The Memory of Water
February 15 - March 11, 2007
Ensemble Theatre Company
Santa Barbara, California

* Stephanie's performances in this production were dedicated to the memory of her mother, Stephanie Spalding Zimbalist, who passed away on February 5, 2007.

Starring:
Mary... Stephanie Zimbalist
Vi... Bairbre Dowling
Teresa... Laurie Walters
Catherine... Emma-Jane Huerta
Mike... Mitchell McLean
Frank... Leonard Kelly-Young

Stephanie Zimbalist Leads Cast in Ensemble Theatre Company’s Production of The Memory of Water

(Santa Barbara, CA)— Ensemble Theatre Company (ETC) of Santa Barbara will present The Memory of Water, a witty and moving exploration of family dynamics, by British playwright Shelagh Stephenson.

Winner of the “Laurence Olivier Award for Best Comedy,” this absorbingly entertaining play, full of dark humor and heart, begins performances on Thursday, February 15 and continues through Sunday, March 11, 2007. Opening night is February 16. Stephanie Zimbalist leads the cast; Jenny Sullivan directs.

Three sisters – paranoid Mary, uptight Teresa, and strung out and bratty Catherine – have returned home to the north of England for their mother’s funeral, setting the stage for hilarious sibling jealousies, witty bickering, and doped-up soul searching. Making her appearance as well is the ghost of their mother. Each sister holds distinct memories of their childhood, each has her own unique perspective on what these memories mean. A hit in London’s West End, The Memory of Water vividly brings home all the joys and sorrows of family.

A Note From Director Jenny Sullivan

The Memory of Water is a rich, deep exploration of the relationship of three sisters to each other and their mother.  The scientific theory behind the memory of water is the idea that "you can remove every last trace of the curative element from a water solution and it will still retain its beneficial effect.  They decided that this meant water was like magnetic tape.  That water had memory."  Our playwright, Shelagh Stephenson, explores the magnetic tape in Mary, Teresa and Catherine and finds traces of their mother that they carry in their bones, whether they like it or not.

I love this play because it is such a universal story.  We all have mothers and we all have memories that impact our lives.  The interesting thing about memory is how one adjusts it to serve 'their story'.  Each sister in this play has a different memory of childhood.  It has become their personal folklore and their own evidence as to why their lives turned out the way they did.  How then do these sisters relate as they gather together to bury mom?  "There's nothing like a funeral to bring a family closer together or drive them all straight to hell."  They fight, they laugh, they cry, they drink, they reveal secrets and dress up in mom's clothes as they try to come to terms with who they are to the world.

I've been thinking a lot about my mom lately.  In fact I've been dreaming about her more since beginning work on The Memory of Water.  I look in the mirror, I hear a voice, I see a movement in my brother's hand and in those moments I feel the traces of mother Marie moving through.  How fantastic that is. 

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