This Ethan is your Ethan, this Ethan is my Ethan. This Ethan was made for you and me. This little Ethan went to the movies, this little Ethan went to the theatre, this little Ethan went to the bookstore. Or the set, or the stage, or the typewriter.
Ethan Hawke, everybody, is everywhere. Family man, friendly guy. Jesus is getting jealous. Ace actor, co-founder of Malparte theatre company in New York City, and novelist. First there was
The Hottest State (1997), which didn't necessarily convince anyone, and now comes
Ash Wednesday -- that title a nod to T.S. Eliot -- which is being hailed by its publisher, Knopf, as a "contemporary masterpiece." The critics have yet to go that far (and probably won't) but most agree that this story of Jimmy Heartsock's trip through Texas and beyond with his pregnant girlfriend, Christy, is worth a read. The reason I bring all of this up is because Hawke will be at
BookPeople tonight,
Friday, Aug. 2, 7pm (with the
Texas Monthly book group meeting at 5:30pm to discuss his second effort). The reason I bring
that up is because Hawke has asked the Rude Mechanicals'
Sarah Richardson (In the House of Moles, WAR, Requiem for Tesla, Big Love, The Laramie Project) to join him. Chances are that the voice-modulating mega-talent will be reading as Christy, and chances are that she and Hawke will match up to make for a night of pure starpower. Word to the wise: If you want your copy of
Ash Wednesday signed, you'd best buy it at BookPeople. But you didn't hear that from me. For more info, visit
www.bookpeople.com/coe_example.html?EventID=1350 .