For those of you in the Philadelphia area, Martha Kemper will be performing her moving one-woman piece “Me, Miss Krause, and Joan” at Abington Friends School on September 26. (Heads up for members of our meeting–we will be having a session with Vanessa Julye that night, so it will be a tough choice.) Proceeds will go to the Women’s Center of Montgomery County and the Right Sharing Fund of Abington Friends Meeting (where Martha is a member).

I saw Martha perform this autobiographical piece during the Philly Fringe Festival last year and was very impressed. It weaves together the story of Joan of Arc, whom Martha admires along with her acting teacher Alvina Krause, with the story of Martha’s own journey to become an actress. I thought it was about finding your voice and being true to yourself, even in the face of violence. Somewhere I saw it described as being about “perseverance,” though that word doesn’t quite capture the spiritual aspect of it.

Last winter I interviewed Martha and Carolyn Schodt, who had traveled with a group of Philadelphia Quakers to visit Quakers in India. Among other things, Martha discussed performing her play, which deals with sexual violence, in a country where such topics are more taboo than here. Hearing the reaction of women from around the world reminded me why it is important that art help to crack open such experiences and expose them to the light.

The performance at Abington will begin at 7:30. Tickets are $15 at the door. For more information, call 215-884-2865 or amm@abingtonfriends.net.