Dragon Productions

The Gingerbread Lady is an onion of a play; the more one digs into it, the more layers it reveals. And, like an onion, there are things in it that could make you cry and things that are delicious.

It's rare to find a Neil Simon play that most theatre people haven't heard of. "What is it about?" they ask. And, for the most part, it's about an alcoholic singer named Evy. But while that's what makes the play go, that's not what it's "about."

"The Gingerbread Lady" is, first and foremost, about a mother and a daughter, both of whom are desperate in their need for each other, but neither of whom has the tools to express that need adequately. Evy and Polly (the mother and daughter in question) are not alone in those needs, though. All of the characters in the play are dysfunctional and highly in need of approval and validation. But Simon is a good enough writer that those needs are expressed in an entertaining -- and funny and sad -- theatrical manner.

It's one thing to give us wisecracking New Yorkers with deep needs; it's quite another to probe those needs in a sympathetic manner and show the pain behind the wisecracks and smart remarks. In fact, when the play was trying out in 1970, Simon went so deep, he was forced to lighten some of the darkness of the script in order to prevent his audience from becoming hopelessly depressed, in spite of the hopeful nature of the ending.

We've learned a lot about addiction and dependency in the decades since the play was written, but we've chosen to keep the play rooted firmly in its time of 1970 in order to be true to the assumptions of the 60s and 70s. While some of the clothes and hair may seem unbelievable and extreme, those who remember the 70s can testify that this is what we looked and sounded like. We hope that once people get beyond those outer trappings, though, they'll see the reality and humanity that is still powerfully present in Simon's characters.

Diane Tasca, Vivian Cook, Carolyn Power, James Allen Brewer, Martin Gagen, Alex Fiore

Location: Dragon Theatre

535 Alma Street

Palo Alto, CA 94301

Dates: April 20th -May 13th

Thursday – Saturdays 8pm & Sundays at 2pm

Talk-Back with cast, Sunday, May 6th

For Tickets & Info: go to the box office page to purchase your tickets online or

Talk to a real person by phone by calling our ticket provider at 1-800-838-3006. The lines are open 24 hrs a day, 7 days a week. For questions about the show or the Dragon Theatre, Please call 650-493-2006 or email tickets@dragonproductions.net

Free street parking after 3pm, parking garage on the corner of Alma & University, plus a Cal-Train parking lot directly across the street from the theatre ($2.00).