Online Hubbub: Let Me Down Easy, Wednesday, September 24, 2008

Which character was your favorite and why?

“My first impulse is to say Elizabeth Streb because her portrayal made me laugh at its outrageous humor, but Trudy Howell made me weep which is just as important.”—Jo F.

“Trudy Howell because she seemed to be spiritually committed and convinced of her mission with these children.  She respected those dying children and treated them with dignity and carefully ushered them on a holy passage to the other side.”—Claire P.

“Ann Richards because it was so out of the character of all the other people she played and it was done well.”—Karl H.

“I thought the Stanford Dean, Phil Pizzo, was spot on in his assessment of our deteriorating health care system.”—Sara

“The woman in Rwanda who knew that grace came from her and that it was the cornerstone of forgiveness to keep herself full of grace she forgave.  Similar to the amazing grace-filled Desmond Tutu and his book on forgiveness.”—Julia M.

“Most amusing: hard to pick between Katz and Richards.    I’m still trying to recover from all the really tough stories, so I can’t pick.”—John H.P.

“The Rwandan girl who is not at Stanford. What a range of life experiences in one short life. And, what depth of grace to not hold the hate. Amazing. And to think of what small pieces of “hate” we hold day to day. She, in my mind, more transmitted a sense of grace.”—Anne O.

“Doctor at Charity Hospital in New Orleans–memorable, learned a lot from her, very much from her heart.  Some characters were too much from a heady, intellectual place for me to feel their impact.”—j.s.

“Peter Gomes was perfect.  The English professor was very touching.  I liked the other black preacher, too.”—C. Thomas

“There were three characters who seemed to serve as bridges between my relatively secure white, middle class world of privilege and an edgier more uncertain place that can be both frightening and grace filled.  Each character was familiar enough to engage me thoroughly and then to pull me out into an utterly new experience.  I speak of Cheryl Diaz Meyer, Kiersta Kurtz-Burke and Peter Gomes–particularly as he spoke about death and dying.”—Kathy K.

Who else would you suggest that Anna interview in her ongoing exploration of grace?

“Jimmy Carter, Mos Def, Paul Mooney, Mrs. John Edwards, Mrs. Elliot Spitzer, Ruth Kennedy, Maya Angelou, K. D. Lang, Tupac Shakur’s mother, Yao Ming, Roland Gibson, Jr.”—Claire P.

“Nelson Mandela.”—Karl H.

“Princess Diana.”—Sara

“More American individuals. Perhaps someone on Death Row who has gone through a spiritual transformation. Other possibilities: disabled veterans, elderly individuals.”—Carolyn G.

“Since I’m an architect - I’d suggest she search out some people there.”—John H.P.

“Rev Desmond Tutu and His Holiness the Dalai Lama.”—Anne O.

“Barack Obama; Deval Patrick; John McCain; Jon Lester (Red Sox pitcher/cancer survivor).”—j.s.
“What about a sculptor?  Or Oprah?  Or a fashion model (this on the body theme)?”—C. Thomas

“There are those who find grace in embracing the natural world–in cherishing the environment.  I think of young farmers making real the dream of sustainable agriculture, of people making conscious choices in what they purchase and what they eat.  I think of the poet Wendell Berry…”—Kathy K.

Have you experienced grace in your life?  How?

“Yes, from my child who was born with Down syndrome who died two years ago. He accepted his life with uncommon grace, saying when he faced one of his many challenges, ‘A man’s gotta do what a man’s gotta do’.”—Jo F.

“That I am alive another day.  All the moments of grace add up to that.”—Claire P.

“Yes.  My wife and I were looking for a teak platform bed.  We found one on Craig’s list and missed a beat and someone else called the owner first.  We were coming to the play and knew we could go by and look at the bed afterwards and the man kept it for us and we were able to see it, love it and put a down payment on it.  Grace.”—Karl H.

“Yes, in therapy.”—Sara

“I am an active member of a 12 step recovery program and have been for many years. I have learned to give back to my community, help people in trouble and it has transformed my life, enhanced my abilities as a poet and community activist.”—Carolyn G.

“I have; by loving with my whole spirit, mind and body the peoples of the world. I only see it in flashes but I know it is the way the world will be in harmony though the harmonic of love that grace slides on between us all.”—Julia M.

“Seeing a once-abused cat now full of life is one of the ways I experience grace.  Receiving birthday greetings from colleagues in learning is another.”—John H.P.

“My greatest experience is in the depth of compassion felt by His Holiness the Dalai Lama. The compassion he has for the people who have not only taken his country and virtually destroyed their culture, but he holds no hate or anger against the Chinese for the many many Tibetans killed, imprisoned and tortured. He also does not know how to hold the hate or the anger. True grace.”—Anne O.

“Certainly. Every day. I’m just not always wise enough and alert enough to recognize it.”—j.s.

“Grace comes to me when I’m not looking for it.  Suddenly, a sense of peace, a sense that everything is beautiful, including me.”—C. Thomas

“Indeed I have.  When my husband died eight years ago family members, friends and even strangers somehow wove a net of love and safety around me that still graces my life today.”—Kathy K.

“Grace is an unexpected smile or kind word in the midst of adversity.  Grace is silence and an open heart to truly hear what another is saying.”—Donna L.

Other comments?

“I thought this was journalism trying to become a play and not succeeding.”—Bill

“I suppose I would like Anna to explore the life of people who struggle every day with mental disabilities. They are far more eloquent than anyone would expect. I have experienced pure unvarnished wisdom from my son and others who are considered defective by society.”—Jo F.

“Too many vignettes, imitations not good enough, play did not move me.” –ed s.

“Though the play was very good in terms of energy, it needs a fair amount of editing. I particularly found this to be true when Ms. Deavere Smith was dealing with the Rwanda crisis, felt less commentary was needed. Additionally, the play is currently too long.”—Carolyn G.

“Thank whomever; God or the gods or Buddha or Mohammad for Anna Deavere Smith.  She channels the wisdom of the world much like another hero of mine Buckminster Fuller.   I am so moved by her.  This time I brought my son for him to hear so he can experience the “POWER; POWER; POWER” of Grace.  I did love the Reverend also.   Thank you again.”—Julia M.

“I thank Anna for opening our eyes and hearts to the power of the human soul.”—Anne O.

“Was curious about why A. D. S. included as many intellectual characters as she did. They seemed to be less memorable than many characters in her earlier productions in which emotion was more predominant, and more impactful.”—j.s.

“I loved the show.  ADS is an amazing actor!”—C. Thomas

“Thank you for the gift of your work.”—Kathy K.

“I do not think that ART should present “works in progress” except at “works-in-progress” prices and with a clear indication in the pre-publicity that it IS a work in progress. Had I known that, I would have waited until the playwright had sufficiently thought through and finished the work.”—S.L.S.

Online Hubbub: Let Me Down Easy, Sunday, September 21, 2008

Which character was your favorite and why?

“Henrietta Mutigwarba because even though her story was so touching and sad, she was the most willing to give forgiveness.  Her story was so devastating, I wasn’t sure how it related back to ‘grace’.  But then at the end of her monologue when she said that she was unable to give the executioners forgiveness because they didn’t ask for it, so she gave them grace…I truly felt that her story was the most touching and closest to my idea of grace.” –Rebecca A.

“The last character, the worker at the orphanage for children with AIDS.  The story of the child going to meet her mother was incredibly poignant, and I was haunted by the character’s very unadorned speech.  It was a sensational, quiet end for the play.”—Paul B.

“How could one dismiss Rev. Cone?  He brought humor and instinct to the dialogue that was intertwined in each act.”—Susan T.

“Anna herself. Her brave struggle as an artist to give form to life questions that are most important to her (as well as most of us) as a human being - a surprisingly rare ambition among artists today.”—LH

“The child from Rwanda who was studying at Stanford.  It was the most moving for me.”—Ellen B.

“I loved the young girl Ingrid and the choreographer. These two stood out to me because the images they were describing were so vivid.”—M.D.

“Dean of the Yale Medical School.”—Neil P.

“Matthieu Ricard — I think his ideas about practicing loving kindness are highly accessible and could lead people to discover more, which is great way to spread the chance of grace.”—Ann B.

Who else would you suggest that Anna interview in her ongoing exploration of grace?

“College students, Tufts University Gospel Choir teacher (David Coleman!) and perhaps children who have been diagnosed with terminal illnesses.”—Rebecca A.

“People with disabilities — I’d love to hear from someone who has made a happy life despite major challenges”—Paul B.

“A person who had overcome a difficult physical diagnosis (loss of sight, paraplegic, etc.).”—Susan T.

“Could have used a few more vivid characters as there were in Fire and Twilight, maybe less of Gomes and Cone.”—LH

“Paul Farmer and Ophelia Dahl (see www.pih.org and Mountains Beyond Mountains).”—Ellen B.

“Sidney Poitier, Maya Angelou.”—M.D.

“Pilots who fly mercy missions in Africa.”—Neil P.

“John Edwards seemed to have so much before his fall — I doubt if he’s lost it, despite reactions to his folly.  That would be an interesting interview.    I’d also like to see Justice Anthony Scalia interviewed because I’d like to know where it fits in his universe, although any justice whose rulings have such far-reaching effects would also be interesting.”—Ann B.

Have you experienced grace in your life?  How?

“I have experienced grace when I overcame 18 of my own years and a three generational history of chronic depression to truly feel what it was like to LIVE.  I am grateful for every day and for every moment that I can truly feel my own emotions.  I am not angry or jealous of others and am always curious to meet new people and find out more about them.  I feel at peace with myself and the world around me.  I love life; I have found peace and grace through introspection, patience, and understand.”—Rebecca A.

“I experience it most intensely when performing a beautiful piece of music with others, either on the piano or singing.”—Paul B.

“To give or receive forgiveness is an unbelievable experience.”—Susan T.

“Recently, awaiting prostate cancer surgery, a surprising Buddhist sense of living in the moment, enjoying every day and worrying very little - it seemed a gift without any sense of a giver.”—LH

“My sister was born with cerebral palsy and the fact that my mother still kept going, decided to raise her and give her and my other siblings the best life possible shows me grace everyday.”—M.D.

“Yes. When my wife agreed to marry me.”—Neil P.

“I try to practice giving without expecting anything — not a reaction or recognition or whatever.  It’s liberating. A harder practice is to avoid judging. It’s much easier to forgive than to not condemn in the first place! Still, when it happens, it’s liberating, too.”—Ann B.

Other comments?

“I love Anna Deavere Smith!  She is an inspiration to all of us, especially us beginner actors.”—Rebecca A.

“This is a beautiful evening.”—Paul B.

“Both my husband and I were blown away with the extent and depth of Anna’s interviews.  How interestingly they all worked together. I can’t imagine how she began editing.”—Susan T.

“I liked the show, but it didn’t feel cohesive.”—Ellen B.

“Anna Deveare Smith was simple, beautiful and so human.”—M.D.

“Lighting in first act is so intense it is hard on old eyes.”—Neil P.

“I enjoyed the expansion of what I thought of as grace — for something that one finds within to something that one can bestow or receive, perhaps (even probably) without being aware of where it’s going and how it can multiply.”—Ann B.

Peter Gomes on the Colbert Report

If you’ve already seen Let Me Down Easy you’ll know that one of the characters portrayed by Anna Deavere Smith is Peter Gomes, the Minister of Harvard’s Memorial Church.

Peter appeared on The Colbert Report on Monday evening, and gave a hilarious and outrageous interview to Stephen Colbert.  If you missed it, you’ll find it here.

Online Hubbub: Let Me Down Easy, Monday, September 15, 2008

Which character was your favorite and why?

“It’s really difficult to choose one…Ms. Smith is so gifted and each character was wonderful. The young woman who had lost all her family…who told the story of her mother being killed. The woman who had the task of caring for the children, some with AIDS, in the orphanage, Gov. Ann Richards, and the woman who loved Shubert…those were my favorites.” –Christine H.

“The last character speaking about the readiness of the child who was going to meet her mother. I was deeply touched by this because I lost my husband two months ago and he was very prepared and ready for death and his calmness has helped me in my own transition.” –Blanche M.

“The Stanford student and the monk. The student was resilient in the face of great trauma. The monk was joyous, dismissive, and open at the same time — a grand range of emotions that did not seem to contradict each other.”—Nirmal T.

“Ann Richards is hard not to love.” –Tom F.

“The physican in New Orleans - her learning about grace.” –ml

Who else would you suggest that Anna interview in her ongoing exploration of grace?

“Other artists. I loved the inclusion of Jessye Norman.” –Tom F.

“A young teacher who gracefully teaches despite seeming insurmountable challenges.” –Nirmal T.

“Teenagers.”—Christine H.

Have you experienced grace in your life? How?

“The last months of a friend lost recently to a brain tumor.” –ml

“Well, I am an inner city high school teacher…which requires tons of patience, and, yes, grace! And I have worked with dedicated people, and have taught students who became inspirations to me.”—Christine H.

“Yes. I lost my husband recently and he was only 53 and since his passing two months ago to the day (this performance felt like the exact place where I was meant to be on this 2 month anniversary) I have felt the presence of my husband constantly since his death and he guides me constantly continuing to offer me life lessons just as he did when he was here. I know he was with me today in the theater and I felt comforted. I think this is my idea of grace. The comfort of it does not just come from what people call “god.” My husband, George, offers me grace each and every day and he never leaves me so I don’t ever feel alone.” –Blanche M.

“My mother’s walk. Being schizophrenic and manic depressive hasn’t stopped her from having a sense of panache when she walks.”—Nirmal T.

“When my father died several years ago, we were in a procession from the church service to the burial and drove by a man (about my father’s own age) who was taking in his garbage cans from the curb. When he saw us, he paused and took off his baseball cap until we passed — perhaps the most touching gesture of the day, and from a complete stranger. It made me smile.” –Tom F.

Other comments?

“Anna’s work powerfully captures the enormously important figure of the witness. An enormously important figure for contemporary society with so many travesties and so many spectators and with so few able to bear witness and testify to what is happening to us as a society.”—Nirmal T.

“I have always respected Anna D. Smith and today I felt privileged to see her performance in person. She is a genius and managed to share many profound observations in a creative and moving fashion.”—Blanche M.

“I loved the show. I brought my 19-year-old daughter, Gabrielle, who is a sophomore at Simmons College. She loved it too…had never heard of Ms. Smith, but was very impressed.”—Christine H.

What Does Grace Mean To You?

As the A.R.T. staff began to discuss how the word “grace” factors into Anna’s production of Let Me Down Easy A Play In Evolution, we realized how individual concepts of grace are very different and very personal. One member of our group found himself uncomfortable with the word; others found it powerful. Some saw it spiritually, while others associated it only with the body.

How do you think about grace? Do you think of yourself as someone who experiences grace in your life? Why? How? If you work in the world of health care and healing, how do you see grace fitting in?