The Orphans' Home Cycle

Horton Foote’s rural epic—nine plays are condensed into nine hours, elevated and elemental—is a melancholy masterpiece. Director Michael Wilson works wonders with an adept 22-person ensemble (led by Bill Heck, Maggie Lacey and Hallie Foote) to achieve a fascinating blend of wistfulness and stoicism. Even the craziest and most inebriated figures are played with poignant restraint and clarity. To get a Foote-hold, visit signaturetheatre.org and figure out how to schedule all three sections of the cycle.—David Cote