Medea, Medea, I just met a girl named Medea...

...And suddenly that name will never be the same...

My name is Helena, a townswoman with 6 children at home and a husband too ill to work.  Because of this, I am over-worked, worn-out, tired, and hopeless.

My one relief is my visits with Jason, Medea's husband.  Indeed, some of my children might be of his lineage, but keep that between us.

I am constantly in fear of Medea's rage since I am a slave of the bed with her husband and so to perserve my life from her homicidal thoughts I seek to appease at all times.

Come see me and my fellow townswomen this weekend and next in Ashland Contemporary Theatre's 7 Shorts of Christopher Durang.  The show runs March 7th - March 9th at Ashland Community Center and the following weekend, March 14th-March16th at Grizzly Peak Winery, in Ashland.  Show starts at 8 pm, with two intermissions.  Doors open at 7:30.

The show is directed by Evalyn Hansen.  Medea stars Jeannine Grizzard as Medea, David DeMoss as Jason the argonaut, Richard Royce as the Deux Es Machina, and Krystal Brewer, Mabree Owens, and myself as the Chorus.

https://www.facebook.com/events/1381952225412994/?ref_dashboard_filter=calendar

Divert Your "Madness"

I am in my early-forties and I have never ever been in a sexually united relationship, hence the feeling of hysteria, and the now nickname, "Hysteria".  My real name is Helen Burns and I live in Upper East Side New York.

My next door neighbor is Cindy Lewis, a woman attempting a life of stand-up comedy.  She, like me, feels downcast and depressed.  The apartment building is full of the down and out, rejects of society.  About our apartment building, it has often been said, "These apartments speak for themselves."

What I really need is, a really good orgasm, something Cindy, at least, has had.  However, I am too ashamed to ask for this need out of an built-in from years of Catholic upbringing sexual prudishness.

Everything in my life, due to this lack, causes fits of madness or, as mentioned before, hysteria.

Come see how my life unfolds starting next Friday, March 7th at 8 pm at the Ashland Community Center.

Diversions is part of Ashland Contemporary Theatre's 7 Shorts by Christopher Durang.  The shows are directed by Evalyn Hansen.  Other performers in Diversions are Krystal Brewer and Richard Royce.

'Stand up' & Be Someone!

Hi, my name is Cindy Lewis.  I am 37 years old and unmarried, well, divorced.

I have an overbearing, physically and mentally abusive, not to mention, manipulative Jewish mother (to put it mildly) who is embarrassed that I have not been successful as my debut as Jewish American Princess.  She misses opportunity to let me know this.

I have tried multiple careers and multiple love affairs, so now, at the last result, I am trying my hand at stand-up comedy.  My friends think I m funny, well, at least they laugh at me...

I live in New York with my grey cat, Fluffy, who isn't fluffy at all.  I named him that because I thought it was ironic.  He's a very old kitty but he's all I have and the only living thing who loves me unconditionally.

Maybe, you can love me that way.  Maybe, I will find true love when we meet next Friday, March 7th-Sunday, March 16th at the Ashland Community Center and Grizzly Peak Winery in Ashland, Oregon, where I will be attempting my first efforts as stand-up comedienne.

Hey, its worth a shot.

Show opens March 7th at 8 pm.  The first weekend shows playing at Ashland Community Center.  The second weekend will be shown at Grizzly Peak Winery.  The show is directed by Evalyn Hansen.

Hande & Foote!

My name is Miss Hande.  I have been hired by Miss Nina as a personal maid-servant.  I am a young 22 year old without too much knowledge of the world.


I am nubile and very fertile, which has resulted in two previous self-imposed abortions.  I suspect I am pregnant again this time by Foote, the manservant of Miss Nina.


Men are naturally drawn to my gregarious nature and infectious flirtatious charm.


To see how my life unfolds, come see Ashland Contemporary Theatre's spring production of Durang Shorts, several plays by the famous playwright, Christopher Durang.  This character is from the short play, Nina in the Morning, starring Judith Rosen.  Other characters are played by David De Moss and Archie Koenig.  The show is directed by Evalyn Hansen.

Youth IS Wasted on the Young!

Love's Discovery...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0xzsY2vkEMM

Its so interesting how memories can be brought back by the simplest of associates; the way the air feels on an early Spring afternoon, the sunlight beaming like stars off a ripply lake brings up emotions from times past both good and bad.

Today, with the warm spring sun and soft breeze, I was reminded of high school days, spring days where we waited anxiously for summer, donned prom dresses, not wedding gowns, pinned on corsages, rode in limos, ate at fancy restaurants where the other guests fawned all over us as we reminded them of nostalgic times gone by (as I do now...).  All this floated through my thoughts as I busied myself through the day, far away I was with the memory of a sort of high school sweetheart once love.  John.  Only I didn't know I loved him.

He was my best friend from 10th grade--12th grade. When we met as awkward new to the dating scene 15 year olds, he was new in the school, a small school where everyone had grown up together,  and quickly developed a crush on me.  We were kindred spirits and spent every night talking; after homework had been finished (sometimes during) about everything from high school gossip to making fun of, or rather analyzing the Power Rangers.  (Yes, I watched that show.  Religiously).

In a sense, we were falling in love and didn't know it, well, he thought he did and I didn't really want to see it.

Looking back over my 35 years of life, my one and only regret is that I spent too much time looking inward, dwelling on and ruminating on stuff I can't even remember now, and not truly appreciating what I had right before me, the friends more than the experiences.

Granted in childhood,  I was in a fragile place with an unstable home life, which made going into myself a survival instinct and truly I cannot begrudge my past self of this, since I spent so much of that life berating and hating myself, thus don't wish to dump anymore unneeded garbage on her.   Nor do I want to sit here and dwell on what could have been...

I only want to express the importance of just being, living in the moment.  Getting out of our heads, as a good director of mine once advised, and to truly cherish the life and love given to us in the present.  And to live a life focused on pursuing our dreams and not settling for what another's opinion of my life should dictate.

I believe now, whole-heartedly, in living this life, being fully connected, centered with self, the universe, my art, and those close to me that are on the same path at present.  To learn from, teach, and be loved and love in return.

I have said before that it is best to say "I love you" more times than never because you never know when that loved one will be gone.  But now to add to that, I think that my life's focus now even more than loving others (I think I've got that down) but now in taking the time to love myself, do what I want, follow my heart, indulge myself without feeling guilty....

It is this I leave the readers with, and myself: Be fully alive, fully present.  Seek to enjoy life for all its gifts, good and bad, whatever the course it takes...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mwnoNVOj1Fs

For in the past, this cost me much, not in the least a lost love...

Yes.  John, I get it now.  What you were trying to tell me for so many years?  So there it is.  You are one of my biggest regrets.

And yes, at least I admit too late maybe but here it is:

I love you.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HUgwM1Ky228

Happy Valentine's Day to my Sweetheart!

Here it is, our very first Valentine's Day together!  Many more to come, as I plan on never letting you go, ever, ever, ever! I've been waiting 35 years for someone to treat me the way I deserve, not as subservient but with respect and devotion of soul and heart, as an equal.  I have been waiting since I started dating at the tender age of 15 to find a lover that is also a friend.  A friend that loves me for me, gets me like no one else has, and believes in me and my dreams!  For this reason, I'm not letting go...as long as you want me around, which I hope is forever!  Aw, mush!

With you, I have the kind of love that brings peace and true acceptance.  Last night, in bed, falling asleep in your arms, I decided to stop questioning how and why but merely just accept completely our love for what it is.  I have never known real happiness and satisfaction in love until you came along...I had no idea in past relationships, where I was "just settling for less than greatness" that there was a "Michael Meyer" out there waiting for me, as you never imagined a person like "Lia Dugal".

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=05qcA4KPI0k

Even though, we may not see eye to eye on all issues, or our beliefs may differ slightly, you are helping me to remember the true purpose of life is love, not just others, but, more importantly, myself.   In loving myself first, I have found I can truly be more of an asset to you and your own understanding of self.  As scary as it is at times, it is so refreshing to be with someone with whom I can be completely open and honest.  Thank you!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ydfH7iuLR0I

Once again, thank you for the day I walked into the Randall Theatre, the Wild Goose, the radio station was the day you walked into my heart and helped me truly to 'begin again'.  To find healing and truly find myself and continue all in that I was meant to be.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SOw4EfQK72o

As I walk my life with you now, my understanding of the spiritual and the divine expands and yet returns to what it was before the "mental corruption".  This morning I was refreshed reading a new spiritual text that expanded on an old truth, a refreshing look at the story of Esther, a Jewish princess.
She was described as a "little spring which became a river" and that brought "light and sun and water in abundance".  Through my time with you, you are helping me to become that river bringing light, love, and blessings to the world.  Thank you!

It is true, then, love changes everything. For us both!

Michael & I with our beloved friend & castmember, David Gabriel

I love you forever, I'll like you for always, as long as I'm living, your Duchess I'll be!   I sincerely hope you know that you can turn to me and trust me with every part of yourself, allow me to hold you when life is hard and you want to cry.  Please let me be the woman whose arms you fall into...forever!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=33bqRoMUBWE&feature=youtu.be

The Other Side...of Acting!

Acting, for me, is the best form of therapy.  At times, the most painful yet in the end the most healing to free myself from the past.

In every character, I can find an element of my true self, albeit comedic or tragic, but every now and again, there is a character given to me by more than the director or the writer but, indeed, by the hands of the divine that is in her essence so much of me that she and I become one.  In that way, I lose myself as I bring her to life--her worries, struggles, pains and, yes, hopes and dreams become fused with mine. It was this way with Edna Miles and it is this way with Elizabeth, a character from the short play, The Other Side, written by Bob Valine, which is part of this weekend's readings at Paschal Winery.

I always am humbled when, if ever, I have the chance to meet the writers and always hope that in bringing to life their beloved creations, their characters, their babies, I can do their work justice.  Even though I love all of the work given to me this weekend, it is Valine's Elizabeth that I am most grateful for and that poses the biggest challenge.  It is for this reason some days have passed before writing this.

In this play, Elizabeth has lost her husband, David, in a tragic accident and is trying, failingly to put it behind her.  Similarily, I lost my own beloved first love due to divorce, a death in its own way, even though the right thing to do.

Elizabeth suspects foul play in that David was unfaithful with a "bikini" and I, too, know that feeling in that my ex's "other woman" was, in a sense, his illness.  Like Elizabeth, I try to hold in and deal the best I can with the conflicting emotions of love and hatred for the man I swore to love for all time yet can never be with again; my first love at first sight soul-mate.

Yet there are moments when I wish I could have with him, one last chance, to tell my Billiam that I love him still and for always and that a part of me misses him and will never ever forget...

I am truly thankful to Bob for writing this script and birthing Elizabeth, to Michael for giving me to her to portray, and even my Theatre-Mama, Becky, for sharing this stage with me.

To find out what happens, see you this Saturday, February 15th and Sunday, February 16th at Paschal Winery for the Paschal Readings.  Doors open at 7 pm.

https://www.facebook.com/events/703614122993149/?ref_dashboard_filter=upcoming

http://www.paschalwinery.com/

Bob Valine is a local Southern Oregon playwright.