Tomorrow, Minnesotan Patrick Dewane will present a one-man play at the Minnesota History Center called “The Mushroom Picker: A Family Story about World War II.” The play is based on a memoir written by Dewane’s grandfather, Matt Konop, and discovered after his death.
Sounds like the story is about the liberation of a Czechoslovakian town from the Nazis by a Czech-American soldiers, who was raised in a tight-knit Czech enclave where the native language was spoken, which gave him the ability to act as an interpreter during the war.
5 Reader Comments
2:51 pm
Dang, this looks good. I just got tickets for Mixed Blood tomorrow though.
3:20 pm
See all the problems that happen when immigrants don’t bother to learn English?
/sarcasm tag for the humor-impaired
3:26 pm
Looks very good. Thanks, max.
I always though my Uncle Josef’s life might make a good story. He is terminally ill now, but lived an amazing life.
Also, the story of other Uncle Joe, my father’s older brother, whose bomber was shot down over occupied Yugoslovia (see crash record #212)
10:46 pm
Patrick, your show was wonderful! I love the direction you’ve taken it: The connections are beautiful, the imagery rich, the themes woven through with such precision and clarity. What a moving piece you’ve created!
I should tell you that, although we were not late, we couldn’t get tickets as it was sold out. Dogged fans, we refused to leave the lobby until they finally seated us (in perfect front row seats) about 10 mins in. We briefed the friend we’d brought on what she’d missed before being seated and we all enjoyed it to the fullest.
So kudos not only on a glorious show but on your amazing marketing skills!
Gabrielle
10:35 am
I’ve seen this show twice, and have been moved to tears both times. The story is informative and inspiring, and the story-telling is intriguing and heart-felt. The time flew, once again, and even having heard the story before, I was engaged completely to hear what happened next. Patrick’s story about his grandfather came across to me in a way that I have heard stories from my grandfather – I wanted to exclaim “Tell me more!”
For those of you who missed it, see this link for future showings: http://www.themushroompicker.com.