Having trouble understanding ZOOMed theater? We've got you covered. Vermont Pride Theater's winter benefit Raggedy And, premiering February 6th and available on demand through February 13th, will be close-captioned.

Seven Days' co-owner Pamela Polston offered this preview of Raggedy And in this week's issue.

"The play Raggedy And, concerning a transgender poet invited to read at a presidential inauguration, has its own timely resonance. Vermont Pride Theater chose it before Amanda Gorman became an immediate sensation for reading her poem 'The Hill We Climb' at President Joe Biden's inauguration."

"The four-person play was written before the 2016 election, which playwright [David] Valdes expected would have a different outcome; he has since updated the work, Montpelier-based director Joanne Greenberg said. In fact, she revealed, she and Valdes were messaging each other during the inauguration. 'So,' Greenberg said, he was updating [the play] as late as January 20, 2021.'"

"Greenberg also directed Vermont Pride Theater's production of Raggedy And four years ago. 'The thing I loved about this play, before and now, is the clash of viewpoints all four characters have — it's engaging and very funny,' she said. 'And Valdes is really even-handed about presenting those conflicts.' Now, that's a timely message."

A talkback moderated by Christine Hallquist will follow the premiere on February 6th; the production will be available on demand through February 13th at the website www. chandler-arts.org.

Tickets are $12 each, for as many as you can fit around your viewing device, at www. chandler-arts.org or (802) 728-9878.

Proceeds will go to GLAD's transgender-rights project, www.glad.org.