Tag: one woman show

Art & Culture

Arts Club: Burning Mom

I saw this excellent one-woman show last night about taking risks and enjoying the small moments in life and the ride along the way. It’s about the journey in general and our strong striving for some form of connection.

Photo courtesy of Arts Club Theatre.

It resonated with me in the sense that it made me think about the difference between attachment and connection. The main character’s name is Dorothy (played by Susinn McFarlen). Dorothy’s story is based on the playwright’s mother’s life. After losing her husband, she decides to take their RV on the road trip of his retirement dreams: she’s going to Burning Man. After all, it’s only a 21-hour drive to a weeklong culture festival and party with no plumbing in the middle of a desert—how hard can it be? Burning Mom is a stirring odyssey of self-discovery and tale of how art, everlasting roads, and human connection propel her along the way. McFarlen did a wonderful job of entertaining us with stories for over two hours, with one set/costume change after a short intermission.

With Lisa (my sister) celebrating her birthday at SANDBAR before the show. FYI – Sandbar offers 15% off the bill if you’re going to the Arts Club.  THAT was a nice surprise! Tisha (our amazing server) took this photo.

My question is – is everyone always trying to find themselves?  Are we trying to carve a path that will make us feel whole or make sense out of living? At times, I believe so.

I, myself, have never had a burning (pun intended) desire to go to this festival.  It’s not that I’m not curious about Burning Man, and probably once there I’d enjoy it for what it is…but it’s not on my bucket list.  Luckily, I’ve crossed a lot of stuff off my personal bucket list.  And it’s not a great idea to live someone else’s dream. Although I did live my late mother’s dream trip of going on safari.  With my sister no less.  What a bittersweet experience that was.

Getting back to the play; the only connection I have to this play is that my late husband had a Eurovan Camper that he loved and that we used a lot.  I didn’t love it as much but I ended up enjoying his enjoyment of it.  There were many special places we ended up discovering with that little camper.  However, after he passed, I tried to keep it and learn how to drive stick shift which didn’t work out so well in the end.  I had some similar parking experiences as the performer in this play. Some funny; some not.  I ended up selling it. So in essence I was hanging on to it because of his (not my) love of camping. Hanging on to someone else’s love of something is a form of attachment.

Anyway, I was recently discussing the difference between attachment and connection with a friend. The difference lies in their nature and depth.  Although I must say that I feel both an attachment and a connection to my dogs.

Attachment often stems from a need or dependency. It can involve clinging to someone or something for comfort, security, or emotional support. While attachment can feel strong, it may be rooted in fear—fear of loss, change, or being alone. It can sometimes create unhealthy dynamics if it becomes possessive or overly dependent.

Connection, on the other hand, is more about mutual understanding, resonance, and genuine presence. It doesn’t rely on need or fear but instead arises from shared experiences, values, and emotional attunement. A connection feels freeing, nurturing, and balanced—it’s about being with someone, not needing to hold on tightly.

Interesting, no?  How many things are you attached to and how many are you connected to?

Photo: d. king

MORE SHOWS ADDED—NOW PLAYING TO APRIL 24

Granville Island Stage

https://artsclub.com/shows/2024-2025/burning-mom

Cast: Susinn McFarlen – Dorothy

Creative

  1. Mieko Ouchi Director
  2. Patrick Rizzotti Set Designer
  3. Kirsten McGhie Costume Designer
  4. John Webber Lighting Designer
  5. Kim Clegg Projection Designer
  6. Ashley Au Sound Designer
  7. Ana Camacho Assistant Set Designer9.
  8. Rebecca Mulvihill Stage Manager 9.
  9. Harlow Nguyen Apprentice Stage Manager
STYLE

An Evening of Wit, Wisdom and a Whisper of Gossip

Susan Claassen is remarkable as “Edith Head” in her one woman theatrical production “A Conversation with Edith Head” presented by Modernism Week, Palm Springs. The show was SOLD OUT and received a well deserved standing ovation.

Susan Claassen‘s uncanny resemblance to Edith Head, with friend Bob Mackie.

EDITH HEAD – Trailblazer

Edith Head was a legend.  Pardon the pun, but she was a Head of her time. One of the most prolific costume designers of the twentieth century, she received an unprecedented 35 Academy Award nominations and won a record-breaking eight Oscars at a time when the industry and world in general was dominated by men.  Her career spanned 58 years of movie making. She liked to call herself a “Magician.”  The word is suitable considering the magic she created with her design skills.  She raised rear ends, made waists look smaller, legs longer and hid imperfections like no other. 

“There’s nothing like a row of Oscars for putting the fear of God into an actress who thinks she knows everything about dress designing.” – Edith Head

Edith Head became as famous as the stars she dressed.  With her signature glasses, straight bangs and tailored suits, her distinctive style made her a recognizable personality in her own right.

Looking exactly like Edith Head with trademark glasses and all, Susan Claassen brings us back to the time when Head dressed glamorous movie stars such as Grace Kelly, Cary Grant, Lana Turner, Paul Newman, John Wayne, Bette Davis, Steve McQueen, Elizabeth Taylor, Marlene Dietrich and many more.  Some of the original costumes and photographs were on stage. However, preferring never to upstage whoever she was dressing, Head only liked to wear four colors herself: black, white, beige and brown.

Design for Grace Kelly in Alfred Hitchcock’s Rear Window (1954).

With wit and intellect, Claassen relives and re tells stories when Head worked with actors like Mae West, Debbie Reynolds, Barbara Stanwyck and a young Elizabeth Taylor.  Not gonna lie; it was fun finding out who was naughty and who was nice! A few tidbits: Taylor was fascinated by a signature necklace worn by Head to the point where it was left for her in Head’s will.  Funnily enough there were no diamonds in the necklace but it was an eye-catching, original, vintage piece.  Head formed special relationships with the famous she dressed and recounted those stories.  For instance, when Grace Kelly became princess Grace and moved to Monaco, she would always visit Head when returning to Los Angeles.  Kelly always wore white gloves so on one visit Head made little white gloves for her young daughters, Princesses Caroline and Stephanie.

In 1961 Edith Head hired Bob Mackie to be her sketch artist at Paramount Studios. Mackie would later become another famous designer (he designed all of the costumes for the Carole Burnett Show, all of Cher’s costumes and many more including sketching the famous sequined dress worn my Marilyn Monroe when she sang “Happy Birthday Mr. President” to JFK).  As luck would have it, I met and spoke with him for several minutes before the show began.  He said that the actress (Susan Claassen) was a good friend of his and that he also knew Edith Head and that she helped start his career.  I had met him last year at the book store Just Fabulous when I bought his beautiful book “The Art of Bob Mackie” and told him how much I love the book and it brought back so many good memories.  Also, he looked just fabulous.

The real Edith Head with a young Bob Mackie. Photo: WWD

Edith Head died in 1981 of a progressive and rare blood disease, myeloid metaplasia, two weeks after completing work on her last film “Dead Men Don’t Wear Plaid.” She left her estate to the Motion Picture and Television Fund and to other charitable organizations aiding Native American children and her beloved animals.  Her funeral was attended by hundreds, including not only Hollywood’s stars but also the backlot people.  A Paramount security guard dressed in a uniform designed by Edith Head mused, “I remember her real well.  At Christmas she took care of every one on the lot.  She was the greatest designer in the world.  Edith Head was quite a girl.”  And that she was.

Head’s no nonsense straightforward personality inspired the character of Edna Mode in The Incredibles.

Outside the Annenberg Theatre before the show with Bob Mackie.

Oscars Won:

The Heiress, 1949

Samson and Delilah, 1950

All About Eve, 1950

A Place in the Sun, 1951

Roman Holiday, 1953

Sabrina, 1954

The Facts of Life, 1960

The Sting, 1973

wearing the necklace Elizabeth Taylor loved.

The show must go on:

Booking Now Through 2025:

https://www.edithhead.biz/

MODERNISM week has ended as of February 26th, but please join us next year for another unbelievable lineup of fabulous events.

Header Photo of set – d. king