Words are weapons in Marjorie's world -- along with bathing suits, sunflowers, and a peculiar painting by a modern American master. Devoted husband Daniel is her favorite target until a pair of young lovers crash the party. Absurd and humorous, The Hopper Collection is a post-modern riff on age-old relationships.

One of the youngest playwrights ever to premiere on the Magic stage, Mat Smart is a recent graduate of the prestigious UC San Diego MFA Program in Playwriting. Since his graduation, he has already garnered national attention. After the Magic's production, this play will be produced in 2006 at Huntington Theatre Company in Boston, and Mr. Smart is currently at work on a commission for the South Coast Repertory.

Beginning Christmas week, the schedule changes to Tuesday through Thursday at 8:30pm, two performances on Friday at 5pm and 9pm and Saturdays at 2:30pm. (No performance on Christmas Day, December 25).

Friday performances on Nov. 25, Dec. 2 and Dec. 9 are followed by a "Talkback" discussion with Magic Theatre artists and staff. The matinee performance on Sunday, Dec. 4, is followed by "Art Collecting for Dummies," an "In Context" panel discussion of experts discussing how to start a personal art collection.