|
And later in June...
|
A Mini- Festival
de' Chekhov et Henley.
|
Crimes of the Heart
by Beth Henley
|
 |
June 20 & 21 at Unison Arts Center Winner of the Pulitzer Prize and the New York Drama Critics Circle Award. Granddaddy is in the hospital. Babe has shot her husband. Meg is having anxiety attacks and Lenny tries desperately to have anyone notice that it's her birthday. Set in Hazelhurst, Mississippi, five years after hurricane Camille, this touching and infectious comedy is passionate, witty and intelligent. Beth Henley blends comedy and pathos in this Chekhovian story of the sometimes frayed edges of sisterly bonds. Featuring Janet Nurre, Elizabeth Barrows, Zsuzsa Manna, Julie Eads Woolley, Jack Kroll and Michael Frohnhoefer. Save A Seat
|
| By Anton
|
|
June 27 & 28
@ Unison Arts CenterAn entire week-end event celebrating the masterworks of Anton Chekhov. This evening spotlights three one-acts, or vaudevilles, all unmistakable comedies. In A Reluctant Tragic Hero, our hero spends the summer in the country, but is driven to the brink of distraction by demands to run errands in the city. Chekhov's classic, The Bear, pits an irritable creditor against an eternally-mourning young widow, culminating in pistols and romance. And On The Harmfulness of Tobacco, starts as a lecture on the perils of smoking, then disintegrates into a comic view of a hopelessly henpecked husband. Featuring Laurence Carr, Jack Kroll, Douglas Woolley, Michael Frohnhoefer and Elizabeth Barrows. Save A Seat!
|
MMSC Travels to NYC!
We will be performing at the Drama Book Shop, 250 West 40th Street (btwn.7th&8th)
Vanguard Voices, ODD SHORTS hits the Big Apple!
Join MMSC and Actors & Writers for a performance, book signing, and reception at the Drama Book Shop in the heart of New York's theatre district.
PARKING: You gotta be kidding!
Friday, June 6 @ 6:00 pm
|
Christine Crawfis as Eppie Lederer in David Rambo's The Lady With All The Answers. June 7 at St. Andrew's Church.
Save A Seat
|
|
|
What did you say your name was?
|
Greetings!
We've been thinking (always a dangerous thing to do over here at MMSC. For example, I hate it when Christine says to me "Bob, I have an idea." But that's another column.)
Here's the thing: we wondered if the old adage, Nomen est omen, is really true? And what, you are thinking, does nomen est omen mean? Literally it means "a name is a sign." Your name, for example, is a label by which other people know you; it's how we keep track of one another. What would happen if no one had a name or if everyone were named the same name? Bob, for example.
Some people change their names or wish to be kept track of by a name other than the one their unthinking parents gave them. Did you know that Ann Landers wasn't really Ann Landers? No, her real name was Esther (or Eppie) Lederer. We found discovered this while doing research on our upcoming show about Ann Landers, The Lady With All The Answers (see the article below and make your plans now!) So, it started us thinking - how many other celebrities were actually sporting "new" nomens? For example, was Anton Pavlovich Chekhov (or Анто́н Па́влович Че́хов, as we know him in Russian) really named Englebert Humperdinck?
For the record, 50 Cent is really Curtis Jackson, Anna Nicole Smith was actually Vickie Lynn Hogan, Barry Manilow advisedly changed his name from Barry Alan Pinkus and Bing Crosby was really Harry Lillis Crosby. (der Bingle would have been der Lillis!)
Or how about Bob Dylan? Yup, he's really Robert Allen Zimmerman. Bono? is Paul Hewson. Charlton Heston was John Charles Carter, and Elton John is Reginald Dwight in real life. And the real Englebert Humperdinck? Arnold George Dorsey!!!
By now we were on a roll and couldn't stop. Just a couple more? Gene Wilder started out as Jerome Silberman, Harry Houdini escaped from his original name of Erich Weiss, Hulk Hogan wrestled his way out of Terry Bollea and John Wayne couldn't have shot his way out of a paper bag as Marion Morrison.
Everybody knows that Marilyn Monroe was actually Norma Jean Baker but did you know that Meatloaf is really Marvin Aday? (And the real question is: who is Meatloaf?)
OK,I'll stop. Right now we want to focus on Eppie Lederer, or rather Ann Landers.
|
Coming Up Next...
Saturday, June 7
@ St. Andrew's Church |
 |
 by David Rambo 1975. Eppie Lederer has a big problem. Where can she turn for advice? Ann Landers, of course.
But Eppie is Ann.
For decades, newspaper columnist and Chicago icon Ann Landers dispensed wit and wisdom to lovelorn teens, confused couples, and others in need of advice. Drawn from her life and letters, this touchingly comic portrait will remind you why so many put their faith in this wise, funny, no-nonsense woman.
Filled with bon bons, bon mots, bubble baths and Chanel No. 5, this warm and engaging one-woman show brings us an Ann Landers we've never seen before-a "lady with all the answers" coping with a problem that doesn't have an easy solution.
Featuring Christine Crawfis as Eppie Lederer. (If you miss this show, "twenty lashes with a wet noodle" for you!)
@ St. Andrew's Church, Main St., New Paltz
Reservations: 255-3102, or email us!
More Information
| |
OK. Here's a few last examples (really!) of nomen est omen name changes that we totally understand. Can you imagine if Mel Gibson were to use his real first name? You'd have to call him Columcille. Seriously.
Michael Caine should have been Maurice Micklewhite and Neil Diamond is actually Noah Kaminsky. Snoop Doggy Dogg is Calvin Broadus, Sting is Gordon Sumner, Tina Turner is Anna Bullock and Vin Diesel is Mark Vincent.
But we've saved the best for last: don't call her Whoopi Goldberg, she's Caryn Johnson. And finally, here's a kicker - Woody Allen isn't Woody Allen - oh no, he's Allen Konigsberg.
So, I'm thinking that I might change my name too. What do you think? Maybe Tad Pole? Maybe Robin Banks? (As a nickname, I'd actually prefer one of those testosteronic monosyllables, like Slash or Fwapp.) Or Christine could become Penny Candy? Or Patty O' Furniture.
But seriously, we here at MMSC like to think of ourselves as a text-based company. In other words, we are all about the words. Words and names and labels are important to us. We are a Readers Theatre Company. Without words we wouldn't have anything to read. Our music stands would be empty.
As Confucious said,
 "If language is not correct, then what is said is not what is meant; if what is said is not what is meant, then what must be done remains undone; if this remains undone, morals and art will deteriorate; if justice goes astray, the people will stand about in helpless confusion. Hence there must be no arbitrariness in what is said. This matters above everything."
Words matter. Words inform our mind, comfort our feelings, excite our spirit, or kindle the flame in our hearts. They can also slap us in the face, punch us in the stomach or rattle our nerves. Such is the power of language. It can emotionally move and affect us as powerfully as physical actions.
And that's our mission here at MMSC, regardless of our name. We don't want you to "stand about in helpless confusion," thank you, Mr. Confucious.
As a matter of fact, it's our motto. We want to "draw you forward in your seat," "make you engage," and finally, "make you think." Oh no, not that! Not thinking!
I think I'd better think this one out again. I'll check with Christine about that great idea she said she had. Maybe I should listen to her more often.
Maybe I'll change my name to Fillmore Sandbags.
Maybe I'll see you on June 7 at 8 pm at St. Andrew's Church (NOT at Unison for this one) when Christine plays Ann Landers (or is it Eppie Lederer?) in David Rambo's The Lady With All The Answers.
See you there! And bring your questions with you.
Sincerely,
Bob and all of the good folks at MMSC
Robert Miller, Producing Director
Mohonk Mountain Stage Company, Inc. |
 HOT OFF THE PRESS!
MMSC and Actors & Writers, together again for the first time.
The beginning of a beautiful collaboration and the premiere of a new issue of Vanguard Voices of the Hudson Valley, entitled Actors & Writers: Odd Shorts, featuring a collection of short plays highlighting the last fourteen years of the Actors & Writers Shorts Festival.
On Sale Now At All MMSC and A&W's performances.
At The Drama Book Shop in NYC.
Or Buy It Now!
Our Price: $ 15.95, plus shipping and tax
S & H:$3.00
|
|
|
