The Baltimore Waltz

The Fern Theatre Company presents 'The Baltimore Waltz' by Paula Vogel.

The Baltimore Waltz is a giddy, fleet fantasy comedy about the love and adventures of a brother and sister, one of whom has a fatal disease. Anna, an elementary school teacher from Baltimore, is diagnosed with terminal ATD (Acquired Toilet Disease), and journeys with her brother Carl on a whirlwind trip through France, Holland and Germany.  Or do they?

In this surrealistic play, Carl is determined to find a cure for this… Show more deadly disease and save his sister by whatever means necessary. Even if it means giving up his most prized possession: his stuffed rabbit Jo-Jo. Anna, however, has other things in mind. She is not quite as interested in finding a cure as she is in finding men. Spending her whole life being a “good girl” she decides to throw caution to the wind and sleep with as many men as possible as they travel about Europe. They act as storytellers, taking the audience through an emotional rollercoaster ride full of laughs, tears and a final climactic scene.

Pulitzer Prize winning playwright Paula Vogel wrote Baltimore Waltz in response to her own brother's death from AIDS related complications. It is a poignant reminder of how fragile life can be and what is truly important to us when we are faced with death, whether it is ourselves or a loved one. Through the brilliance of Vogel’s artistic voice, she allows each audience member to have their own personal experience while still watching the same thing as his neighbor. No doubt everyone will take away something completely different and deeply personal after taking this journey with Anna and Carl.

"a crazy-quilt patchwork of hyperventilating language, erotic jokes, movie kitsch and medical nightmarethat spins before the audience in Viennese waltz time, replete with a dizzying fall." NY Times.

"an immensely likable winning comedy-drama" Hollywood Reporter.

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