Tonight I'm living dangerously, acting in a readers' version of "Spinning into Butter," directed by Kali Meister.  It's a true story, based an a racial incident that took place at Middlebury College.  The main character, played brilliantly by Kali, is an administrator who airs her racist views to her friend, and tries to grapple with them.  It's a dangerous play in that the redeeming notes are more subtle than the language the main character (Sarah) uses when she's honest.  The role of Sarah is very juicy, though--enacted by Sarah Jessica Parker in the film adaptation--and Kali does a great job.  The role is really a vehicle for her talent.

I play an administrator who tries to sum up life in memos.   The only other part I've ever acted was that of Sunny Jacobs, in "The Exonerated"--and that was a heroic role.   I felt redeemed by that part, by being inside the sensibility of a character who was braver and more forgiving than myself.  The role I'll undertake tonight, Dean Kenney, is one-dimensional.  This dean makes me very uncomfortable.  I don't like being inside her flat-TV brain!  She's comical though in her rigidity.

She has helped me to understand some of the martinets I deal with at the university.  The other day, I told an administrator that I wanted to set up a poetry reading for undergraduate award-winners of our departmental poetry contests.  "We'll have to run that by the head of our department," he said.   (Why?  I've been running readings for years without running them by the head. There's no money involved.)  But I understood the mind that insists that everything be double-checked by the head, or the dean, or the committee.   I understood because tonight that voice is mine in our brave little play.

I agreed to do the play because of my friendship with Kali, whose direction is brilliant, unerring.  I believe some of the other actors feel the same way.  Being in a well-directed play strengthens the friendships of the actors--and our cast includes one of my undergraduate poetry students, one of the grad students, a couple of instructors.  It is a relief to put away the hierarchical labels and to function instead as an ensemble, to let talent be the factor that makes people rise to the top.  Steve Sparks, one of our instructors, is brilliant as my co-administrator in the play.  He makes me laugh at every rehearsal. 

Art informs life.   I just hope no one confuses me with the caricature I play, once the show is over! 

We are doing the show as a benefit for the Southern Poverty Law Center, the beloved and truly heroic voice of equality and justice started by Morris Dees, based in Montgomery, Alabama (where I was born).

In an upbeat time when Obama has just become President-elect, we shouldn't forget how much work still needs to be done on minds and hearts--and that's the true realm of theatre.

The show is at 7 p.m. in St. John's Catholic Center, tonight, Friday November 7th.  A donation is requested for Southern Poverty Law, but not required by any means.   There will be a panel discussion after the play, to help sort out some of the frightening issues the play addresses.