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Playwrights' Retreat - Columbus, Ohio - July 2004
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Ludmilla Bollow
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Ludmilla Bollow writes:
The retreat was an exceptional experience in so many ways. If there is any possibility of having it again-- make sure to get there.
The computer room was daily buzzing with creative thoughts-- The readings of our plays, some new, some old, many created on the premises-- were so
varied, and so evident that there is a wealth of talent among us.
We were sometimes our own actors-- and it all worked, with a flowing ease. The guest theatre people were each exceptional and worth hearing.
We ate engroup at Italian, Chinese, Korean in the evening. Saw shows at Shadowbox and Toco's, (producers who met with us also invited us to the shows
gratis, plus encouraged us to send them our plays.) We toured the archives tower where are works are housed.
And then there were the late night gabfests at the picnic table between our two dorms. I got to meet so many I had only known by their words-- such a lovely and sharing and helpful group. I gathered much to take away and treasure.
And the special last night-- the corn roast at Alan's charming home. He was always our leading man, who went out of his way-- for
transportation, computer help, and supplying us with coat hangers!
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Paddy Gillard-Bentley - showing great legs!
" It was a perfect week! The women were wonderful! No conflicts. No nothing but creativity, fun, laughs, sharing, helping.... ...and Alan is an amazing man, who couldn't have done more for us, and always, with such grace.
To everyone...it was a pleasure and an honour to meet you, embrace you, experience your muse...everything....WONDERFUL!"
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Right: Kathy Burkman
Below: Paddy Gillard-Bentley and Ludmilla Bollow  |
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Sun Goddesses! Geralyn, Kathy, Donna, Judith 
Kathy Coudle King writes:
I was only there for the weekend, but what a wonder-full weekend it was. I have been on the listserv since '97, and I've long known that there are extraoridnary women involved in ICWP. On-line they are some of the kindest, most supportive people I have met in my professional career. Well, meeting some of them face to face was no disappointment.
The energy in this group has both a calming impact, as well as an energizing one.
I was able to hammer out the first draft of my 60ish page play, "St. Bette's". The feedback I received on a scene from it was enough to give me the pat on the shoulder I needed: I am on the right track with this story. |
I adored my roommate: Mrilanili Kamath -- now, there's a woman who is on her way to share her stories with a large audience. Wow!
Visiting with Shirley Barrie and her husband in a campus pub, talking hockey and Canadian politics (I'm American)-- what fun!
Every single woman I met at the retreat made a distinct impression on me,
and I felt so fotunate to visit with them if only for a few brief days. And Alan -- what a man, what a man, what a wonderful man! He made it possible for all of us to get together, to do our thing, to feed our muses with theatre companies where women are making it happen.
I hope to return next year and meet more of the incredible ICWP listers.
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left -Vicki Cheatwood, right- Linda Eisenstein
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Geralyn Horton (in background)
Faye Sholiton |
View from the Theatre |
Poetic comment by Vicki Cheatwood
Home again after
Home away
A landscape marked not by beauty
But by the beautiful souls of the beautifully soulful
Home again fired with imagination
Fevered frustrations soothed by the sisters
who knew the me who'd been waylaid
and drew her out into the dance
because they recognized the spirit
reflected in themselves
and knew that all that I am
was there too
Re-birth and birth and re-birth
Realization anew of the common language -
pride, pain, mirth, longing, exhilaration -
as expressed in a glance, a dance, a movement of the eyes
Truth
Communion
Home again
[With gratitude to all, but especially dedicated to the women of "Dracula
Tower" and to Alan, who led us to the water where we deeply drank]
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