Taking place in parts of Appalachia and the South, this work tells the tragic story of 15-year-old Lisa, the daughter of a prostitute, and Clint, the car thief she runs away with to escape the misery of life with her mother. What follows is a piece that examines ethics, sexual abuse, fear, love and the value of life.
“Five minutes of listening to another human being can go a long way,” Conley said. “This show emphasizes that with a little humanity lives could be incredibly different.”
The contemporary piece, which opened on Broadway in 2001 to critical acclaim, was a runner-up for a Pulitzer Prize. A review in The Guardian concluded that “Plays don’t come much tougher, or more compassionate, than”¦ ‘The Glory of Living.'”
Conley said the truth behind each character is what makes the play so thrilling.
“These are real people — you wouldn’t recognize a killer on the street, but they exist in our world. That’s what makes these characters frightening,” she added.
The show is recommended for adult audiences. It contains mature adult situations and the smoking of non-tobacco cigarettes.
Performances start promptly at 8 p.m. April 28, 29 and 30, and at 2 p.m. Sunday, May 1, in the Studio Theater of the Harmon Fine Arts Center, 25th Street and Carpenter Avenue.
Tickets are $6 for adults, $4 for students and senior citizens, and $1 for those with Drake ID. Tickets may be reserved by calling the Drake Fine Arts Box Office at 515-271-3841.