FRINGE THEATER / SHIRLEY VALENTINE

FRINGE THEATER / SHIRLEY VALENTINE

Fringe Theater proudly presents Vanessa McCaffrey as Shirley Valentine, May 17-27, at 7pm in the Parish Hall at St Paul’s Episcopal Church, located at 401 Duval Street. This one-woman show, written by Willy Russell and directed by Carole McCartee, may just remind audiences of their own journey to Key West.

“It wasn’t that long ago that I met a 72-year-old woman who, only a couple years before, had her own Shirley Valentine moment,” shares Rebecca Tomlinson, Fringe Artistic Director. “She looked down the table over Christmas Eve dinner, saw her children, grandchildren, and husband and decided her job was done. It was time for her to live her own life. She booked a flight the next day and bought a house in Key West. Needless to say her family was scandalized– at least at first.”

When we first meet Shirley (Bradshaw), she is drinking wine and fixing dinner for her husband. She regales us (and the wall) with stories of her family, her life, and her dream to travel. Then a friend offers her a chance to turn that dream into a reality, and Shirley is confronted with a choice. Well, with lots of choices! “It really is never too late to find yourself,” says Vanessa McCaffrey, whose own life journey took her from England to Kenya and finally Key West.

Vanessa has been seen on all the stages of Key West, and her acting credits include Fringe Theater’s Blithe Spirit, Dinner, Red Barn Theatre’s Cripple of Inishman, Theater XP’s Person of Interest, Moment of Grace, and Poetry of Hearts and Waterfront Playhouse’s Bitch Slap and Equus.

“We are constantly asked to make adjustments in life but every so often we are given a chance to boldly change our lives. Not everyone can do that,” Vanessa concludes.

Will our Shirley? Audiences will have to see this heartwarming and laugh out-loud play to find out!

Shirley Valentine runs May 17-20 and May 24-27 at 7pm in the Parish Hall at St Paul’s Episcopal Church. Tickets are $35 and available at www.fringetheater.org or by calling 305-731-058. Seating is limited. A limited number of Two’fer $25 tickets are available for the May 24 and 26 performances.

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