I went to the Spoken Word event at the Church last night, and it was great. I had never heard of David Strathairn before, but I am a fan now and will be looking out for him. He read a story by the actor Alan Arkin, who was originally supposed to be there but got a movie deal, and some great poetry by a friend of his.....whose name I forget. Debra Winger also read some poetry by a friend of hers who happens to be the current national poet laureate.......whose name I forget, too. I should probably look it up. Arlo recited his own masterpiece, "Mooses Come Walking", and the poem "Reincarnation", by Wallace McRae (I just looked that one up), and also read some really great stuff....by someone whose name I forget. Can someone help me out here? All I know is that friends of mine were sitting up close--I was sitting upstairs--and they could see the cover of the book, and it had a picture of the author, who was a guy with long silver hair and a beard, and seeing that book being read by another guy with long silver hair and a beard, well, it was a real Norman Rockwell moment for them.

OK, I just looked it up. Our national poet laureate is Ted Kooser. The poem that Debra read that sticks in my mind was about his returning home from being treated for cancer to be greeted by a flock of turkey vultures sitting on all the fenceposts. What a welcome! He basically told them they were there too early....

The story of Alan Arkin's that David read had to do with the Amazing Randy, you know, the magician guy, who Alan was really mad at for the way he goes around debunking anything that has to do with magic, spiritualism, religion, etc. In this story, the Amazing Randy ends up sitting next to Jesus (THE Jesus) on an airplane. Let's just say Jesus gets to him.

Sounds like fun, Judy! I had planned on going until my daughter (the one who usually accompanies me to the Church shows) ended up with a double ear infection! OUCH!! I had the feeling that it was going to be another great show at the Guthrie Center! Thanks for letting us know!!

Arlo also mentioned--somehow it was appropriate in the context of all the things Debra, David, and he were reading--that he had just read an article somewhere that said that scientists have discovered that parrots understand the concept of "zero", and that prairie dogs have a "word" for people.

It was an interesting night.

i'm not at all surprised to hear that. i probably carry on conversations with more animals than people. HA! (long story short)

i would love to have been there...and i'm sure i don't know the half of it.

It's true!!! My parrot certainly knows when he's got nuthin' to eat!! And he always enjoys joining me when i'm doin' absolutely nuthin'!!!


i'd like to see the article...

Thanks so much for sharing about the benefit! It sounds like it was a lot of fun. I really wish I could have attended it. Since you mentioned not being familiar with David Strathairn and his work, I suggest you check out my fansite I run on him at www.david-strathairn.com He's done a LOT of wonderful stage and film work--too many to list! And, by the way, to anyone who attended this event, I have started an information page on the benefit here: www.david-strathairn.com/projects/guthrie-center.html If anyone has anything to add, please do not hesitate to let me know.

-Andrea (andiweaves@hotmail.com)
David Strathairn Online
www.david-strathairn.com[/url]

Thanks Judy. Now maybe people will believe me when I tell them a prairie dog called me an "asshole" once!

Andrea--thanks for the link to David's website! I'm gonna look it up. Do you happen to know the name of his poet friend? I didn't catch it, but I loved his stuff. Supposedly his book is out of print, but one could always search for it. David introduced the first poem he read by saying, "You know that ants don't eat fingers", or something like that. I'll let you all imagine the way the poem ended, but that introduction reminded me of Arlo's own "Reuben Clamzo"--"You know that Indians didn't eat clams?"

Hi, Judy.

I'm sorry to say I don't know whom his poet friend is. I will, however, venture a guess. Was his name Charles Smith? I know for a recent film David did (Blue Car), he helped the director find a poem to read for one of the scenes. The poet's name was Charles Smith, who seems to be an acquaintance of David's. I wonder if that was him? Thanks for that bit about what he read! Do you happen to know the titles of the stories/poems he read at the event? I like the one by Alan Arkin. It sounds pretty hilarious.

-Andrea
David Strathairn Online
www.david-strathairn.com

No, I don't remember the names of the poems he read.

You can read a review and see some pictures from this event here:

http://www.berkshireeagle.com/search/ci_2854948

oh bless you my child.

thank you, mother.

Thanks for sharing that. Sounds like a neat event!