As a coastal New England girlie, 'Big, Black Sunhats' really scratched my seafaring itch and held my existential dread in a beautiful way. While watching this reading at GPTC, I was struck by the play's exploration of love and the societal value that we place on youthfulness. It is so important that work is being written for older femmes to perform, and Weiss does a masterful and hilarious job of endearing us to these complicated and relatable characters. I loved it!

This play is so surprising in concept and execution. I can anticipate this play having a thriving life through semi-pro and community theatre spaces with featured roles for older women and scrappy, strapping (old? young? both?) men. You could practically taste the sea air, the burnt roast potatoes, and feel the sand between your toes right along with the characters. A wonderful play!

I was lucky enough to see a staged reading of this play at the Great Plains Theatre Conference and I’m dazzled by Weiss’s dexterous exploration of grief, regret, love, loss and the river of comfort and comedy that can carry us through. With rich characterization, a uniquely theatrical setting and set-up, this play draws us in and lets us see ourselves with more clarity and compassion.