Tonight, Annie Proulx led off the 2011-22012 season of Portland's Arts & Lectures to a sold out house of over 2500. Oregondoggie was there.
In a relaxed and twinkling mood, she spoke for an hour about herself and her writing with an understandable emphasis on a new work under way whose theme is world-wide forest degradation. The loss of chestnuts, elms, butternuts, etc.. Then the microphones were opened up for questioning.
I was the first to step forward: "Ms. Proulx," I said, "The Laramie Project, the play based on the murder of Matthew Shepard, has become a formidable vehicle against Gay bashing and hatred. I know you have said, unlike Charles Dickens, story telling trumps social issues, but given that Brokeback Mountain changed many lives, brought resolution to long lost love, would you bless a stage version that could be performed in rural colleges and by local theater groups? If not, why not?"
With a big smile, she said at the moment no one except some Finns are interested. She looked at me. "If you are in theater, perhaps you can take on Brokeback Mountain!" She then went on to recall seeing the Laramie Project in the town of Laramie and the reaction of the local people. After the program I caught her exiting the stage door giving her a post card from Hamley's Saddle Store. "In honor Ennis Del Mar," I said. (It was the only thing Ennis read.) "Why I didn't know Hamleys was still around," she said grinning like the cheshire cat. "Sure is", I said. "Over in Pendleton. Love Brokeback Mountain. Like to leave copies in motels on top of Gideon Bibles!." We shook hands and she was off.
