Mrs. Nash’s Ashes

This grumpy-meets-sunshine contemporary rom-com features a woman on a race against time to reunite her best friend with her first love. After her friend Mrs. Nash dies, Millie is determined to take some of her ashes to Key West, where she’s discovered that the woman Mrs. Nash thought had passed away decades ago is still living, though not for much longer. When Millie’s trip is derailed by air-travel issues, she hitches a ride to Key West with an acquaintance—her ex-boyfriend’s frenemy, Hollis. He’s looking forward to his long weekend in Miami, visiting a friend for their semiannual affair, but his plan changes as he and Millie drive from DC to Florida. Mishaps along the way add to their growing friendship and attraction. Mara Wilson showcases a stellar ability to take listeners into Millie and Hollis’s world. As she follows the couple’s misadventure-filled yet frequently humorous path, she fully captures Millie’s exuberant personality, quirks and all. Expressive and entertaining, Wilson imbues her performance with a range of emotions—humor, hope, anxiety, sorrow—and fully immerses listeners into the story.