I Am Large, I Contain Multitudes

Opening night last night rocked! You should all come catch one of the remaining three shows!

It was a treat to see a whole bunch of people there, especially kimberlogic, and tigerbright, who I think was the one to say admiringly, "How did it feel to play someone so COMPLETELY UNLIKE YOURSELF?!" :-) Which isn't exactly how I've been thinking of Sophia, but I can see the strength of the assertion. Earthy, she is not.

Which in turn reminds me this morning that I've been meaning for some time to post this Marge Piercy poem, as it has come up for me in a couple of contexts the past 10-12 months, and somehow not everyone already knows it. (It's not directly me, either*, but there are some occasional resonances.)


Always Unsuitable
Marge Piercy

She wore little teeth of pearls around her neck.
They were grinning politely and evenly at me.
Unsuitable they smirked. It is true

I look a stuffed turkey in a suit. Breasts
too big for the silhouette. ( She knew at once... )


P.S. I am thinking of getting dinner before tonight's 6:30pm show call time: at Stone Hearth Pizza in Belmont Center, 5:30pm. (Could even be earlier, I'm not working past 4pm.) Anyone want to join me?

Finished up the Margaret Ghost 2010 icon set I started last week. Enjoy!

( images placed behind cut, to spare the uninterested; click here to view )

... Oh yeah, and it occurs to me I'd meant to do one more for Sophia:
BORE WITH A HEART OF GOLD

So, as previously noted, I'm in one more play this summer: The Margaret Ghost, about the 19th-century feminist, journalist, social organizer, and Transcendentalist, not to mention Cambridge native, Margaret Fuller. (Performances: June 17-20 in Belmont, MA. Order tickets now. :-)

theatreatfirst originally did this play back in 2006, but 2010 is the bicentennial of Margaret's birth (in fact this past Sunday, May 23, was her actual birthday), so the Margaret Fuller Bicentennial Committee came to theatreatfirst saying, "Wouldn't you like to revive this production for us as part of the bicentennial?" Well, sure, says we, and thus all 9 of the original cast members are reprising their roles this June!

Prior to this play, I had, as it happens, only ever heard of Margaret from the Margaret Fuller Neighborhood House -- her ancestral home, right across Central Square from where I used to live -- because there's a food pantry there at which I volunteered for some years. [waves to Jess, my old volunteering buddy!]

From Wicked Local (Cambridge): "Buried twice: Rediscovering Cambridge icon Margaret Fuller"
http://www.wickedlocal.com/cambridge/news/x1070015810/Guest-commentary-Buried-twice-Rediscovering-Cambridge-icon-Margaret-Fuller

From this Sunday's Globe: "A writer, thinker, and trailblazer"
http://www.boston.com/yourtown/cambridge/articles/2010/05/24/a_writer_thinker_and_trailblazer/?page=full

Other dramatizations of Margaret's life include a reenactment by local character actress Jessa Piaia, and the play Charm, by Utah playwright Kathleen Cahill, which was recently premiered in Salt Lake City.

The Bicentennial festivities also include a number of exhibits and a monthly series of "Conversations" ("modeled after the “Conversations” that Margaret Fuller offered for women (and later men) in Boston in the late 1830’s and early 1840’s").

Amusingly, Victorian Trading Co. is selling a "Margaret Fuller Coat"?? Note that the body copy carefully does not say that it is actually modeled on anything Margaret personally owned or wore. >:-)
http://www.victoriantradingco.com/store/catalogimages/1a/i156552X.html

And: Never before published, the script of The Margaret Ghost is now available in a limited, commemorative edition in honor of the Bicentennial. This beautiful trade paperback (designed by gilana!) includes an Introduction by our director and an Afterword by the playwright.
http://www.lulu.com/product/paperback/the-margaret-ghost/10969781

( a few more book-related notes )

One of the few good things so far about the play being over: I have my "autumn" silk scarf back (it's been on duty for the past month as my Act III sash). I expect to find myself wearing it every day for the rest of October at least.

The fact that most of us went to see gilana and ironpoet in Shakespeare in Hollywood the very next afternoon helped ease the transition slightly.

Unfortunately, I missed coraline's birthday party and elements's housewarming, both on Saturday afternoon/evening. But I was glad I made it over to justom's on Sunday evening before going home to collapse.

I am sad when I dwell on certain things I will (already) miss. But otherwise the post-show withdrawal has not set in too hard yet.
If nothing else, I have some Margaret-related books in which to wallow at my leisure.
I think I need a couple days of getting to bed by 10:30pm.

It seems too soon to start scheduling further reunion gatherings, but it is on my mind. :-}
Don't forget that ablock is hosting a joint belated-October-birthday party on 11/4, to which all and sundry are invited.

The pmrp Tomes of Terror live staged radio dramas take place in a week. The Monday show is looking more likely for me. EDIT: ... To work house, that is. :-)

The theatreatfirst Cabaret takes place in just over a month.

The inimitable journeystar offered to help set me up for tickets for The Onion Cellar. 8-) I'm looking at a party of table seating for Thursday 12/14, 7:30pm. Will advise those who have expressed interest.

I am 34 today! I suspect this means I have crossed the dreaded border from "early 30s" to "mid-30s". However, I feel so powerful and fabulous and flush with possibility these days that I can hardly object.

"But Erica, when's your birthday party?" Technically, it will be rolled into the Nov. 4 festivities chez ablock. Otherwise, it's getting a little lost in the holiday shuffle (rather like last year's Rosh Hashanah/Tzom Gedalia birthday). Tonight, being the Shabbat of Sukkot (as well as the first night of the holiday), is the appointed date for the tremontstshul 20s&30s Potluck Sukkah Dinner, so while I'll be celebrating with several of my closest friends, it will be in the midst of about 40 other people I know rather less well. :-} However, there is a half-sheet birthday cake lying in wait at the shul, and I encourage anyone who wishes to stop by and make a l'chaim in the sukkah with me tonight.

In more festive news, though: Last night, Tiger Boy took me to Corteo, and muchabstracted gifted me with a terrific (and, characteristically, mythologically resonant) mix CD, and we all treated ourselves to overpriced but glorious Cirque merchandise. The t-shirt I bought isn't even on the website anymore, ha! but I am super pleased with it and wearing it today. (Plus onetwolittleb was our cashier, which was a fun surprise.) 'Rah!

And remember... The Margaret Ghost opens a week from tonight! Reserve your tickets now!

*goes off to do some work before running out to pick up birthday sushi*