish all the things that took place when you were not looking."
The second story "The Lottery" - is most interesting, say the notes, because of the response it generated when it first was published in June of 1948 in the New Yorker Magazine. People canceled their subscriptions in droves; indeed hate mail to the magazine continued that whole summer. South Africa even banned the story.
Since that time "The Lottery" has enjoyed much popularity, having been adapted for radio, live television, a 1953 ballet and many radio programs, live TV and movies. It is now considered a classic American short story.
Says O'Connor, "Perhaps these and the other two stories will hang in your memory long after you hear them at Readers Theatre."
KNOW & GO
WHAT: Readers Theatre presents 4 Short Stories
WHEN: Sunday 2 p.m.
WHERE: Miners Foundry Cultural Center, 325 Spring St., Nevada City
ADMISSION: $10 at the door
INFORMATION:
(530) 265-5040 or
www. minersfoundry.org
