Sister Cities-Play Synopsis

As many of you know, Sister Cities has toured the United States( a few cities are New York, Los Angeles, Kansas City) and Europe ( Edinburgh, Paris, plus many others). I am including a link to the original play website and a synopsis written by the playwright about the show! Enjoy--and come see us this weekend June 25, 26th, 27th and July 1, 2, 3rd Show time is 7:30 and tickets are $12 and $10 for students. Visit www.sistercitiesplay.org


SISTER CITIES
- Synopsis -
A witty commentary on the dignity of choice, and the power of relationships.

MARY BAXTER has had an enviable life - a dancer who married young and never looked back as she traveled the world and moved from one marriage to the next. Four husbands gave her four daughters, each of whom are as different from each other as the cities they were named after. CAROLINA, compulsive and organized, is a Seattle based attorney, while AUSTIN, a New York Times best selling author, lives in the family home in Poughkeepsie. DALLAS, the ultimate conformer, lives and teaches in Philadelphia, while the baby, BALTIMORE, is a free-spirited, eternal student at Harvard.
When Mary dies, Austin calls her estranged sisters to return to their childhood home for what appears to be a wake; yet, what turns into a family drama that will unearth old animosities and new secrets that will change them forever.
Carolina and Baltimore are the first to arrive home, after a very long car ride. Bolting for the bathroom, Baltimore discovers her mother's body in the bathtub and realizes that Austin has not moved her at all since her death. Austin is mum about the situation, cracking jokes instead of dealing with the circumstances.
An infuriated Carolina calls the coroner and begins to drink from the household's healthy supply of vodka. She accuses Austin of being inept and hurls accusations old and new at her. Dallas, the peacekeeper, arrives and the sisters retreat behind their fragile facades. Stuck in the house together awaiting the coroner, they share stories, a scrabble game and a lot of vodka.
However, the needling continues, and Austin finally can't hold back any longer and confesses that Mary had ALS and that her suicide was really a planned death. Due to Mary's weakened condition, Austin, in fact, had to assist her death to spare her the additional years of pain and dependence that the lively former dancer and world traveler would have to endure.
Carolina is furious and wants to call the police. Dallas and Baltimore are shocked into silence. Austin pleads with them; however, no one understands what she has been going through in caretaking for their mother, and to prove it, she secretly poisons Carolina --- giving her doxicyclinol, a drug, which paralyzes the body but leaves the mind alert.
A flashback between Austin and Mary shows Mary's final ability to sway her reluctant daughter. She asks Austin to 'pull two legs off of a spider' and then makes a powerful metaphor about the spider and herself, about its mobility and survival. When Austin is able to kill the spider, Mary knows that her daughter will be able to help her, to free her.
Back in the present, forty-five minutes have passed and Carolina has still not emerged from her paralyzed state. Dallas panics and Baltimore regresses, and goes to 'sit with mom'. Dallas confronts Austin, who retorts by telling Dallas she 'can't handle ugly'. Dallas admits to having an abortion, which shocks Austin due to Dallas's alleged perfect 'white picket fence' relationship with her husband. Baltimore then confronts Austin, upset that she wasn't given the chance to say goodbye.
Carolina finally emerges from the paralysis. Her time spent immobile and dependent, listening instead of acting, sways her opinion and she tells Austin that she understands the decision she had to make. The fractured sisters begin to realize the value of "working with what you got" and the importance of keeping family ties strong.