cover image Selected Shorts: Wondrous Women

Selected Shorts: Wondrous Women

Symphonyspace, , read by Holly Hunter, Marian Seldes, Harold Gould and others. . Symphony Space, $28 (3pp) ISBN 978-1-934033-06-7

According to these well-chosen stories, a “wondrous woman” is foxy, resilient, stubborn and a bit magical. In David Haynes's “Taking Miss Kezee to the Polls,” the title character is a fiery octogenarian with a flaming red wig to match. Michael Genet delivers Miss Kezee's sassy proclamations with aplomb and brilliantly renders the bewilderment and compassion of the good-hearted young man who has been delegated to chauffeur her around town. In Kim Edward's “The Story of My Life,” Holly Hunter is pitch-perfect as the spunky teenage daughter of an antiabortion activist, reclaiming her right to individual choices. Two of the stories involve a touch of magical realism. In Allan Gurganis's “It Had Wings,” a frail widow takes full advantage of an angel who falls into her yard. Marian Seldes performs the woman's narrative slowly and carefully as surely such a woman would address us. In contrast, Kathleen Chalfant takes us slowly but sensuously through a “humble bank clerk's lust for “The Red Fox Coat” she covets until she becomes one with it. This touching and hilarious collection of well-crafted tales is beautifully rendered by its performers. (Jan.)