Clare McNulty (top) and Tenaya Hurst (bottom) in “The Art of Benevolence” Photo by Erin Merritt.

By Flora Lynn Isaacson

The idea is simple: seven local playwrights, seven local directors (all women) and a bevy of actors have twenty-four hours to write, rehearse and perform seven short plays built around one theme: The Seven Virtues, performed by the Bay Area’s all-female Shakespearean acting company Woman’s Will. This critic was amazed that all of the actors had memorized their lines and all of the directors did a great job blocking the action in such a short time. 

My personal favorite play was “The Fundraiser” which demonstrated the virtues of Generosity and Charity. It was written by Karen Macklin and directed by Lisa Edsal-Giglio. The cast featured Chijundu Okonmah and Danielle Perata as friends attending the fundraiser, and Sandra Weingart and Vidya Sundaram as two sisters who were the fundraisers.

A close runner-up was “Burial” by Judith Offer, which pointed out the virtue of Diligence. This play was imaginatively staged by Lila Neugebauer. The cast featured Dee Baily, Ron Dritz, Jennifer Graham, Shirley Hall, Maggie Tenenbaum, and Karen Meredith-Wolf as members of a choir who were to sing at a funeral.  This play took many clever twists and turns. Also high up on my list was “A Wake” by Marisela Orta which showed both Patience and Forgiveness. The play was cleverly directed by Elizabeth Williamson. The cast featured Tara Generalovich, Gina Seghi, Leah Herman, and Khamara Pettus. In this play, a dead woman rises up to speak to each person who comes to call. 

“Food Service” by Susan-Jane Arevalo displayed Humility and Modesty. Director Debbie Lynn Carriger had a good eye for pantomime. The cast featured Kate Thompson, Sarita Ocon (in a comedic performance as a new waitress) and a sole male performer Patrick Engle. 

Judy Juanita’s play “The Art of Benevolence” pointed out the virtue of Kindness. Directed by Nakissa Etemad, the cast featured Tamar Kohn as an elderly woman and Tenaya Hurst as her daughter. Clare McNulty gave a spirited performance as an Irish caretaker and Carlye Pollack was a ghost. 

After intermission, “Late Night at the DHC” showing the virtue of Chastity opened the second half of the program. The DHC stands for the Department of Homeland Chastity. This play was directed on rolling chairs by Hester Schell and featured in the cast were Michaela Greeley, Alexandra Kay and Katie Kruger. 

“Immoderate” by Susan Sobeloff demonstrated Temperance and Moderation. The director was Tamika White and featured Julie Kurtz, Mary McGloin and Eleni Zaharopoulos. 

Woman’s Will’s 24 Hour Play Fest took place at the Julia Morgan Theatre in Berkeley on March 3. Upcoming shows to be presented by Woman’s Will are Bertolt Brecht’s The Good Person of Szechuan July 12 through Aug. 17, and Shakespeare’s Macbeth this fall. For information and reservations, call (510) 420-0813 or buy tickets online at www.womanswill.org.