The final performance was by J. G. Hertzler and Robert O'Reilly. They
recited a piece they've given at cons (though this was the first time
I've heard it). It's called "All of Shakespeare in Twelve Minutes"
and covers many of Will's plays and the human life span, birth to
death. I'd love to have a transcript of this performance. It was wonderful,
and two excerpts from the end are:
J. G.: Our revels now are ended.
Bob (whispering): And the rest is (a pause) silence.
Then all the actors, including Max and Aron who hadn't performed,
came onstage. Because I had taken photos throughout the performance,
I went to the lobby to wait until the rest of the group had gotten
their surfeit of photos and autographs.
A short time later, Casey walked from the theatre into the lobby.
I just had to tell him how special the afternoon was. My words tumbled
out any which way: "If you ever do this workshop again, at the
Folger or wherever, please, please, please, please, let me know. I
want to be there. It was so wonderful" And I choked up. I said,
"I'm sorry, I don't have the words." Someone came up to
him just then, and they walked back into the theatre. In parting,
I said, "magic" - but even that was inadequate.
It's a month later, and I have finally found words to accurately describe
what that afternoon meant to me. If the following sounds corny, it
sounds corny: So large a portion of our lives is so mundane -we attend
to the basic needs of our physical existence - food, clothing, shelter;
we provide for ourselves and our families; this ties us to the earth.
The Folger afternoon was one of those rare times when I was lifted
to a higher plane of existence - we were given nourishment for the
mind and for the imagination - and I drank it in as one parched. For
a few hours, I could ignore the physical and - like to the lark at
break of day arising from sullen earth - my spirit soared. Thanks
to Vaughn, Elizabeth, Dwight, Bob, and J. G. Most of all, to Casey,
the organizer/teacher/actor - thank you, thank you, thank you.
On the return trip to the hotel, our van contained four fans plus
Aron Eisenberg and Robert O'Reilly, and we all conversed as if we
had known each other forever. In fact, I sat next to Bob O'Reilly,
and I am happy to say that he is far nicer than the fierce and fearsome
Gowron. One woman is a member of Dave Scott's staff. The driver and
the woman sitting next to Aron are husband and wife. They are parents
of a four-year-old daughter and eight-month-old twins (boy & girl),
and Bob O'Reilly is the father of seven-year-old triplets. You can
imagine there was a lively conversation about children. The wife also
knew a great deal about DC sights. For example, did you know that
the Washington Monument contains Vermont stone on the lower part and
Virginia stone on the upper part (or is it the other way round)? When
you know to look for it, you can see the difference in color.
Back at the hotel, I claimed my suitcase and one of the desk clerks
called a cab for me. I went outside to wait on a bench by the front
door. Vans and cars kept arriving from DC. I saw Helene, and she kindly
kept me company until my cab should come. Loretta arrived and told
us she had driven Casey and Vaughn to and from DC, and Casey - knowing
the DC street grid better than Loretta - drove her car in DC and took
Vaughn and Loretta by the Vietnam memorial.
When I saw Vaughn a few minutes later, I said, "Heard you got
to see the Vietnam memorial." "Yes," he replied, "and
it's worth seeing. And now I can look my buddies in the face and say,
"I've been there." He was off to catch the airport shuttle.
Casey walked by. I called his name and said, "Safe journey home."
He walked over, held out his hand, and I took it. Then he bent and
kissed my hand! How very courtly! I know it was because at the Folger
I had told him how wonderful the afternoon was, but I was so surprised.
I felt for all the world like a child who has received a lovely and
unexpected gift. I couldn't help but smile and say thank-you. I remembered
Helene, introduced her, and he kissed her hand too.
Saw Loretta again. She kindly offered to drive me home, but the taxi
arrived momentarily. Loretta and I hugged, Helene and I waved goodbye,
and I went home. A wonderful two days that will always stand out in
my memory. |
