December 8, 2007

• Friends and Neighbors - Marilyn and Maria in "Mixing It Up"

   

       My friend, Marilyn Campbell, is an actress and playwright.  She cofounded the Writer's Theater in Glencoe when she moved to Chicago and has seen it become a deeply respected part of Chicago's cultural life. 

  We met when she and I lived across the street from each other and, like almost everyone else in the hood, she stopped to admire my Japanese Chin.  I've watched her grow and expand her horizons, she's done the same for me.  We've agonized together over our children and our lives as creative women.  The children have turned out just fine and we both have held on to and expanded our creative lives, but there were those days when things seemed to be in doubt. 

  Her true gift, and an unusual one, is in transforming works of literature into works for the stage.  She did it with the poetry of Ann Sexton, the writings of the Beats and others. (Here's a description of some of her projects and here's a list of her credits.)  Her 2003 adaptation of Dostoyevsky's Crime and Punishment, with Curt Columbus, won a Jeff award and has received very good reviews, not only in regional performances, but also out in the big time, inWashington, D.C., and New York.

  I've not gotten to see much of her work.  When we first met, I was way too agorophobic to go to the theater. Later the tiny theater was sold out to season ticket holders and there was no place for me.  

  But I did manage to make it to Estrogen Fest, which she produced, two years ago, and saw this marvelous little duet she wrote and performed with her daughter, Maria.  I love it.

   

  and that's it for today from Pearlbamboo,

  who has trouble walking at the moment from what I sincerely hope is arthritis in one hip and is as stiff as all get-out after sitting at the computer for a little while.

  • 6:53 am
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