The Richmond Hill Players Present: Collected Stories. A drama by Donald Marguiles. 

October 1-4 & 8-11

Based on the real-life conflict between poet Stephen Spender and novelist David Leavitt, Collected Stories examines the emotional and legal question of an author‘s right to create art based on another person‘s life story. In the play, grad student Lisa thrilled to be under the tutelage of her literary idol, Ruth Steiner. Over the years, Lisa becomes Ruth’s personal assistant and gradually her friend, as Ruth helps her hone her writing abilities. But as Lisa’s career begins to flourish and Ruth’s begins to fade, can the tenuous relationship between mentor and mentee survive ambition, rivalry, and eventual betrayal? Lisa wants to write a book about Ruth‘s life and particularly an affair with another notable figure – the book Ruth never wrote herself. Collected Stories explores the complicated relationship between two independent women as they struggle to define what, if anything, is off-limits in art.

“With his fine ear for detail, Margulies creates an authentic, insular world, and he gives equal weight to the opposing viewpoints of two formidable characters.” – Los Angeles Times

“This is probably Margulies’ best play to date.“ – New York Post

“As usual, Margulies holds the rich ore of his material up to the light so that it sends beams in every direction… always fluid and lively, the play is thick with ideas, like a stockpot of good stew.” – Village Voice