OT: Ann Richards Play

Hi! We actually met Ann Richards once. My husband and I were standing in line at the cafeteria in one of the malls in Austin. The two young women in front of us turned around and asked if we minded if their mother joined them in their place in line (cutting in front of us). We assured them that it was all right, then who should walk up, but Ann Richards. She thanked us for letting her 'cut in' and was so nice. I loved her as Governor. She was a great woman. Michelle G.

So, while I could write something on-topic, I just had to share a little note about this play - as it was so fabulous, and, well, it's a political year here...

We saw a show at Ken Ctr last night - "Ann" - about Ann Richards, the governor of Texas. One-woman show, starring Holland Taylor (who plays the mom on Two & a-half men. It was so good, we actually were happy to stand for the ovation. Done as a commencement speech to some university - first part about her growing up, Texas & entering politics. Then about becoming governor, time in that office, and the post-governor time. Extremely witty, full of political insight, and amazing truths about women's roles, roles in the south, her feelings about equality, taking care of people, etc. There is a great set of lines when she explains about going to school in San Diego when she was 11 and seeing all these children of different colors, origins, etc and it was then that she learned we were all the same. Talked about never impressing her mother - the mother being able to just do anything.

Anyhow - the show goes to Broadway from here, and it's a really inspiring & at the same time funny show. Lot of laughter at some greatly witty lines. Though, a lot were political type jokes, and some just sort of good ole' boy jokes - the political stuff might be more appreciated here in DC than in some other places. Nonetheless - if any of you get the opportunity - thought I'd share the thoughts. I honestly had only a glimmer of an idea about this woman, and there was some truly inspirational information from this.

It looked like Holland Taylor, who wrote the play, may have actually started the research when she went back to school for a Masters a few years ago. Our thoughts was that it came from her work for her thesis. We heard from the staff that she's a really nice "regular" person, had been entertaining the ushers backstage, etc. Most uncanny - the make-up - she looks almost like Ann Richards' twin (there is some film of the real Ann Richards, and at some point a portrait of Ann). The story itself is quite inspiring.

Well, longer than I thought - but I'm hardly ever so surprised and excited by some theater thing. And the whole text of this show really got to us.

Ellice

Thanks for sharing. That's a good tidbit. The only governor story we have, when DH & I were first dating, we went out to a kind of bar/dance club in the nice Hilton near where we'd eaten dinner - weren't ready to go home. Anyhow, we're sitting at the bar, and see some light-skinned African-American guy with a distinctive head of white hair - in khaki's & a blazer basically putting the moves on a series of women at the bar. Guy is in his 60s, women - likely in their late 30-40s. We get up to go dance, and see the guy again, cruising. Eventually DH looks at me and says "could it be?" Nah. But, after a while, we go back to the bar, and finally overhear some of the pick-up chat (after watching some wild disco moves - but this was the 90s) - and we both crack up. Look at the bartender - and we essentially just nod & say is that who we think? And the bartender says, yup. So, the joke became, uh huh - the governor cruises the "Tropix" - I think this governor had only been out of office for about 2 months at the time. But, hey - we did dance next to him, and I did get to turn down an offer of partner when DH wanted a break. It was just sort of a bizarre thing. We still crack up everytime we go past that hotel, thinking of the disco governor. He was a good governor - though not Ann Richards.

Ellice