Wings at Second Stage Theater

We went to see Wings last night at Second Stage Theater.  The entire performance lasts roughly 65 minutes.  Makes a powerful punch and not sure I'd recommend it.

It is the story of a woman who was a plane wing walker that was big in the 1920's.  She has a stroke.  The play is not only about her gusto to try and move past the stroke it is about what happens to be people who have severe strokes.  Their inability to speak, their inability to process information, their inability to remember.  Of course all strokes are different.  It depends largely on what part of your brain lost oxygen during the stroke.

There is a scene where she sits in group therapy.  Not a character in the group did I like.  I am glad the play was short because in all sincerity I couldn't take more than an hour.  Jan Maxwell, the main character, is fantastic.  Must be incredibly draining to do that performance each night as the lines are not exactly clear cut. 

This play may have been nominated for a Tony but I found it loud and just utterly depressing.  Perhaps that was the point.