Happy Birthday, Gertrude Stein

"How prettily we swim.Not in water. Not on land. But in love." — Gertrude Stein

Normally, I save my birthday wishes for living poets. But I adore Gertrude Stein, am sentimental about her actually. Today is the anniversary of her birth, a fine time to see what's new with her. Death, I find, has done little to diminish her popularity.

I was a bit surprised to read that the About Face Chicago-based theater company is staging an original musical based on Stein's romances and work. They describe their mission is to "create[s] exceptional, innovative, and adventurous plays to advance the national dialogue on gender and sexual identity." The current offering, Loving Repeating: A Musical of Gertrude Stein is described thusly:

Loving Repeating explores the romantic world of Gertrude Stein – her giddy love affair with language, with self-expression, and with Alice B. Toklas. Stein – the great modernist and artistic gadfly – is one of the most influential artists of the past century, and she and her expatriate milieu – including the likes of Picasso, Matisse, T.S. Eliot, Ernest Hemingway, and her beloved “wife” Alice B. Toklas – changed the way contemporary artists see the world and express themselves.

Quite appropriate, one would think, for V-day. I'm not sure I care so much for the autobiographical approach to literary studies, but it would be interesting to see nevertheless.

Now for something completely different:
Tonight I'm going to see the always delightful Reptile Palace Orchestra at the Slipper Club. They're teaming up with Dr. Cherie D'Amour, Miss Lola Martinet, and Mona N'wal for a romp.

Saturday, I'd like to promote my wonderful colleague's book release party. If you're in town, go see:

Laura Sims

Reading poetry from Practice, Restraint,

4 pm at Avol's Bookstore 315 W. Gorham St.

Madison, Wisconsin

(608)-255-4730

Go Laura! I hear she's leaving us and heading off for Japan to write for a while, so go see her soon!