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Alan Ball's "Five Women Wearing the Same Dress" speaks to "Me Too" from the 90s

William Peace Theatre is presenting the comedy “Five Women Wearing the Same Dress” this weekend through the University’s theater department. The play is written by Alan Ball, who wrote the screenplay for the award-winning movie “American Beauty” and created the HBO series “True Blood.”

"Five Women Wearing the Same Dress" is about five bridesmaids in a 1990 wedding in Tennessee who are hiding from the wedding reception. The women, though different in age and socioeconomic status, bond over their shared dislike of the bride. Director Amy White said the comedy is “a combination of ‘The Breakfast Club’ and ‘Bridesmaids.'"

The play stars six undergraduate students at William Peace University — five women and one man. White said she cherished rehearsal times, as she believes that women are goofier and less guarded when only in the presence of other women.

The department chose to perform this play months before the Time's Up campaign in Hollywood. The creation of the "Me Too" movement since then has made the play's themes of gender more relevant to the theater community.

White also said the only difficulty the team encountered while producing the play has been the dresses themselves, which are poofy lilac monstrosities with butterflies sewn on, complete with matching hats.

Tiffany Lewis, a junior musical theater major, said her character Meredith is “a mess” — a hostile 22-year-old in the bridal party who tends to make scathing remarks.

“She has her loving moments, but they aren’t very common,” Lewis said. The one character Meredith is most affectionate with is Trisha, a 34-year-old bridesmaid who is a friend of Meredith’s sister.

Cheyenne Morris, a junior musical theater major, plays Trisha. Morris said her character is true to herself and isn’t afraid to go after what she wants. She's also involved in the only romance in the play, but Morris said not to assume that her character is a damsel in distress.

“Amy has it to where it’s really Trisha’s choice," Morris said. “The guy doesn’t change her. She chooses to see where this goes. She doesn’t give any part of herself up for a man.”

White said people should see the play because it showcases the care women can show each other, and uses humor to tackle cultural issues that are still relevant in today's world.

“Five Women Wearing the Same Dress” will have five performances running through Feb. 18. Tickets can be purchased online or at the door.

“It’s a really wonderful story about love and companionship in unlikely places,” White said.

@saralizp

arts@dailytarheel.com

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