Crimes of the Heart was set in 1970’s Mississippi in the kitchen of the Magrath household. Lenny Magrath, the oldest of three sisters, provides care for their ailing grandfather, but neglects herself. The middle sister, Meg, left the small Mississippi town to pursue a singing career in California, but was institutionalized in a psychiatric ward. The youngest sister, Babe, married a lawyer and state senator in their town, but is abused in the relationship. When the play begins, Babe is in jail after attempting to kill her husband, Zachary. Lenny is trying to get Babe out of jail, and Meg is returning from California. The sisters are reunited and they bond over the tragic death of their mother, but have disagreements due to personality differences about men and the care for their grandfather. Additionally, they are periodically antagonized by their arrogant cousin, Chick. The sisters are afraid that Babe will be imprisoned for shooting Zachary, but it is eventually revealed that both parties have incriminating evidence on the other. The parties come to a sort of quid pro quo, out of court agreement through Babe’s lawyer to not pursue the matter in court …show more content…
The attention to detail was supremely apparent. The main room of the house in which the play took place was incredibly similar to my grandmother’s old farmhouse. The crown molding on the walls, the subtle paint color, curtains, and pictures and decorations all made it seem like a snapshot of an old southern home. The kitchen was very true to the time, with its smaller refrigerator and other vintage appliances. The set design was also impressive in that viewers who were sitting towards the side, as I was, could see that the steps in the middle of the room did in fact lead to a landing and a second-floor area. I was somewhat disappointed that there was only one set in the play, but it was constructed and designed so well that it more than made up for