If Nora Ephron had a hand in it, you know it’s got to be funny. Love, Loss and What I Wore, which the late Ephron and her sister Delia adapted from the book of the same name, consists of monologues by several female characters, all of which are sparked by a piece of clothing or accessory. The story opens with the narrator Gingy, who describes the items from her wardrobe that stir the most memories. There’s the Brownies uniform she wore as a child, the dresses she argued with her mother about, the clothes she bought after her mother died. Together, they tell the story of her life. Stories from other characters unrelated to Gingy emerge as the play continues, from the influence of Madonna on fashion to the Spandex bra-caused monoboob, to how the horror of being raped can transfer into the very clothes one wears. Love, Loss, and What I Wore is produced with minimal props, allowing for a more intimate theater experience. “This is one of those pieces that makes it clear why live theater is so special and different from television or film,” says director Keely Enright. “The intimacy between the performers and the audience is really palpable here.” The play was slated to open the Woolfe Street Playhouse’s 2012-13 season, but was moved to the end of the season due to construction delays. Now it’s been extended through Piccolo Spoleto, where its warm spirit and humor are sure to find appreciative audiences. “We hope by the end of the evening you feel less like you just watched a play and more like you spent a night sharing some profound and hilarious life tales with good friends,” Enright says.
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