The Sheila Variations

I feel a great affinity for Revoloutionary War-era America. I'm not silly enough to say that I wish I was living then, though. Although if I had a TARDIS to retire to periodically I wouldn't mind so much.

Fast typing fingers of fury. A revolution.

In a post on Gertrude Bell-a fascinating women-colleage of TE Lawrence and considered a founder of modern Iraq-I made the observation that romanticism is nostalgia for something you've never experienced http://virtuouscircle.typepad.com/virtuouscircle/2004/07/desert_quennger.html

seems like you share my attitude-dont have much time-happy new year

I did a one-woman show about Gertrude Bell.

... a nostalgia for a life she had never lived.

That's me, in a nutshell. And that's why I blog about what I blog about.

tell me more-I had a major argument with Janet Wallach regarding the virtues of Michael Moore-I told her I would happy to be educated on the middle east if she would point me in the right direction-I read the book and wrote the review on the weblog- but never showed it to her-however since Wallach is a local many area book clubs use the Desert Queen and many of them enjoyed my review-
tell me about the play-who wrote it where was it performed-will you do it again?

Thanks

A playwright named Kit Baker wrote the play - and I can't remember the name of it. it was a good name, actually. It was done in workshop (meaning: not full production) at a random theatre in the DUMBO neighborhood of NYC - the theatre company sadly has now closed - it was a truly experimental place - really OUT there, and they had deep deep pockets. It was really cool. I played Gertrude Bell - and behind me there were these massive screens showing rolling Sahara dunes - or random shots from Lawrence of Arabia - it was very multi-media. Lots of dream-scapes being projected behind me as I spoke. I would have loved to see what it looked like - but I couldn't, obviously, because I was up there and my back was to the screen. I would love to do it again, but I don't know if that will happen. Baker has moved to England, I believe.

It was great great fun. I researched the shit out of the thing. I did WAY more work than was necessary - did timelines for her, read everything i could get my hands on, covered notebook pages with post-it notes of quotes on them, etc.

But it was fun. I also learned a little bit of Arabic - which was really cool. I practiced talking Arabic with the guy at my deli. He would laugh at me, but he loved it - he loved correcting my pronunciation, and he loved trying to figure out WHAT THE FUCK I was saying. hahaha

I had him read my lines into a tape recorder so that I could then play it back on my own time, and imitate his pronunciation. Please picture this: we're in a fluorescent-lit deli, with sandwiches being made, and people buying cigarettes and lottery tickets, and we're standing over in a corner - and he is reading my Arabic lines from the play outloud - and I am holding a small tape recorder up to his mouth. It was beautiful.

Actually, it must have been hilarious if there were any other arabic speakers who could hear you, with a guy saying a woman's dialogue in arabic! heh! I of course have no idea what the lines were, but several great python-esque scenes are running through my mind...

Bingley - totally. That was part of the humor of it. I mean, most of the lines were political in nature, or they were quotes from her letters home where she described her deeply emotional response to the desert - So there weren't really any lovey-dovey lines - but still - it was very fnny. hahahaha

He was a really good sport about it. At one point, he wasn't sure about the Arabic pronunciation so he called his father over. His father, staring at the lines on the page, squinting down thru his bifocals, thinking about it, translating it in his head - was another gorgeous moment.

They got so involved in the whole thing - in their own small way. They seemed excited to share their language with me.

NOBODY EXPECTS THE MUJAHIDEEN!

Our chief weapon is surprise...surprise and fear...fear and surprise.... Our two weapons are fear and surprise...and ruthless efficiency.... Our *three* weapons are fear, surprise, and ruthless efficiency...and an almost fanatical devotion to the Pope.... Our *four*...no... *Amongst* our weapons.... Amongst our weaponry...are such elements as fear, surprise....

I don't live near that deli anymore - but for months after that - until I moved away - he would hail me with a greeting in Arabic. And all I could do was say back my memorized lines to him like a little robot. hahahaha

He said, "Hello there, Sheila!"

I replied, "I have always adored the desert sands."

And so it went ...

Cullen--You have me laughing.

Now old woman. You are accused of heresy on three counts--heresy by thought, heresy by word, heresy by deed, and heresy by action--*four* counts. Do you confess?

I don't understand what I'm accused of.

Ha! Then we'll make you understand! Biggles! Fetch... THE CUSHIONS!

Sheila, pointing at the tuna salad behind the deli counter
"Might I fondle your bum?"

"...a nostalgia for a life [s]he had never lived."

Like the suburban high schooler I saw last summer in full Punk regalia, including a brand-new spotless CBGB tee-shirt.