Ellie Slott Fisher

I’m going to sound like a namedropper but I just came back from a week of hanging out with four prominent, award winning playwrights; Lee Blessing, Stephen Adly Guirgis, William Mastrosimone and John Pielmeier.

These four artists educated, critiqued and inspired sixteen aspiring playwrights – including me – at the National Playwrights Symposium at Cape May Stage in Cape May, NJ. If you love theater then you have surely seen some of their work. For example, Peilmeier’s “Agnes of God;” Blessing’s “A Walk in the Woods;” Guiris’ “Our Lady of 121st Street,” and Mastrosimone’s “The Woolgatherer.”

Although these playwrights, and others like them, routinely consort with A-list actors, and Broadway and Hollywood producers, they seem void of any over-blown self-importance. They walk the streets of New York or LA without paparazzi in tow. They thrill to see their plays performed yet they know theatergoers tend to remember the title, and the actors, but not necessarily the playwright. Most need day jobs in order to support their love of writing.

Playwright Shawn Fisher (no relation) and Roy Steinberg, producing artistic director of Cape May Stage, organized the symposium. The students ranged in age from 20 to retirement, and we bonded as though we had been friends since high school. Our days began early in the morning and ended well past midnight. We read each other’s monologues, dialogues, three-minute plays and any other creative piece for which we craved an audience. We critiqued each other’s work, giving suggestions to make it better.

My promise to my blog followers is that when I get word that one of these bright, creative artists has a play produced, I will let you know. For starters, and I do mean for starters – Shawn Fisher’s “How to Make a Rope Swing” is playing at Cape May Stage from now until June 7.

Treat yourself.

I once had a student write a paper on the need to recycle plastic water bottles and right after she turned in her essay, she unthinkingly tossed her water bottle into the trash.

I didn’t single her out at the time but I have since used this as a “teachable” example. Why didn’t I tell her? Because as hard as I try and as much effort as I put in to make sure I honor the environment by creating no more waste than I absolutely need to, I sometimes get a little sloppy.

And maybe even a little hypocritical.

Here’s what I mean: I stopped buying paper plates and paper napkins years ago and use only china dishes and cloth napkins. However…the only type of car I have driven for the past 15 years is an SUV. I’m not proud of that fact though I justify its use by claiming I need the cargo space. After all, I am always picking up flowers and plants for gardening, and piling suitcases, beach chairs and food in the back when I drive to the beach. Oh, and there is at least one day each year I actually need the space to transport that funky chest of drawers I find at a flea market.

I am a whiz at recycling bottles – even if it means throwing them in my purse until I get home and can place them in my recycling can. In fact, I more often than not carry a reusable water bottle, but every once in a while I like the convenience of plastic. However…again….I am obsessed with my Keurig – and those totally unrecyclable, unreusuable, plastic K cups.

I would never purchase any light bulb that isn’t marked “energy saving” and I never complain when it takes several minutes to reach its desired intensity even as I trip over the shoes on the floor of my closet looking for my navy blouse. However…I frequently forget to turn off my laptop.

I consider myself sensitive to the environment, and, in fact, some might call me a tree hugger. Some of my habits are exemplary such as my refusal to buy paper goods. Yet my other habits, like those moments I am just too tired to tear my address off the junk mail (for identity privacy) and throw the address in the trash, and the mail in with the recyclables, are worth breaking.

I do my best. And although I try to not judge the folks who do less, I still believe we should make every attempt to preserve the environment. Not only does every little bit help, but each time we do one small thing – like toss a bottle into a recyclable container – our subconscious mind takes note of our effort.

And if that happens enough times, I might even remember to turn off my computer.