Dec 9, 2023·edited Dec 9, 2023Liked by Mary Poindexter McLaughlin
Lordy Mary--jus' seein' this--I'm plannin' a barn dance fer Monday an' I'm fit ta be tied (with tinsel!) but golly moses, we must be on the same wacky wavelength in tinfoil tinselsphere cuz A.M.L. is like my favorite litter-airy OBSESSION! IMO the Dark Lady wuz likely SHAKESPEARE too! Ya likely know I ain't jokin'! -- I read 'bout John Hudson back a good 15 years ago, then I heard 'im lecture an' I wuz totally won over! (I been a member of Mark Rylance's "Shacks-pur" Authorship group fer years! an' ya know likely that the Shakespeare Oxford Fellowship recognizes Amelia Bassano Lanier as a possible true Shakespeare too! Woo hoo!
Here's one'a many reviews of Mister Hudson's book--
My younger one wrote a fine paper 'bout her back in 2016 or 17... funny! Bein' a fan'o "Merchant" I always felt it sympathetic an' disagreed with them that felt the oppy-sit 'bout Shylock an' then the more I read 'bout Amelia I just dumped the Bacon in the fire (an' them others) an' felt yes, this wuz RIGHT--an' all The (Laydee) Bard's female characters are SO strong an' well-spoken! I wuz near-sure Kate the Cursed was payback fer the forced marriage after she got "with child." Lordy! There's a passle've evidence she wuz indeed the converso polyglot poetess & playwright--all rolled inta one!--An' given all the references (musical, falconry given her boyfriend Hunsdon..) wull it all makes so much sense! (I never wuz convinced the bloke that willed hiz wifey a bed an' nuttin' more had squwat all ta do with GREATNESS!)
Gotta "run" but since I'm in the midst of a snow-flurry of biziness, is there a way the zoom kin be recorded (jus' yer part) and shared after the fact? I really wanna see it!!!! Congrats & Merde (on this made-in voyage performance!) xos an' hopin' ta ketch it one way 'er 'nuther! golly!
Daisy, I can't believe (well, yes, I can) that you are a fan of AML and that you know ALL ABOUT her. My jaw hit the floor reading your comment. Wow wow wow. Yes to everything you said, and then some.
I'm sorry you weren't able to make the reading, but I hope the barn dance was a blast of joy and community -- talk about something I wish I could be there for!
There's no recording (Actor's Equity nixed that) but I'm thinking that after I make some edits -- could take me some months -- I'd like to set up a zoom reading of the whole thing, and would love it if you'd participate??
Mary! I'm so sorry I missed yer event an' shoot an' double ratz that they didn't record it--I wuz a hopin'! Sometimes "excerpts" git a pass but oh yup, that AE stuff--it's so hippo-critty-cull--they even started pullin' that fer kids shows (I mean when the kids were on stage even in non-pro / non-union things--even charity events!) tellin' us that we couldn't record 'em.. I sez by all means have folks sign a release they ain't gonna sell the thing--but the rest is baloney--not preservin' live performances is banana oil (an' we know it comes from top-down who kin profit --generally--if they sell an "off-fish-all" recordin'). I'm not so keen on "stickin' ta the unions" now-- I lost all my memberships with "covidcon" (as did my younger one...)--way 'fore the strikes an' everythin'--they wouldn't even let'cha even git extree work--nobuddy on a set without a jabber so I ain't too heepy with them unions these days lol.
Were ya puhleased with the result? I hope so!
An' u betcha --count me in fer a readin'! I'd be honored! standard British if ya need it (I like dustin' off my "hack scents" an' givin' 'em an air!)
We et scrambled eggs for dinner cuz I didn't have time ta cook an' I didn't sleep a wink (ok 3 hrs) the night 'fore the dance (Sunday)--up makin' signs an' arrangements an' all that--an' THEN the weather report (them liars) said "snow storm 10" snow an' 40 mile hourwinds" with that comin' in the night 'fore the dance so I scrambled fer backup plans jus' in case--an' that storm wuz like nuttin' -- 1" snow, mebbe 10mph winds--a joke. Had ta calm a passle've worriers tho...
All today I'm'a gonna be doin' dishes--3 days worth! 'tween tryin' to ketch up on stray emails... (tho' I ain't no fan of all "industry" -- god bless the dishwarsher cuz I miss it sorely! Here'bouts I cain't plug one in yet cuz we got hard hard warter an' no solutions...it'll kill the "woiks"-- so it's in our shed (hopefully not invaded by chipmunks!) -- but the dance WUZ wurth it and I wish ya could'a been there!
In spite'a dire snow warnin's (that didn't materialize), we had a nice turnout of 88 people, like the keys of a piana!--the caller an' musicians were just the beans! One'a the fiddle players is the son of a newly minted friend a mine--so it was nifty swell ta see'im play fer the dance (he's a prody-gee!) Folks up here'bouts where ya'd THINK they'd know 'bout this stuff (not ta mention old school lendin' a hand...) had no idear about social dancin'--I 'spected it would be more popular here than it wuz in Brooklyn--but golly I wuz wrong. Even live music gits head scratchin'! but thankfully many curious bodies joined in anywayz. The smiles on the lil' ones faces made it worth it! I'm on sich a dang learnin' curve here--I used ta git all fiery ornery when so many other mamas back in the city didn't lend a hand when asked--it wuz a good 80/20 then! Now it's like 1 or 2% that help--wha'happened? 'Nuther tale fer anuther time--sure you too've seen it...
But them that loved it asked me ta do anuther one fer Easter--ANYTHIN' ta git folks together!
Meantimes, I surely DO wish I could'a heard yer readin' ! I'm so glad you too share my fassy-nation with ABL (an' I'm a convinced she's the real BARD! too!)
I read it -- it's good. She leans far into DeVere territory, which is funny given her original position on AML, but the whole thing was a fun read for me...
Interestin'! Gotta read it then--need 26 hrs in a day! I'm still votin' fer ABL/AML --DeVere had the right hairdo (like Willie) but fewer parallels... did ya read Hudson's book yet? That's the one 'at grabbed me good!
What grand news!! I’ll be there! And sending the link to a fellow Substacker who I know would love this since the last time we zoomed, we recited poetry and Shakespeare to each other. 😂
I am so excited and so there! Congratulations I have envisioned this happening ever since hearing excepts at the Goddess Lake House while you were writing it - go Mary!
Well, congrats, Mary! Sounds fascinating and I truly hope I will able to attend! Weekend plans are a bit up-in-the-air, but I will put this is my calendar and intend to join. Thank you for alerting us.
Mary,
Was I supposed to receive a confirmation to my registration? Sorry to ask this so late.
Rocket
Yes, I got one when I registered. Did you check your junk mail?
Yes, found it. Thank you!
Lordy Mary--jus' seein' this--I'm plannin' a barn dance fer Monday an' I'm fit ta be tied (with tinsel!) but golly moses, we must be on the same wacky wavelength in tinfoil tinselsphere cuz A.M.L. is like my favorite litter-airy OBSESSION! IMO the Dark Lady wuz likely SHAKESPEARE too! Ya likely know I ain't jokin'! -- I read 'bout John Hudson back a good 15 years ago, then I heard 'im lecture an' I wuz totally won over! (I been a member of Mark Rylance's "Shacks-pur" Authorship group fer years! an' ya know likely that the Shakespeare Oxford Fellowship recognizes Amelia Bassano Lanier as a possible true Shakespeare too! Woo hoo!
Here's one'a many reviews of Mister Hudson's book--
https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/john-hudson/shakespeares-dark-lady-amelia-bassano-lanier/
AND... most recently (bought it didn't git ta read it but AML is in it!) there's this:
https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Shakespeare-Was-a-Woman-and-Other-Heresies/Elizabeth-Winkler/9781982171261
My younger one wrote a fine paper 'bout her back in 2016 or 17... funny! Bein' a fan'o "Merchant" I always felt it sympathetic an' disagreed with them that felt the oppy-sit 'bout Shylock an' then the more I read 'bout Amelia I just dumped the Bacon in the fire (an' them others) an' felt yes, this wuz RIGHT--an' all The (Laydee) Bard's female characters are SO strong an' well-spoken! I wuz near-sure Kate the Cursed was payback fer the forced marriage after she got "with child." Lordy! There's a passle've evidence she wuz indeed the converso polyglot poetess & playwright--all rolled inta one!--An' given all the references (musical, falconry given her boyfriend Hunsdon..) wull it all makes so much sense! (I never wuz convinced the bloke that willed hiz wifey a bed an' nuttin' more had squwat all ta do with GREATNESS!)
Gotta "run" but since I'm in the midst of a snow-flurry of biziness, is there a way the zoom kin be recorded (jus' yer part) and shared after the fact? I really wanna see it!!!! Congrats & Merde (on this made-in voyage performance!) xos an' hopin' ta ketch it one way 'er 'nuther! golly!
Daisy, I can't believe (well, yes, I can) that you are a fan of AML and that you know ALL ABOUT her. My jaw hit the floor reading your comment. Wow wow wow. Yes to everything you said, and then some.
I'm sorry you weren't able to make the reading, but I hope the barn dance was a blast of joy and community -- talk about something I wish I could be there for!
There's no recording (Actor's Equity nixed that) but I'm thinking that after I make some edits -- could take me some months -- I'd like to set up a zoom reading of the whole thing, and would love it if you'd participate??
Mary! I'm so sorry I missed yer event an' shoot an' double ratz that they didn't record it--I wuz a hopin'! Sometimes "excerpts" git a pass but oh yup, that AE stuff--it's so hippo-critty-cull--they even started pullin' that fer kids shows (I mean when the kids were on stage even in non-pro / non-union things--even charity events!) tellin' us that we couldn't record 'em.. I sez by all means have folks sign a release they ain't gonna sell the thing--but the rest is baloney--not preservin' live performances is banana oil (an' we know it comes from top-down who kin profit --generally--if they sell an "off-fish-all" recordin'). I'm not so keen on "stickin' ta the unions" now-- I lost all my memberships with "covidcon" (as did my younger one...)--way 'fore the strikes an' everythin'--they wouldn't even let'cha even git extree work--nobuddy on a set without a jabber so I ain't too heepy with them unions these days lol.
Were ya puhleased with the result? I hope so!
An' u betcha --count me in fer a readin'! I'd be honored! standard British if ya need it (I like dustin' off my "hack scents" an' givin' 'em an air!)
We et scrambled eggs for dinner cuz I didn't have time ta cook an' I didn't sleep a wink (ok 3 hrs) the night 'fore the dance (Sunday)--up makin' signs an' arrangements an' all that--an' THEN the weather report (them liars) said "snow storm 10" snow an' 40 mile hourwinds" with that comin' in the night 'fore the dance so I scrambled fer backup plans jus' in case--an' that storm wuz like nuttin' -- 1" snow, mebbe 10mph winds--a joke. Had ta calm a passle've worriers tho...
All today I'm'a gonna be doin' dishes--3 days worth! 'tween tryin' to ketch up on stray emails... (tho' I ain't no fan of all "industry" -- god bless the dishwarsher cuz I miss it sorely! Here'bouts I cain't plug one in yet cuz we got hard hard warter an' no solutions...it'll kill the "woiks"-- so it's in our shed (hopefully not invaded by chipmunks!) -- but the dance WUZ wurth it and I wish ya could'a been there!
In spite'a dire snow warnin's (that didn't materialize), we had a nice turnout of 88 people, like the keys of a piana!--the caller an' musicians were just the beans! One'a the fiddle players is the son of a newly minted friend a mine--so it was nifty swell ta see'im play fer the dance (he's a prody-gee!) Folks up here'bouts where ya'd THINK they'd know 'bout this stuff (not ta mention old school lendin' a hand...) had no idear about social dancin'--I 'spected it would be more popular here than it wuz in Brooklyn--but golly I wuz wrong. Even live music gits head scratchin'! but thankfully many curious bodies joined in anywayz. The smiles on the lil' ones faces made it worth it! I'm on sich a dang learnin' curve here--I used ta git all fiery ornery when so many other mamas back in the city didn't lend a hand when asked--it wuz a good 80/20 then! Now it's like 1 or 2% that help--wha'happened? 'Nuther tale fer anuther time--sure you too've seen it...
But them that loved it asked me ta do anuther one fer Easter--ANYTHIN' ta git folks together!
Meantimes, I surely DO wish I could'a heard yer readin' ! I'm so glad you too share my fassy-nation with ABL (an' I'm a convinced she's the real BARD! too!)
Ha ha--I got so excited I didn't even read the entire thing 'fore I commented-- aha! you DID know 'bout Eliz. Winklers book too!
I read it -- it's good. She leans far into DeVere territory, which is funny given her original position on AML, but the whole thing was a fun read for me...
Interestin'! Gotta read it then--need 26 hrs in a day! I'm still votin' fer ABL/AML --DeVere had the right hairdo (like Willie) but fewer parallels... did ya read Hudson's book yet? That's the one 'at grabbed me good!
Gonna try to make it but it's 6pm UK time I believe so I might have a slight logistical problem. Will it be posted for viewing at a later date?
Thanks, Sharon! I'm not actually sure about a later viewing... I'll find out.
Unfortunately, they won't be recording it. Actor's Equity gets involved when that happens.
I made it anyway. Thought your excerpt intriguing. Wonder how you would sustain the conceit of a woman writing Shakespeare. Have you seen the film
'Anonymous' ? Not about a woman but quite an interesting romp and riff on Shakespeare's i.d
What grand news!! I’ll be there! And sending the link to a fellow Substacker who I know would love this since the last time we zoomed, we recited poetry and Shakespeare to each other. 😂
Awesome!! I was really, really hoping you'd be able to make it. Thanks, T!!
Yea!! Mary. I registered, and I'm so excited. I know it will be great.
Wonderful, Rocket! I will be so happy to see you...xox
Great. Registered!
Yay! See you there, Michael.
I am so excited and so there! Congratulations I have envisioned this happening ever since hearing excepts at the Goddess Lake House while you were writing it - go Mary!
Thanks, Cath! Your excitement has always been the wind at my back. xox
Well, congrats, Mary! Sounds fascinating and I truly hope I will able to attend! Weekend plans are a bit up-in-the-air, but I will put this is my calendar and intend to join. Thank you for alerting us.
Thanks, Kathleen!
Congratulations Mary! You must be very excited!
I am! And curious, too -- staged readings are always surprising in some way...😂