Painting Churches by Tina Howe

Theatre Exile 1340 South 13th Street Philadelphia, PA, 19147 United States (map)

Described as “…beautifully written…a theatrical family portrait that has the shimmer and depth of Renoir

portraits…” by The New York Times, Tina Howe’s 1984 Pulitzer Prize-nominated play is a provocative

exploration of the parent-child relationship, art and aging. The IRC production features Kirsten Quinn as

Mags Church, the successful artist and daughter of Fanny and Gardner Church, who returns home with a

life-changing announcement to the chaos of her parent’s impending move from their lifelong home in

Boston’s Beacon Hill. John Zak plays Gardner Church, a Pulitzer Prize-winning poet facing dementia after

a lifetime devoted to intellectual and creative pursuits. Tina Ann Brock plays Fanny Church, Gardner’s

wife and Mags’ quirky mother, who has a penchant for ostentatious hats and criticizing her daughter’s

choices in life. The trio explores their changing dynamic relationship over the span of several

days.

GIRLFAILS