Life as it Happens

The Importance of Being Ernest

Lady Bracknell strikes again!

Community Theater has been reborn in Allegheny County! June 20 - 22 a group of wonderful people  put together the play: "The Importance of Being Ernest". For some of the actors it was their first time on stage; some of us had a little experience with acting, and a few had been in theater for quite a while. Everyone did a great job and the three performances were well received by our audiences. We were at the Sparta Auditorium which is part of the school system - this was a special treat for me since my Dad (whose name was Ernest) went to school here. 

I do want to reject the idea that I was typecast for this role! All I can say is that it was SO MUCH FUN to boss people around on stage! Theater, of course, came out of the Church which puts on a show, called worship, every week. 30 years of doing that gives one experience I guess, in bossing people around....so, maybe there was "some" reason for my role....? Some of my favorite lines as Lady Bracknell:

When LB is pondering her nephew's invalid friend, whose illness is getting in the way of her own plans she says: Well, I must say, Algernon, that I think it is high time that Mr. Bunbury decided whether he was going to live or to die. This shillyshalling with the question is absurd.  When her daughter, Gwendolyn, runs off to meet her desired man; LB finds them and in response to Gwendolyn's announcement that she is engaged to Mr. Worthing, says, Come here. Sit down; sit down immediately! Hesitation of any kind is a sign of mental decay in the young and physical weakness in the old!

Wilde's play is a humorous criticism of the self-absorbed English society of the late 19th century. My wonderful friend, Mary Mac Shields, who has been costuming theater productions for over 30 years came from Fayetteville to build our costumes, which were stunning.  It was great to have her experience beside me as I attempted this role. I can only say that their is enormous talent here in Allegheny County. Most of the actors were people who grew up here. It was a privilege to work with them. 

 

A new resident of Allegheny County

This is a picture that a friend took last week. He and his wife were working at a house in the Roaring Gap area and this little fawn was lying near the porch. After being in touch with the animal rescue people, they decided that the mom was near by and was feeding the baby. The baby stayed there for 3-4 days. It is such a great picture of how beautiful they are. Our woods seem full of these babies right now. 

I am reading a book called Plain Living: A Quaker Path to Simplicity. The author is Catherine Whitmire.  She has compiled quotes from Quakers on various topics having to do with living simply. I am taking my time through the book as I continue to pare down my life. Of course the hardest thing for me are the things I use to make art, but I want to be regular in revisiting all that I have in terms of what is needed. Giving the clothes and other things that I do not use to our local thrift shop has become a joy. 
This is one of the quotes I am currently pondering:

Still another step toward simplicity is to refuse to live beyond our means emotionally. In a culture where whirl is king, we must understand our emotional limits. Ulcers, migraines, nervous tension, and a dozen other symptoms mark our psychic overload. We are concerned not to live beyond our means financially; why do it emotionally?  (Richard Foster, 1981)