TRUTH IS STRANGER THAN FICTION:
‘WORDS...ALIVE!’ DRAMATIZES JEANNETTE WALLS’
GLASS CASTLE AND HALF BROKE HORSES

Eunice Bernard and Carol Clarke

DESCRIPTION: Jeannette Walls’ 2005 critically acclaimed memoir Glass Castle, and her recently published “true-life novel” Half Broke Horses, have been devoured by readers hungry for untamed characters who are truly stranger than fiction. These characters are believable only because they are real. In these books we meet three generations of indomitable women from one family. Eunice Bernard portrays Lily Casey Smith, Jeannette’s grandmother, a tough, early 20th-Century rancher who was just as likely to pull out her gun as she was to take out her false teeth and throw them on the table. Dolly Workman enacts Rosemary Smith Walls, Jeannette’s mother, who pursues artistic and individual freedom to an extent that borders on narcissism and cruel neglect of her four children. Carol Clarke assumes the role of Jeannette who escapes her dysfunctional family to become a successful journalist, MSNBC commentator, and prizewinning author. The performance will be followed by a video of a Library of Congress interview with Jeannette Walls, and an interactive discussion with the audience. Don’t miss this mixture of exciting theater and intellectual dialogue.

BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION: Eunice Bernard received a B.A. in Drama and Speech at University of Wisconsin. She trained at the HB Studio in NY and was affiliated with the Long Island Studio Theatre for many years. With Michael Guastella, she performed the classical repertoire at FAU/LLS.

Carol Clarke received her B.A and Masters from St. John’s University and taught literature, creative writing and drama before founding ‘Words...Alive!’ with Eunice. Together they have dramatized Loving Frank, Olive Kitteridge and Three Daughters.