Hazardous Materials

Writer's Center
4508 Walsh Street Bethesda

In 1955, Esther and Lynley, two war widows with very different backgrounds form a relationship that runs afoul of the racial and sexual attitudes of the time and puts them in danger. In 2015, county employees Cassie and Hal, who harbor secrets of their own, inspect the apartment to try to determine the identity of the hoarder Jane Doe who recently died there. In scenes that alternate between the two eras, the history of the apartment and its occupants is slowly revealed.

Presented by Perisphere Theater

Thru - Nov 18, 2023

Hazardous Materials Reviews

Average Rating based on 2 reviews

Highly Recommended
Recommended
Somewhat Recommended
Not Recommended

DC Theater Arts - Recommended

"...For this show, don’t let the title turn you away. This isn’t hazardous or toxic material at all; it is instead a welcome reminder of the vital impact we have on each other in mindful moments that can last through space and time."

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- Debbie Minter Jackson

MD Theatre Guide - Highly Recommended

"...Perisphere Theatre’s production of “Hazardous Material” by Beth Kander paints a post-World War II, Lavender Scare-era portrait of two women whose “scandalous” behavior sets the tone for their friendship and the way they’re forced to live their lives. Stories that center on the LGBTQ+ experience are generally ones to which I gravitate. The way in which this play is handled, the highly nuanced narrative, and the power of Perisphere Theater’s mirror-imaged production, really make this a piece that explores a facet of the queer experience in an unexpected and extremely engaging way."

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- Anne Valentino

Hazardous Materials presented by Perisphere Theater at Writer's Center