Another note from Barbara on the road, and this one is priceless:
Wow. Ninth show tonight in Winnipeg and 9th standing ovation. The evening started off with some good laughs even before the show started, when an audience member came right up onto the stage at preshow while Linda and I were sitting on the bed and handed me a note that said "Dougie Werner" and included his phone number and where he lives! I cracked up.
[Note: Dougie Werner was Barbara's middle school crush, who she mentions in the show many times. Among her experiences with him was offering a valentine that he gave back to her because he didn't want it---and she kept it all these years!]
Then, during Memory Boxes, I asked for a volunteer to come up and pick something out of my box. A woman volunteers, and it turns out she is my elementary school classmate Teresa! Now, if you've seen the show, you know that she was the one that Dougie picked over me! I introduced her as such and everyone cheered. And there is no question as to why he picked her over me...she is still so very beautiful. I had to stop the show to hug her. It was so fun to see what she would pick out of the memory box. She didn't pick the shoes, a story she is also featured in. Instead, she saw my old gym bag and said "Oh my gosh, this is so familiar." Inside were my two Myrtles, my dollies, whom she knew very well.
My friend Krista was also there, and she is also featured in my diary as the friend who had a bra AND a purse. She apprears in two of my memory box stories as well. She purposely sat in the middle of the row so I would not drag her up on stage like I did when we were in Puerto Vallarta and there was some stage time involving tequila shooters. Hmm, I'd forgotten about that.
It has truly been amazing how word of mouth has spread about the Winnipeggers mentioned in the show. After the show I get comments like "Dougie Werner...really???" Or "Did you really date Cal? He's my manager." It is a city of 700,000 but it seems like there is only one degree of separation.
For audiences in Denver it may seem like I'm talking about fictional people. But here, in Winnipeg, where I started writing the show (my diary) at age ten, those people are in the audience, laughing down memory lane with me. And it's a trip.
Wow. Ninth show tonight in Winnipeg and 9th standing ovation. The evening started off with some good laughs even before the show started, when an audience member came right up onto the stage at preshow while Linda and I were sitting on the bed and handed me a note that said "Dougie Werner" and included his phone number and where he lives! I cracked up.
[Note: Dougie Werner was Barbara's middle school crush, who she mentions in the show many times. Among her experiences with him was offering a valentine that he gave back to her because he didn't want it---and she kept it all these years!]
Then, during Memory Boxes, I asked for a volunteer to come up and pick something out of my box. A woman volunteers, and it turns out she is my elementary school classmate Teresa! Now, if you've seen the show, you know that she was the one that Dougie picked over me! I introduced her as such and everyone cheered. And there is no question as to why he picked her over me...she is still so very beautiful. I had to stop the show to hug her. It was so fun to see what she would pick out of the memory box. She didn't pick the shoes, a story she is also featured in. Instead, she saw my old gym bag and said "Oh my gosh, this is so familiar." Inside were my two Myrtles, my dollies, whom she knew very well.
My friend Krista was also there, and she is also featured in my diary as the friend who had a bra AND a purse. She apprears in two of my memory box stories as well. She purposely sat in the middle of the row so I would not drag her up on stage like I did when we were in Puerto Vallarta and there was some stage time involving tequila shooters. Hmm, I'd forgotten about that.
It has truly been amazing how word of mouth has spread about the Winnipeggers mentioned in the show. After the show I get comments like "Dougie Werner...really???" Or "Did you really date Cal? He's my manager." It is a city of 700,000 but it seems like there is only one degree of separation.
For audiences in Denver it may seem like I'm talking about fictional people. But here, in Winnipeg, where I started writing the show (my diary) at age ten, those people are in the audience, laughing down memory lane with me. And it's a trip.
4 comments:
Barbara,
I am so glad to hear about the success of the show in Winnipeg. It was a great pleasure being involved in getting the production side of the show up and running. Congrats on a great run!
John Wigginton
TD Winnipeg run
o no. o yea. I am laughing so hard I am crying. So wish I was there, you both are amazing. Girls Only takes over the World!!!!!! (or at least North AMerica)
What a trip down memory lane last night! I went with my best friend, and we were so elated. The nostalgia was a pleasant surprise. We laughed so hard until we cried and our cheeks and stomach hurt. Thanks for reminding us about how great it is to be a girl and how we can enjoy and revel in our womanhood. We are going to tell all our friends to go see GO!
Every woman can relate to the crazy experiences in your play! Dave is my 'Dougie' and as a motivational speaker, I will sometimes tell the 'Dave Story'- when speaking in Winnipeg, my biggest fear is his wife will be in the sudience! yikes!
My sister and I loved your show, and I loved watching the other women enjoy it, too!
I do a radio show in Winnipeg on CJOB called Your Life, Unlimited- I would love to profile your success!
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