Catharsis for the artist

Alice Manning wrote and performs the one-woman show "Stronger than the Wind" now playing in the New Rep's Black Box Theatre, one of three small plays celebrating women playwrights. The play is based on her own experience: giving birth to twin boys, who were kept in the neonatal intensive care unit becuase of low birth weight. One does fine but the other contracts a serious infection which involves the brain and results in multiple neurosurgeries that leave him with partial paralysis and seizures. The actress gives a biting performance portraying arrogant doctors, unfeeling nurses and later heartless welfare workers and school officials. She makes it easy for us to visualize Doctor Condescending and friends. Despite the underlying pathos, there is plenty of humor sprinkled throughout. The few moments of helping humanity do not take up nearly as much (or enough) space - perhaps she did not consider them dramatic enough. While I am sure writing this play was cathartic for the playwright, it is less clear that the audience enjoys the experience. Ms Manning's acting talents do carry the play.