By Andrew Gans
20 Jul 2009

A. R. Gurney
photo by Aubrey Reuben

A one-night-only performance of A.R. Gurney's Ancestral Voices — featuring the playwright — will be presented July 20 to benefit Shakespeare & Company in Lenox, MA.

The 7:30 PM performance, also directed by Gurney, features Annette Miller, Jake Robards, Corinna May and David Adkins. (Miller and Gurney also performed together in the company's benefit performance of Love Letters in 2003.)

"A semi-autobiographical account of three generations," Ancestral Voices, press notes state, "begins in Gurney's hometown of Buffalo, New York, in the 1940's. This magical, funny and wistful short play is written to be performed by five actors, portraying seven characters, seated before music stands.

"It follows the bittersweet family story as perceived through the eyes of young Eddie, whose family is turned inside out when his grandparents unexpectedly become divorced. As the outside world is changing, we follow the family through the ensuing decades of war and social upheaval."

The evening begins at 6 PM with cocktails and light fare, followed by the 7:30 PM performance in the Founders' Theatre. Champagne and dessert reception with the actors will follow at 9 PM.

Proceeds benefit Shakespeare & Company's ongoing $10 million Capital Campaign.

For tickets contact the box office at (413) 637-3353 or visit www.shakespeare.org.