I went to see Mildred's Umbrella production of "A Long History of Neglect" by Noah Haidle last night. It was pay as you go night (I bought a beer for $3 and contributed $5). I met some friends and sat down to watch the play. It was a brilliant production (even though the Houston chronicle for the most part panned the script as more suitable from a graduate student than a seasoned playwright). The cast worked hard and I rose from my chair at the end, dizzy with joy at the beauty these actors created. The standing ovation lasted at least ten minutes. My old mentor, Dr. John Harvey was there and it was great to shake his hand. I told him how impressed I was with Mildred's Umbrella (I was a shy little poetry student in Harvey's Saturday morning workshop when he came up with the idea to form the troupe)
I can't wait to see his next original piece which is slated for production in February, I'm sure the lines for the ticket booth will be ridiculously long. Reserve your tickets now. Trust me this play is going to be big. Harvey (as we students called him) got his Phd at UH in poetry and knows a thing or two about great writers (I was introduced to Anthony Hecht in that workshop and for that I am eternally grateful). Another smart surprise was seeing my old friend, Jennifer Decker in the show. She was splendid in her role as Andy's mother. She had some of the funniest lines in the piece. As she still looks as great as ever.
Kudos to all the gang there. After the show, we mingled outside the theater with the actors as they puffed on Camel lights and sipped from beer cans (the Champagne of Beers if you have to know). That mingling was strange if only for the reason that one's mind still sees the "actors" as though they are still playing their roles. One thinks, "Oh my God, I'm talking to the bully who just sodomized the protagonist with a pencil" (a real scene from the play).
PLEASE support local theater here in Houston. Go see anything by Mildred's Umbrella.
I went to the Ladytron concert this past Sunday night at Club Meridian. I have a feeling it is going to be one of the top rated concerts in Houston this year. Why? There were nearly 900 people there and the Ladytron's performance was solid. Who knew an electro-pop synth band could make 900 people jump up and down? Ladytron's website Here is a pic of my friend the "Amplified Bard" with lead singer Helen. We were in VIP when we happened to bump into her. After a couple of drinks we asked for the obligatory picture. Of course my camera battery died when it came to my turn.
