Trying at 1st Stage Theatre

Trying

1st Stage Theatre
1524 Spring Hill Road Tysons

This two-hander explores the author's real experience working for Francis Biddle at his home in Washington, DC from 1967-1968. Judge Biddle, Former Attorney General of the United States under Franklin Roosevelt and Chief Judge of the American Military Tribunal at Nuremberg is notoriously hard on his staff as he tries to cement his legacy. Can the old, Philadelphia aristocrat and his young, Canadian assistant bridge the generational divide and come to understand one another in this "comic and touching" play (The New York Times)?

Thru - Nov 3, 2019

Thursdays: 8:00pm

Fridays: 8:00pm

Saturdays: 2:00pm & 8:00pm

Sundays: 2:00pm

Box Office: 703-854-1856

www.1ststagespringhill.org

Nearby Restaurants

Trying Reviews

Average Rating based on 5 reviews

Highly Recommended
Recommended
Somewhat Recommended
Not Recommended

Washington Post - Recommended

"...Moreover, Sedar doesn't pull off the admittedly tricky task of letting enough diverse emotional colors seep through Biddle's repetitive crotchetiness. The judge's talk becomes too one-note, and fleeting references that could help us feel, rather than just intellectually recognize, the weight of history - Biddle's regret over the internment of Japanese Americans during World War II, for instance - lack resonance. AD There is never any doubt about where the Sarah/Biddle relationship is heading, and the journey there is leisurely. Still, audiences who enjoy a grammar lesson with their straightforward, feel-good stories may find "Trying" worth trying."

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- Celia Wren

DC Theater Arts - Recommended

"...Being so different in background and outlook, you might expect that Sarah and Biddle would do nothing but "try" each other's spirits. In fact, in the short time that they spend together, they create a rare, caring atmosphere made up of respect and the uncommon nature of friendship. Thanks to Glass and Levy, the flowering of this extraordinary environment is viewed with no sentimentality, just the straightforward illogic of mutual understanding."

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- Barbara Mackay

MD Theatre Guide - Recommended

"...This is a show worth seeing—it’s a timely reminder that there are depths to everyone, and there is beauty in taking the time to uncover them (Biddle might have started life as a privileged Republican, but he turned Democrat in his 50s, when Sarah was a child, and proudly so). Change is possible at every life stage, and this show illuminates how allowing lives to touch, in acceptance and compassion and humor, can enrich us and teach us, gently and lovingly."

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- Mary Ann Johnson

DCTheatreScene - Recommended

"...Amanda Forstrom puts a strong and sympathetic performance as his new secretary, foil and companion. Smartly dressed in perfect period outfits thanks to designer Moyenda Kulemeka, Forstrom’s portrayal of Sarah’s gentle but firm independence and strong “spine” – a main requirement for Biddle’s secretaries – brings to life the delicate relationship at the heart of the play."

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- Jeffrey Walker

BroadwayWorld - Recommended

"...Trying will resonate best with older generations, but I still found it highly relatable. My co-workers giggle when I admit I've never used a typewriter, and despite my best efforts, I roll my eyes every time someone asks me how to use Excel. Over 50 years after Judge Biddle's death, everyone in every office in America is still trying. As a lifelong Washingtonian, I loved the references to my hometown, even the ones that I had to Google when I left the theater."

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- Jenny Minich

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Trying at 1st Stage Theatre

Trying

Trying Reviews

Washington Post - Recommended

DC Theater Arts - Recommended

MD Theatre Guide - Recommended

DCTheatreScene - Recommended

BroadwayWorld - Recommended

Trying Photo Gallery

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