When Something Wonderful Ends

(Community Matters) Attended Barbara Chisholm’s performance of When Something Wonderful Ends last night at the Rude Mechs‘ Off Center. Playwright Sherry Kramer and director Katie Pearl both in attendance – hmm, think they were even still both taking notes.

The play is obviously autobiographical – though to what extent I haven’t yet discussed with Sherry. She superimposes amusing Barbie-laden & touching family memories with questions about US involvement in the Middle East, especially Iran in the 20th Century and Iraq today.

Barbara gives an impressive one woman performance, a 90-minute monologue; It’s a single character piece. I was awed by her retention and then I learned she also self-produced (with support and co-production from the Rudes). Can’t imagine how one manages 1,000,001 logistics and 90 minutes of lines.

Sherry hosted an after party at the fun abode, Reagan Gammon’s cool guest house, she’s leased while a visiting professor at UT.

Sherry Kramer and filmmaker Paul Stekler

Katie Pearl & Barbara Chisholm

Katie, Michael Mitchell & UT playwriting student, Kyle John Schmidt

Barbara & hubby/theater critic/actor Robert Fairies

Robert is working on a promising new project which I think would be okay to mention but I better check first. Lots of other friends, theater folks, Michener scholars and UT theatre students at the party – including Carrie Fountain who marries another Rude, Kirk Lynn, next weekend. Kirk, Katie’s beau (playwright Steve Moore) and friends canoeing the Brazos this weekend as a bachelor party celebration.

Lynn McKee, Robert Torian and I snuck out near midnight, leaving MM still going strong.