- Playing
- Outside the Dying
- From
- Conrad Bishop
We received an email from a woman we didn’t really know well. Julie and her husband David were fans of our theatre when we were in Philadelphia, but we hadn't seen them for several years. In the email, she said that David had been diagnosed with ALS, Lou Gehrig’s Disease and expressed her need, somehow, to share her experience of being a care-giver to the man she loved, who was by slow degrees losing all muscular control. We suggested that she write a journal and we might, somehow, use it on the air. She did. With her permission, we decided to fictionalize the story to a degree and to express her multiple voices — as lover, as care-giver, as research biologist, and as survivor — through an expressionistic audio drama.
"Outside the Dying" was broadcast in July 2003 as part of our series "Hitchhiking off the Map," on KPFA (Berkeley, CA), KRCB (Rohnert Park, CA), and other stations. It won a 2003 Silver Reel Award for Radio Drama of the National Federation of Community Broadcasters.
Text and performances are by Conrad Bishop & Elizabeth Fuller, based on a journal by Julie Conaron; music & engineering by Elizabeth Fuller.
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Piece Description
We received an email from a woman we didn’t really know well. Julie and her husband David were fans of our theatre when we were in Philadelphia, but we hadn't seen them for several years. In the email, she said that David had been diagnosed with ALS, Lou Gehrig’s Disease and expressed her need, somehow, to share her experience of being a care-giver to the man she loved, who was by slow degrees losing all muscular control. We suggested that she write a journal and we might, somehow, use it on the air. She did. With her permission, we decided to fictionalize the story to a degree and to express her multiple voices — as lover, as care-giver, as research biologist, and as survivor — through an expressionistic audio drama. "Outside the Dying" was broadcast in July 2003 as part of our series "Hitchhiking off the Map," on KPFA (Berkeley, CA), KRCB (Rohnert Park, CA), and other stations. It won a 2003 Silver Reel Award for Radio Drama of the National Federation of Community Broadcasters. Text and performances are by Conrad Bishop & Elizabeth Fuller, based on a journal by Julie Conaron; music & engineering by Elizabeth Fuller.
2 Comments
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Review of Outside the DyingThis a very edgy piece, but not in the "let's say a lot of rude things and hope for the best" way. I love it, it's eery and takes tough topic -- a journal of a woman caring for her young husband suffering from the withering effects of Lou Gehrig's disease. There are moments where it is hard to listen to the piece, with overlapping voices. Lots of 90% stereo panning is used, so those without headphones might struggle to make sense out of portions. It sounded good to me, though. The content is exceptional. The delivery is amazing. Of course, it's dramatized, but holy cow! This wasn't slapped together (or, if it was, these guys are even that much more talented). I tend to shy from things that are overly artsy, and this comes close, but it didn't cross my personal threshold. It's a tremendous listen and I was touched by the spirituality. I don't know where this fits. It's a great piece, and belongs somewhere, but I don't hear this on ME or ATC. There is somewhere to put it, though. |
Broadcast History
Winner of 2003 Silver Reel for Drama, National Federation of Community Broadcasters.
Broadcast as part of the series "Hitchhiking off the Map" on KPFA and other stations.
Musical Works
All music in the piece is composed by the producer; no clearance required.
Related Website
Marjorie Van Halteren
Posted on June 13, 2005 at 01:17 PM | Permalink
Review of Outside the Dying
It's late at night as I'm listening to this - and it feels just right. I know there are some people who would consider this 21-minute interior diary of a woman as she moves towards widowhood a bit too dark - but I am personally uplifted by how edgily beautiful it sounds and is. And the many, many listeners who have lived through something related would no doubt resonate with the honesty and depth. Lovely performances, lovely writing.