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Apocalyptic play back in Ashland "Rude Awakening" returns to The Mobius after Eugene stint To make sure her hometown is prepared, playwright Joanie McGowan will bring her apocalyptic comedy "Rude Awakening" back to Ashland at 8 p.m. Friday, Aug. 29 and Saturday, Aug. 30 at The Mobius, 281 Fourth Street. McGowan will be fresh from a week of performing in Eugene where she benefited the Lane County Bill of Rights Defense Committee. "I'm so glad the end of the world didn't happen while I was gone," she said. "I want to be right here in Ashland for the final countdown." McGowan plays herself in the show: a 47-year old single woman in a tiny rental apartment, rudely jostled from a dream by an emergency broadcast announcing the end of the world. The announcer, Fox McFearlips, leads McGowan through a series of preparations, many of which come directly from the Department of Homeland Security's actual web site, www.ready.gov. "I was experiencing a terrible case of writer's block half way through the play," McGowan said. "I had just heard about the new DOHS web site, so I checked it out, and kA-boom! I was blasted right through my writer's block by what I found there. The information in the play about what to have in your Ready Kit and what to do in the event of a nuclear blast are nearly quoted from www.ready.gov!" Carolyn Hitt will again play the role of McFearlips. "I love doing this show with Carolyn," McGowan said. "She's a wonderful actress and there's a very interesting and slightly scary dynamic that happens when you put two tall, strong women on stage." McGowan's purpose in touring the play is to encourage people to get over pointing fingers at each other. She says everyone is so busy living in fear of Armageddon and placing blame for the situation, that people don't have time to save the world for their children and grandchildren. In addition to Ashland and Eugene, Rude Awakening has been performed in Grants Pass, Portland and Canyonville, and McGowan says it has been well received by audience members on all points of the political spectrum. "It's amazing what happens when you drop judgment," McGowan said with a smile. "'Rude' has a very diverse fan club." Performances are immediately followed by an optional sing-a-long of the show's theme song "If We're the Problem, We're the Solution," which McGowan will videotape and send to President George W. Bush, Senators Gordon Smith and Ron Wyden, Congressman Greg Walden and Governor Ted Kulongoski. "Each tape comes with a letter thanking our leaders for dedicating their lives to public service and letting them know we are here to help them deal with today's difficult challenges. I just received a personal note from Senator Smith thanking me for the thoughtful note I sent with the first round of tapes," McGowan said. The one-act play is 45 minutes long appropriate for ages 13 to 113. Tickets are $8 in advance at Music Coop in Ashland's A Street Marketplace, or $10 at the door. For more information, call 941-9799. LINKS: REVELS: Main | Calendar | Dining | Movies | T.V. DAILY TIDINGS: Main | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Opinion | Columnists | AP News | Subscribe | Archives | Weather | Classifieds | Contact Us | Privacy Copyright 2003 Ashland Daily Tidings 541.482.3456. 1661 Siskiyou Blvd., Ashland, OR 97520. Ottaway Newspapers, Inc. - Advertisers -