An Outstanding Birthday Gift from Steve & Michelle

​PAT’s 85thBirthday
 
            Pat and I are in Berkeley, California visiting Steve, Michelle, Morgan, and Emily.
 
On Pat’s Birthday, yesterday, she received a marvelous gift of viewing a play ( The Visit) directed by our son, Steve Morgan as a ‘local guest artist’ at Michelle’s French-American School in downtown San Francisco, where she has run their drama program for more than twelve years.
The lead in this play is named Germaine Patricia Peacock, played with gusto by a gifted senior (Natalie Rathle) in Michelle’s acting class. The protagonist is named Henry—played by another gifted senior studying with Michelle (Rhea McSpadden). Both of these actors are shown in the above photo of the original Germaine and Henry with the actor, Natalie, to the left and the actor, Rhea on the right.  Director Steve stands behind the two Germaines and Morgan and Emily (Michelle and Steve’s talented children) sit in front.
            The play is about Germaine Patricia Peacock (Pat's maiden name) and Henry (played by a woman) had a brief relationship in Berkeley years ago and after leaving the city and marrying seven times, Germaine returns to Berkeley and offers to donate one billion dollars to the city—with the one stipulation that ‘Justice’ be served in Berkeley.
            The vitality and skills exhibited on stage were amazing as 24 outstanding high school students, taught by Michelle and directed by Steve Morgan, speak to adult issues in this fascinating story—the program says, 
 
But this is the season of bringing the darkness into the light. . .so together we may both laugh and cry (and then, perhaps share, reflect and take action, as well).
 
            Steve Morgan and Michelle Haner Haskell have done a superb job of creating a play that is timely in today’s political climate and rewritten to depict a bankrupt Berkeley. Written by a Swiss dramatist in the 20thCentury, Friedrich Durrenmatt, Steve, with Michelle’s help, has created an outstanding play that was enjoyed by the full house—and particularly by Pat and me this outstanding night.
 
            We are supercalifragilistic proud and looking forward to spending the remainder of this week celebrating Michelle’s and Steve's twelfth anniversary on Thanksgiving Day.