And Miss Reardon Drinks A Little is an often biting and occasionally touching black comedy of the late 60s that centers on the lives of the three Reardon sisters, whose father abandoned the family long ago, and whose mother has recently passed away. The sisters, now adults and all working in the New York City public school system, have come to a crossroads – the youngest sister, having barely survived a scandalous incident at school, has suffered a nervous breakdown. When the married sister comes back to the childhood apartment the two unmarried sisters now share in an effort to commit her sibling to an institution, the built-up resentments of the last decade are pushed to the forefront. Should Anna be committed? Is it in her best interest or is it just easier for Ceil if she doesn’t have to care for her? Is it selfish of Catherine to want to keep her at home? Who is strongest in this fight of wills – and does Catherine really need another cocktail?

Written by Paul Zindel
Directed by Shay Gines
Produced by Retro Productions

The cast features Wynne Anders (Off-Broadway Claymont/Emerging Artists Theatre), Christopher Borg (Charles Busch’s Judith of Bethulia/Theatre for the New City), Heather E. Cunningham (NYIT Award for Best Actress in An Appeal To The Woman Of The House/Retro), Rebecca Holt (Broadway How To Succeed In Business Without Really Trying with Matthew Broderick and Megan Mullally), Amanda Jones (Off-Broadway Candida/Jean Cocteau Repertory), Sean J. Moran (Widows directed by Hal Brooks at 59E59), and Sara Thigpen (NYIT Award for Best Actress in Burning the old Man Jo/Boomerang Theatre).

Just in time for its 50th anniversary, Paul Zindel’s black comedy And Miss Reardon Drinks a Little is hitting the New York theatre scene. Directed by Shay Gines, this work centers around three women who, with a dead mother and long-absent father, come together at a crossroads in their lives. All three are veterans of the New York City public school system, one of the toughest and most unique school systems to take on teaching, and the youngest sister has suffered a breakdown after barely surviving a school scandal. Ms. Gines shared her vision and excitement in bringing back this play set in its original decade, and how Zindel’s writing and her direction treat with dignity the female characters who, single, orphaned and working in public services, are often seen at the bottom of the social and economic stratosphere. Congrats on the show. It is the 50th anniversary of And Miss Reardon Drinks A Little. There are a lot of themes in this play that, despite 50 years elapsing, remain the same. What strikes you as the most changed element between 1967 and today? I think the lives of women have changed significantly since the 1960s. It is true that we continue to struggle with gender biases …Read more