Ojai ACT

by RaeLynne Rein, Ojai Valley News

Two events celebrating the intriguing life and brilliant work of American poet Emily Dickinson will be held in Ojai this month. The Ojai Film Festival is sponsoring a free screening of the documentary, “My Letter to the World,” narrated by Cynthia Nixon, on Dec. 15 at the Ojai Library at 7 p.m.

This film is a visually gorgeous exploration of Dickinson’s life and work.

Then the Ojai Art Center is presenting the classic one- woman 1976 play, “The Belle of Amherst,” written by William Luce. This production will be a fundraiser for the Art Center and will run two weekends: Dec. 21 through 23 and Dec. 28 through 30 at the Ojai Art Center Theater. The Friday and Saturday shows are at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday matinees are at 2 p.m.

First brought to Broadway by Tony-winner Julie Harris, “The Belle of Amherst” stars Ojai resident Anna Kotula in a stunning performance and is directed by Ojai’s own Steve Grumette. While sitting in on
a rehearsal, this writer was delighted to discover that Kotula and Grumette—along with stage manager Bianca Rice—prove to be the perfect combo to tackle this complex subject matter in a nuanced and highly entertaining way.

Dickinson, America’s greatest female poet, lived in the 19th century yet seems surprisingly contemporary and relevant to our current times the more we learn about her unique life and examine her astonishing poetry. Whether you are an artist, a lover of language, a frustrated soul who feels you have not been heard, someone who has experienced unrequited love, an environmentalist who worships nature or a rebel who refuses to accept established norms, Dickinson will speak to you.

While describing her journey preparing for this challenging role, Kotula reminisces: “I was swept back to childhood memories of my grandfather reading poetry to me and encouraging me to commit my favorite ones to memory. Among those were some Emily Dickinson gems that were branded in my heart since then.” She goes on to praise Grumette for “his special ability to guide me in bringing out the many subtle intentions embedded in the text.”

Is there any better way
to spend the holiday season than enjoying an evening or two of life-affirming poetry and learning more about the unusual life of this amazing artist? Dickinson loved her small town of Amherst and she adored all aspects of nature—flowers, trees, animals and insects. Can’t help thinking that she would have felt right at home here in Ojai. Let’s welcome her.

The free showing of the documentary film, “My Letter to the World,” will be shown at the Ojai Library on Dec. 15 at 7 p.m. The library is at 111 E. Ojai Ave.

The play “The Belle of Amherst” will run at the Ojai Art Center Theater Dec. 21 through Dec. 30, Fridays and Saturdays are at 7:30 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m.
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‘To live is so startling it leaves little time for anything else.”
— Emily Dickinson