Vinegar Tom

PSU did a good job with this early Caryl Churchill play set during the witch hunts of the 17th C. but quite a different play from Arthur Miller's take on the same material. Here we have a more "Brechtian" strategy, the story told in vignettes and interspersed with music played directly to the audience. Brecht wanted the theatrical audience to think more than feel -- to be challenged by the dramatic material to rethink their lives and take political action to change injustices. So here. Written in 1976 (just three years before her Cloud Nine would take the theater world by storm), the play may be called "feminist" from its time but, interestingly enough, what resonated with me was how we're still chasing and condemning witches if in a more "civilized" manner. The Duke lacrosse team came to mind and all the hysteria that surrounded the assumption of their guilt of group rape. This irrationality is not very different from the prejudices and false reasoning of the witch hunters. Apparently we need our witches.

Tonight's performance had an added attraction, a graduate student of mine this term in the cast, who did an excellent job (and who is a good screenwriter).

Tuesday I am having coffee with a transplanted NY actress interested in my summer project. Has experience from soap operas, roles at Lincoln Center, solid NYC credentials. She has the right look from her photo. I look forward to talking to her. (Besides, out of curiosity, I suppose, she read The Brazen Wing and loved it. Flattery will get you everywhere.)