In celebration of a century of theater, a local venue is kicking off the year with a play that takes place in the Bucks County area. Ellen Wilson Dilks wrote about the primiere for the Delco Culture Vultures.

The Hedgerow Theatre, located at 64 Rose Valley Road in Media, opened its centennial year of live theatre with the regional premiere of Good Grief, a play by playwright Ngozi Anyanwu. The play is co-directed by Zuhairah McGill & Phillip Brown. It runs from Thursdays to Sundays through Feb. 26.

Anyanwn’s play tells a coming-of-self story that shifts between 1992 and 2005 while living in Bucks County. While living in her high-school home, college-aged Nkechi is trying to deal with her grief after losing her high school love.

In the process, she learns much about both life and herself. The crux of the story is Nkechi’s family’s lack of understanding of her pain.

Anyanwu’s writing draws from her experiences growing up in Bucks County. Her exploration of grief offers a refreshing honesty, while her writing is sharp and naturalistic. There is also plenty of humor as the audience watches while the burgeoning relationship between Nkechi and her boyfriend unfolds.

Additionally, the quirks of her Nigerian-born parents who are building their lives with their daughter in middle-class America are also heartwarmingly funny.

Read more about Ngozi Anyanwu in Delco Culture Vultures.