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PATINA
At 78, Lillian leads a quiet life as a mother and grandmother. But when a painter from her past unexpectedly reappears, he brings with him a secret she thought she’d left behind: decades ago, she posed nude for him in college, and never told a soul. Now he wants to paint her again – in the same way— as she is now. What begins as an uncomfortable surprise soon becomes a journey through memory, aging, art, and self-acceptance. A warm comedy about the stories we hide, the lives we live, and the courage it takes to be truly seen.
WHAT THE DOREMOUSE SAID
The play follows Glen, a street beggar, as he meets Hatter and Hare, a comedic duo who mock him and critique society’s treatment of the poor. The clowns perform tricks and discuss the optics of poverty, while Glen’s past unfolds through flashbacks—showing his troubled childhood, struggles with employment, and exploitation. A mock trial humorously questions whether Glen offers value in return for charity. The play critiques superficial charity, societal neglect, and the transactional nature of compassion, revealing Glen’s difficult life and the emptiness of well-meaning but self-serving gestures. The story concludes by emphasizing the dignity of the marginalized and the small acts of compassion that affirm their humanity.
2026 Hugh MacKay