Emily Dickinson in the Heartland

Recently the Insight Theatre Company in St. Louis presented William Luce's play chronicling the life of Emily Dickinson, The Belle of Amherst, directed by Maggie Ryan and starring Susie Wall in the title role. The one-woman play premiered on Broadway in 1977 with Julie Harris in the title role and has received acclaim ever since. It was gratifying to hear once again lines from one of our greatest poets and catch glimpses into her personal life. At her death in 1886, at the age of 56, Emily's sister found 1,775 poems in Emily's room. Seven poems were published in her lifetime, but, like so many geniuses, Emily's work went largely unnoticed until after her death.

With a cast only one person, this play must rely on the sheer power of words to capture the attention of the audience. It was refreshing to be reminded once again that the English language has been blessed with an abundance of writers who respect its greatness and extreme powers of expression. Emily Dickinson takes her place in a pantheon of great writers, from the creator of Beowulf through Shakespeare to our present day, who have bequeathed a cultural legacy to us all.

Emily Dickinson respected the English language, and we should all realize that we only cheat ourselves if we ignore our native tongue. It is a tragedy to see how language is disrespected and ignored in so many of our institutions today. (Do you realize how little grammar is taught today in many schools?) And whether we speak English or any other language, we should realize that it is our duty and right to explore the language and be intelligent co-creators of its usage. Emily Dickinson, like every great writer, was one of us, and sprang from our midst.

Thanks,
Gary