by Adanna Moriarty, Ojai Valley News
For these last two weekends in December, people can gain insights into the life of American poet Emily Dickinson in “The Belle of Amherst,” a benefit pro- duction for Ojai Art Center Theater. “The Belle of Amherst” is a one-woman play starring Anna Kotula, written by William Luce, and directed by Steve Grumette. Together, they bring Dickinson’s reclusive, yet insightful existence in Amherst, Mass., to the stage.
Having worked on last year’s production of “Engaging Shaw,” Grumette encouraged Kotula of Ojai to find another play they could collaborate on. “I spent days looking,” said Kotula. “I was particularly interested in William Luce’s work. When my eyes brushed past a one-woman play about Emily Dickinson, my heart leaped, and something in me knew this was a story I wanted to tell.”
At an early age in her grandfather’s kitchen, Kotula, a poet herself, fell in love with Dickinson’s works. “While making me breakfast in the most dramatic and musical ways, my grandfather would recite poetry and excerpts from the ‘Great Books’ collection that he had committed to memory. Among those gems were many of Emily Dickinson’s poems,” she said.
“The Belle of Amherst” ventures away from the typical stern depiction of Emily’s life. Luce’s play reveals a vibrant, joy-filled life of a woman who in her lifetime had only seen seven of her poems published.
“Emily boldly pierces our deepest questions about who we are and what has made us,” adds Kotula. “With only her books and a fondness for being in nature, she had remarkable insights into this life and the beyond. ‘The Belle of Amherst’ is a love affair with language that audiences will enjoy. I’m honored to bring this story to Ojai.”
The show runs Dec. 21 to 23 and Dec. 28 to 30. For the Friday and Saturday showings each weekend, the box office opens at 6:45 p.m. and the show starts at 7:30 p.m. For the Sunday matinees each weekend, the box office opens at 1:45 p.m. and the show starts at 2 pm. Tickets may be purchased online at OjaiACT.org or by calling 805- 640-8797.