MY OWN STRANGER
(Adapted from the writings of Anne Sexton)
Exclusive Play Sanctioned by Linda Sexton and the Sexton Estate
All Rights Reserved
For more information contact:
Marilyn Campbell-Lowe & Linda Laundra
2019 HERSTORY THEATER
Chicago, IL
One-Woman Show w/Jazz piano
w/Fred Simon
(available for hire)
Scheduled for 2020 NY Solo Festival
(Cancelled due to Covid)
2013 KOLT RUN CREATIONS
Sacramento, CA
A Must See! Absolutely riveting!
2006 SHAKESPEARE & CO.
Studio Festival of New Plays
Directed by Dan McCleary
(Artistic Dir. TN Shakespeare Co.)
Lenox, MA
2004 WRITERS THEATRE
Glencoe, IL
Directed by Kate Buckley,
w/ Marilyn Campbell, Kymberly Mellen,
Mary Beth Fisher
Jeff Recommended!
2001 ESTROGEN FEST
Storefront Theater, Gallery 57
Directed by Jessica Thebus
Chicago, IL
1994 WRITERS THEATRE
Glencoe, IL
Directed by Michael Halberstam
Jeff Recommended!
1981 OFF-BROADWAY
Provincetown Playhouse, New York
Directed by Linda Laundra
Winner! Villager Downtown Theater Award
Production History
“An experience not to be missed! One of the joys of the season. A beautiful, passionate, ecstatic celebration of a woman’s life. It makes men better understand women and women better understand themselves.” -- Clive Barnes, New York Post, 1981
“A life’s work celebrated with genius, urgency and humor.” -- Jennifer Dunning, New York Times
“An engrossing portrait of contemporary woman brought to life with unquenchable humor that bubbles to the surface. An attention holding, moving theatre piece!” -- Women’s Wear Daily
ANNE SEXTON liked to arrive about ten minutes late for her own performances: let the crowd work up a little anticipation. She would saunter to the podium, (after finishing a vodka mist) light a cigarette, kick off her shoes, and in a throaty voice say, “I’m going to read a poem that tells you what kind of a woman I am, so if you don’t like it you can leave.” Then she would launch into her signature poem, “Her Kind”.
Winner! 1981 New York Villager
Downtown Theatre Award
“Best Production”
“The result is startlingly beautiful; surprising, witty, informative, insightful and moving as only fine poetry can be.”
-- The Villager, New York
Press Quotes
“Extraordinary power and grace, a tremendous accomplishment. The highest experience good theatre can produce. Lush, passionate performances … exquisite!” -- Newsday
“Stunning tour de force of ineffable magic. Powerful theatre!” -- The Soho News
“Touching, funny, ironic and occasionally savage!”
-- Christian Science Monitor
“Performed with impeccable grace and sensitivity. Affection and openness bathes the theatre in a special glow!” -- Home News, New York
“Imaginative and witty.” -- Village Voice
“Touching and vivid.” -- Associated Press
“A tour de force of writing. In Laundra and Campbell’s intelligent selection, Sexton’s language is clear and crisp, and her images arrive on shock waves of recognition. The triple-casting technique suits Sexton’s multiplicity of life-roles, demons and creative voices as well as providing the ineffable magic that transforms mere talking into theater, powerful moments of theater, it composes a memorable event. The performances insure that this Sexton samba is played not on one note but in rich, full harmony.” --SohoNews, New York
“Say hello to this fine Stranger. Last night at the Provincetown Playhouse there arose a curious yet fascinating play it is a trio for three voices actually called My Own Stranger. It is culled from the poems of Anne Sexton and it makes a beautiful theatrical event, one that should prove among the joys of the season. This is a very passionate play, beautiful, even estatic, would perhaps serve better. My Own Stranger, which has been adapted from her writings by Marilyn Campbell [and Linda Laundra] takes the poems and makes them into a celebration of a woman’s life. All three women are remarkably good ... and the most wistful presence of Miss Campbell add up to a composite portrait of a poet who, once read, and, here once seen, would never have been forgot. It makes men better understand women, and I suspect it makes women better understand themselves. An experience not to be missed! --Clive Barnes, New York Post, 1981
“Laundra and Campbell’s softly stirring adaptation of Anne Sexton’s writings from My Own Stranger took on the shape of a string quartet (even featuring a violinist) as three actresses represented the pivotal moments in one woman’s quest for identity the actresses weave a delicate aural tapestry of memory, hope and self-fulfillment under Jessica Thebus gracious direction.“ --Lucia Mauro, Estrogen Fest 2001