Art Reach is hosting “Always, Tess” written by Raymond Goodwin at 7 pm, Monday, May 22, 2023, in The Morey Family Gallery, 111 E. Broadway, Mt. Pleasant.

“Always, Tess” is a thoughtful play that explores grief, depression, and finding hope. On the advice of her Aunt Lenore, an English professor, Tess Calkins, age twenty-five, has recently written letters to many of the people who were in her orbit when she suffered an emotional trauma at age fourteen. Among the letters to neighbors and family are several to Ester Greenwood, the fictional narrator of The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath. The letters were written quickly, and Tess hopes they will provide a catharsis to help her to move forward in her life. But now that the time has come to review them, will they? The play is Tess reading aloud and reacting to her letters, to see if she'll “unconclude” what she thought she'd already concluded.

Performed by Kathryn Zettel

Directed by Michelle Lucchesi

Written by Raymond Goodwin

Recommended ages: Ages 14 and up

Runtime: Approx 68 minutes

Cost: By donation