Lanie Robertson

Back County Crimes Lanie Robertson

Play with Music / Music by Mel Marvin / 4m, 6f (34 characters) / Various sets. Similar in structure to Spoon River Anthology and Our Town, It's life - and in this case, violent death - in a small town, with music, tied together by a running commentary by the town's sole physician of many years. The author has a savvy sense of black comedy, all utilized in weaving a series of sordid tales of backwoods murder, and adultery. And each vignette is either compelling or caustically comic. It is a strangely beautiful play by a writer with much ability. "I am impressed by Robertson's poetic sweep of his rural Southern American dialogue and by the intrinsic truthfulness of his characterization." - Philadelphia Daily News "A rousing affirmation of life with all its mystery and variety ... Robertson has drawn a gallery of incisive and keenly sympathetic character portraits." - Memphis Press Scimitar