Eric, thank you so much for recommending this good work. I was happy to donate to this worthwhile project. My husband and I drove to California the day after seeing the play and we spent lots of time talking about it. The play is about a young man who has chronic fatigue syndrome. I know several people who have this disease, so I have a frame of reference. Although Ben and Grace love each other, the reality of their complex, somewhat hopeless situation calls for more than love to exact a solution. Their problem is complicated by Ben's overprotective mother. Much of the storyline is revealed through Ben's frequent dreams. Both Ben and Grace feel extreme guilt. Grace avoids having a life that doesn't include Ben, because she feels sorry for him. Ben feels guilty that he is preventing Grace from having a full life. Even though their intimacy has dwindled and their communication is suffering, they still have a sweet rapport with each other. Even when their strained situation is most obvious, the love that they feel for each other comes through. They are darling together. Ben has joined a chat room to talk to other people who share his disease. He establishes a friendship with a girl and they frequently talk. One day Grace, unknown to Ben, joins him and azure_skies for a conversation. I was sure that Ben and Grace would rediscover their lost communication through this chat-room. It seemed obvious where this triangle was heading. I was so relieved that I was wrong. The outcome of the play is not predictable. The play is well written, well cast and well directed. Melissa shows wisdom beyond her years. I liked the slides showing the chat-room conversation. That worked well for me. My only problem was combining the two plays. Cinderella, although entertaining, was more like an entreact. It was not a compatible or satisfying companion piece.

Nan McCulloch