By Sally Gracie
I spent Sunday watching Academy Award “best picture” nominees on pay-per view. After playing a role in The Merc Playhouse Readers Theater production on Friday and Saturday, I was most taken by Birdman, a story about a Hollywood super-hero who, to prove his worth, risks everything as an actor on Broadway.
Needless to day, St. James Theater and The Merc are galaxies apart. Still, I think I appreciated Riggen Thomson/Michael Keaton’s art because of my first stage appearance since high school the night before. I love the film and would like to discuss its ending with anyone who is inclined to do so.
“You all seemed to be having such a good time,” one friend said in a voicemail after watching Morning’s at Seven at The Merc last weekend. “And I just guess we all did,” as Myrtle (played by Sarah Brooks) might say. When the curtain went down on Saturday, the audience had been so positive that I was ready to do the play again. I was finally into the role of Esty, “the oldest” of the four sisters.
The coolest thing about being part of Morning’s at Seven was learning to work with eight other people, four of whom I hadn’t met before. In the period of a week, with just three read-throughs before opening night, I was motivated not to let the others down and to tell the story as best I could through the character of Esty.
One good friend told me that I played my character as myself, and was therefore perfect. Good for me, too, to play as me, as I couldn’t begin to act or do the Midwestern accent that John Roth (Thor) was born to. My friend kind of took back her praise by adding, “You should be more like Esty.” Casting was thanks to Ashley Lodato, who directed the reading and stocked the dressing room with candy, cookies and other treats through rehearsals and performances.
Readers were still in character on Sunday as they sent post-performance group emails to each other. Roth wrote, “it was all good and that’s a fact!” Don Nelson (Carl) wrote “I damn near had a spell” when the first person he encountered at the store said “good show.” Christine Kendall (Arry) says “if you see me anywhere around the valley I am Christine, NOT Arry.” Still in character, Christine writes, “Oh my goodness, it wears a body out to emote so.” Mary Milka (Ida), Ronda Bradeen (Cora), George Schneider (David) and Don McIvor (Homer) — all of us — will remember each other as the characters we played.
If you haven’t been part of a Readers Theater, you ought to try out for one. As Don Nelson says, “it’s a gift” to be “part of a new family whose connections [will] endure.” Thanks to everyone who attended the Friday and Saturday performances.
Patty Yates will lead the group discussion of the Columbia Reads book The Boys in the Boat: Nine Americans and Their Epic Quest for Gold in the 1936 Berlin Olympics, at the Twisp Library on Thursday, March 26, at 7 p.m.
Copies of the book are available at all libraries. If you would like your own copy, Trail’s End Bookstore will give readers a 15-percent discount on paperback copies of the book. Remind Chris of the “Columbia Reads” program.
The last time we had the opportunity to savor one of Kim Claussen’s East Indian feasts was at least seven years ago. Paula Stokes will add some of her Indian specialties to Kim’s at the Twisp Valley Grange this Saturday (Feb. 28) at 5:30 p.m. Tickets are $25 and are going fast.
Doors open at 5:30 p.m. and folks will have time to visit and have some beer and wine until 6 p.m. when dinner will be served. Get your ticket from a Grange member (Wendy Braden at 997-9357) or through Brown Paper Tickets online (twispvalleygrange@brownpapertickets.com).
