Stage

Big, Bad Woolf

MTG presents ‘Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?’

Rebecca Mennecke |

You’ve probably heard the tale of the three little pigs and the big, bad wolf – but have you heard about the Menomonie Theater Guild performance of Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? Written by American playwright Edward Albee, this 1962 play follows the story of a married couple, George and Martha, who invite a newlywed professor and his wife over for a night of drinking and bad decisions. Martha tries to seduce the professor. George doesn’t care. And, at the end of the night, this “boozy marital slugfest” reveals the disaster of a relationship in which George and Martha find themselves, according to The Guardian.  You may be asking yourself: What on earth does this drama have to do with writer Virginia Woolf? Excellent question. Albee saw Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? written on a mirror in soap, and it stuck with him, he said in an interview with Paris Review. The phrase is a play on the children’s song “Who’s afraid of the big bad wolf,” contrasting childhood and adulthood, reality and romanticization. Albert, like Woolf, criticizes – and rejects – societal expectations. “Who’s afraid of Virginia Woolf means who’s afraid of the big bad wolf … who’s afraid of living without false illusions?” Albee said. This 1963 Tony Award winner will play on the Mabel Tainter stage at 7:30pm on April 26 and 27, 2pm on April 28, 7:30pm on May 3 and 4, and 2pm on May 5. It is recommended for mature audiences. More information can be found on the Menomonie Theater Guild website or Facebook page. 

The Menomonie Theater Guild Presents: Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? • Mabel Tainter Center for the Arts • 205 Main St. E, Menomonie • April 26-28, May 3-5 • $15 general admission, $13 students, seniors, and military members • menomonietheaterguild.org • Box office: (715) 231-7529