Sheila, I have been percolating on your comments for several days now. I really respect what you said. When I saw the play, I saw the “I choose to leave” line as Mekinges’ way of telling Conner he was a jerk and of claiming her own power within a bad situation. But I also completely get what you are saying, and agree that there was no good excuse for his actions.

I still love the show, though, and wish I had been able, like Wanda, to see it multiple times!

I found it offensive that much time and effort was spent trying to come up with an excuse, ANY excuse, as to why Conner did not follow his wife and children, opting to stay behind (only to re-marry within 3 months).

The line: “I CHOOSE to leave because my children need to be with their people”…is rubbish. They HAD to leave because of the treaty. The same treaty Conner was responsible for.

I challenge a writer to come up with a story about the African American Community, or those from the Jewish community, or ANY other group of people, who were wronged in the past…and try to soften the truth with a fairy tale. I doubt any writer would have the courage to do so – the public would have their heads !!

As with any show, I recommend seeing it yourself and forming your own opinion.

However, I can’t help teasing a bit: Leo, what were you doing listening to NPR when _my_ review says very clearly that “Interpreting William” is NOT “a play about William Conner”?

Still, even if you had both read my review first, I can see how you might go to the show expecting to have your questions answered about that elusive historical figure. Or just hoping for something other than what you got. I know what that’s like, so even though I loved “Interpreting William,” I sympathize with your disappointment.

I admire you both for giving the show a try.

As, I am sure, most people who came to see this drivel, I wanted to find out more about William Conner. All we found out was that he never dreamed of an owl, but carried a long rifle, just in case. We did, however, found out more than anyone wanted to know about the various involvements of the fictional characters after whom the play, if honesty mattered, should really have been named.

William Conner himself is reduced to a Daniel Boone impersonator, wandering aimlessly across the stage shouting the name of his apparently deaf wife. Oh yes, and his brother REALLY wants him to move on with his life, which, it turns out, means ditching his Indian wife and children for a new future with Indiana as a state, and a white wife. That’s it.

I didn’t come to care about anyone in the play. I didn’t want to know what happened to them, unless, perhaps, one of them would have caught fire and burnt to a crisp, thus lending at least some drama to this weak, preachy presentation.

If you are thinking about seeing this play, just send the money to me, and poke yourself with a pencil for a couple of hours. You’ll have a better time.

Thanks, Debby and Dane, for reading and leaving comments!