Dress Suits to Hire

by Holly Hughes in collaboration with Peggy Shaw and Lois Weaver

directed by Lois Weaver

Lois Weaver and Peggy Shaw in "Dress Suits to Hire," written by Holly Hughes in collaboration with Lois Weaver and Peggy Shaw, choreography Stormy Brandenberger, directed by Lois Weaver, costumes by Susan Young. This classic "lesbian-noir" hit show has been begging to be "re-mounted," and that's exactly what is happening. In 1987, the Village Voice (Alisa Solomon) wrote, "Peggy Shaw and Lois Weaver of Split Britches are sensational in their collaboration with Holly Hughes' sexy, funny play. Shaw usually does James Dean/Gary Cooper turns, but here she dresses up like Rita Hayworth, and the impersonation unleashes a new ribald hilarity. She still plays the dumb hunk, and opposite is Weaver's savvy, salivating blond. Their 80-minute duel is more of a surreal poem than a plotted play. It's a mellifluous ode to lesbian eros and a joyful, literate send-up of all romantic fantasy--one of the most accomplished pieces of theater you can see now." Marilyn Stasio wrote in the NY Post, "The lovers here are two 'sisters' who live in a rental clothing shop and use the merchandise to try on various facets of their own personalities. One of them plays the femme fatale, the other is positively haunted by the masculine side of herself."