The girl in 14G
Certainly this is not news to anyone who saw Lexy Fridell’s solo show this past weekend at Chateau St. Jean Winery: Wow! That woman is talented. Hilarious at times, then poignant and touching, she is a talented actress, with a singing voice to match. I was duly impressed with her control, be it comic, operatic or melodic.
To admit the truth, I hadn’t seen Lexy on stage since she starred in the first Dunbar Melodrama … quite a while back (but who’s counting?).
Early in July, Sweetie and I trekked up the hill to watch Lexy perform in “One Singular Sensation” (courtesy of dear Stephan Stubbins). Lexy’s short skit with song, “The Girl in 14G” was hilarious, yet with pitch perfect song and various voice permutations of different characters. We loved it.
As did the audience. The sustained round of applause for our local girl, now a professional actress, was more than just a “welcome home,” it was a grand display of thanks for a great performance.
Later, when Lexy returned to the stage for a rendition of Spamalot’s “The Song That Goes Like This,” she again proved her worth and talent.
After the show, I waited by the “stage door” to greet Lexy, and to congratulate her. Of course, she was gracious and kind, and as beautiful in person than she was on the stage. Obviously Squire and Suzy as parents have a lot to be proud of.
Of course, I had to ask Lexy, “What is Paul Ruebens really like?” Lexy worked with him in the “Pee Wee Herman Show” in New York and I’ve always admired Ruebens. Lexy quickly responded with a whole paragraph of good thought about Ruebens, all stated with such sincerity that it was easy to know she meant it. “He’s creative and ever so kind,” she noted, adding, “He still sends me a birthday card every year.”
Right seat wrong night
As for that visit to Transcendence Theatre’s first show of the summer: It was great in all ways. I especially send a shout out to kind and thoughtful house manager Daniel Waters, who found us seats when ours were otherwise occupied.
What? Oh dear, I misread my tickets and came on the wrong night. Yes, I was acting out the proverbial “day late, dollar short” scene. Sitting down in our assigned seats (right next to dear friend Pina Brocco, whom I hadn’t seen in years), I was shortly booted by the “real owner” of the seats that evening. She took a brief look at my tickets and snapped, “Your tickets were for last night,” which to my dismay was true. Red-faced and totally embarrassed, I apologized and skedaddled.
As I rushed out (not so easily accomplished with cane in hand in those crowded rows), I saw my friend Jill Dawson, volunteering that evening. Briefly explaining my predicament, she said, “Let me get my manager, he can help.”
That turned out to be Daniel and help he most certainly did. Happily and quickly, he placed Sweetie and me in front-row, center-aisle seats. I was so grateful and acknowledged that was far more than I deserved. But Daniel’s kindness was just what I’ve experienced all along with everyone I’ve met from Transcendence. Their aim is not merely to provide a great show for locals and tourists alike, but to make us feel good while we’re there. As further evidence of that, the first time I attended a Transcendence show two years back, I went to say hello to Stephan Stubbins after the show. He greeted me like an old friend, and even introduced me to his parents. What can I say, but sweet guy … as it seems all of the folks at TCC are.
John Barleycorn
Fellow Bouverie docent and Jack London scholar Susan Nuernberg sent me a reminder note about the next Jack London Book Discussion Group. The meeting is scheduled for Friday, July 18, beyond the upper parking lot in a cool and lovely live-oak grove. Last round, we sat on picnic tables, shared wine and great cookies while folks shared their interpretations of Jack’s “John Barleycorn.” Was it true? Was it an exaggeration? Was Jack as plagued by alcohol as that novel implied?
Among the guests at that book discussion were Jonah Raskin, another Jack London scholar with a vast knowledge and affection for the man. His comments added to the story immensely and his further knowledge enriched our book experience.
Another guest at that meeting was Tarnel Abbott, Joan London’s granddaughter. Her personal information about Jack and Charmian were great enhancers to the discussion.
As Joan’s granddaughter, that makes Tarnel Jack’s great-granddaughter … while I know that to be a fact, I somehow find it an odd fact. To me, Jack London feels so contemporary, just too much still “alive” to have such descendants.
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