A Note From The Playwright: The Kitchen Sink is a project I've been working on the last couple of years. It's gone through several drafts and has had two readings with some great feedback. Scenes have since been added, then taken out, only to be added back in. Others have been lovingly tossed because of time constraints given by Fringe. And so goes the editing process.
This play is close to my heart. There are scenes that are reminiscent of the life I've lead with my own family, observed of my dear friends' lives and others that have come to my mind at inconvenient times, mostly in the middle of the night. One particular scene deals with dementia and is my loveletter to my Grandmother Zula, who my siblings and I lovingly called "Nanny." The actual story happened on her 90th birthday. Nanny was sitting at the kitchen table. At some point she slyly and ever so slowly inched the tablecloth with her birthay cake on it toward her. Once it was close enough, she took a swipe of her chocolate cake with her hand while no one was looking and shoved it in her mouth with delight. My mother looked over just then, realized what she'd done and got stern with her. Nanny started to cry. My mother immediately went into clean-up mode. Once she had cleaned her up, she remembered she did indeed love the woman sitting in the wheelchair who had chocolate smeared on her face. She apologized, then got her a plate, cut a big piece of cake for her and layered a scoop of vanilla on top. With Nanny content, her belly full of chocolate cake and ice cream, we sang happy birthday to her with one big piece missing. My sassy, sweet, fierce grandmother died January of 2001 at the age of 92. I still miss her dearly to this day. The Kitchen Sink is dedicated to her.
Thank you for coming. I hope you enjoy the show.
- Cordelia Brand
