Diana's a pagan name (roman goddess of the Moon/Virginity/the Hunt) but it is associated with divinity, which makes sense for the character. I don't know how specific or symbolic the names of the characters are. Leslye Headland has discussed in interviews that the play is loosely autobiographical (Diana and Mark are loosely based on her real siblings, Johnny as far as I know is not.)
I really loved this play in Berkeley, and I think the current cast is still doing good work, but it didn't land quiiiiite as strongly for me on this go-round, and I think it really came down to Quinto and Woodley's performances. The three people who are repeating from Berkeley Rep are great, and I think several new members of the cast (especially Mare Winningham and Rebecca Henderson) are wonderful. But Woodley didn't feel like as much of a live wire as she did in Kerstin Anderson's performance. And Quinto's Mark...I can't quite put my finger on why, but he felt less fully fleshed somehow than Lucas Near-Verbugghe did.
Still, it's a wonderful play, and I'm glad I had the chance to see it again.
Absolutely loved this! I needed a good Christmas story - albeit a bit ****ed up - to get me into the holiday spirit! Glowing performances without a weak link and I was so horribly impressed by how each character was drawn out within the first 15 minutes. That SecondStage had two great family dramas back-to-back speaks well for the genre as well as the company. Too many great performances to single out but Mare Winningham shines particularly bright.
Perhaps it’s not everyone’s ideal Christmas story, but for me it was a nice antidote from all the Hallmark junk that tends to clog tv this time of year. Sometimes finding the Christmas spirit is looking for it but, instead, finding its absence. This somehow made my December a little bit brighter.
Saw this yesterday and did not love it. The first 15 minutes, I was all in and laughing and then the next whatever felt like an eternity. I have 4 siblings and a lot of family complications, but this isn't what I wanted for the holidays.
rachelfran said: "Saw this yesterday and did not love it. The first 15 minutes, I was all in and laughing and then the next whatever felt like an eternity. I have 4 siblings and a lot of family complications, but this isn't what I wanted for the holidays."
That sounds more like it's your own issues -- not the show's.