South Florida Sun-Sentinel (Sunday)
How to discreetly criticize the only oncologist in town
Dear Miss Manners: I have cancer. I live in a fairly small town with a fairly small hospital. There is only one oncology practice, with only one oncologist. The next town is not close.
At my last appointment, the doctor and I were both wearing masks.
The hospital does not let anyone into the building without a mask and temperature test. I said something that was a little muffled that I had to repeat. Pointing to his mask, the oncologist said, “These masks don’t do anything anyway. They don’t help; they’re just for show.”
This is a doctor whose patients are virtually all immunocompromised, since most cancer drugs wipe out our white cell count. If this man doesn’t believe masks work, why would he take precautions outside of the hospital?
Gossip spreads easily around here, and I am afraid to say anything to anyone about this for fear he would likely find out who “complained.” As I said, there is no other oncologist in town.
Gentle reader: Doctors and hospitals are supposed to be more discreet than the average resident, but Miss Manners understands your concern and your urgency.
As the goal is to hide in plain sight, she can offer two solutions: sharing all of your concerns with someone in authority whom you trust — your general practitioner, perhaps — and asking that person to act, discreetly, on your behalf; or mobilizing fellow patients to crowd the hospital administration with multiple, identical complaints.
How can I get a co-worker to wear a mask in our workplace, which supposedly requires masks at all times? I’ve already complained to her supervisor and the HR department.
Dear Miss Manners:
Co-workers — by which Miss Manners means workers of equal rank, not the faux charm with which the boss who just gave you a bad performance review introduces you as his co-worker — have limited authority, either from HR or Miss Manners, to boss one another around.
They have still less ability to enforce behavioral changes. If neither the boss nor HR are willing to address your understandable, and serious, concern, then they should be asked if they can relocate you to a safe (not, please note, “a safer”) environment.
Gentle reader:
My sister-in-law recently brought her dog to stay in my home for two months while her family relocates. She also brought a cute, sturdy canvas tote stitched with the dog’s name, holding an extra leash, two harnesses and assorted treats and meds.
When we send the dog back to her, she asked if I would mail the bag of supplies as well. Like most dog-related goods, the bag and harnesses have gotten muddy and haven’t been washed in a while. I’d love to toss it all in the laundry as I do routinely with my own dogs’ things, and send it all back fresh.
If Miss Manners will take me at my word that I have absolutely no double intent, other than making my SIL’s move a little
Dear Miss Manners:
easier, I would appreciate it. But will my SIL find some offense?
Gentle reader: Expert though she is on all things etiquette-related, Miss Manners has long ago given up trying to predict what will cause people to take offense when they are determined to do so.
That said, there is a simple solution to your problem. Call your sisterin-law and tell her what you intend to do. When you explain that the purpose of the call was to check if there was any reason to be concerned that the tote’s stitching might be damaged in the wash, you will have removed even the indefensible reason for her to take offense.
Dear Miss Manners: What do you think about the fairly new practice of “return receipts” — sales receipts to include with a gift, provided by the store to facilitate returns?
I’m of two minds about it, myself. Such receipts certainly make returning gifts easier, but I dislike the presumption that goes hand in hand with the receipt: that the recipient probably won’t care much for what I’ve picked out.
Gentle reader: Oh, those naughty stores, packing such receipts with presents that are perfect and no one would ever want to return. However, considering that it is not done by the giver, Miss Manners considers these a good idea.
This is a list of reader-submitted events, virtual and in-person. CDC social distancing and other guidelines apply. Please use the contact information to verify details. All programs and activities are subject to change.
‘Fur The Love’ Pet Fest,
10 a.m.-4 p.m. Feb. 21. Enjoy a day of two- and fourlegged fun at the new park. Bring your friends, family, children and pooches to participate in activities. Las Olas Intracoastal Promenade Park, 80 Las Olas Circle, Fort Lauderdale.
954-828-2690. See bit.
ly/3jTeqAM. $10-$30. Children under 12 and pets free.
Free Arts! Family Day,
noon-4 p.m. Feb. 21. Free admission and interactive art-making activity on the third Sunday of every month through May 16. Art and Culture Center, 1650 Harrison St., Hollywood.
954-921-3274. artandculturecenter.org/free-arts-family-day. Free.
Sunday Jazz Jams,
2-4 p.m. Feb. 21. Outdoor session featuring the Gold Coast Jazz Society Quartet and local student jazz musicians. Reservations required due to limited socially distanced seating. ArtServe, 1350 E. Sunrise Blvd., Fort Lauderdale.
954-524-0805. goldcoastjazz.org. Free.
The God of Isaac by James Sherman, 7-9 p.m. Feb. 21. Cleverly funny play about what it is to be Jewish but a warning to be aware and proud of being Jewish, presented by West Boca Theatre Company. Levis JCC Sandler Center,
21050 95th Ave. S., Boca Raton. 561-558-2512. levisjcc.org/culture/theater.
$20. Open to the public. Anti-Semitism Today,
1-2 p.m. Feb. 22. A crucial program from Temple Beth Tikvah, virtual from Greenacres City. 561-9673600. Register for Zoom link at bit.ly/3rIWA5X. Free.
Black History Month speaker on Medical Apartheid, 6-7:30 p.m. Feb.
22. Award-winning author Harriet Washington will discuss medical experimentation on African Americans from the era of slavery to racism and the
COVID-19 vaccine. Virtual on Zoom from Barry University, Miami Shores.
305-857-7818. Register at
bit.ly/3qpXALY. Free. ‘Black History, Black Future,’ Fine art exhibit by Dillard Center for The Arts AP Students ,10
a.m.-4 p.m. through Feb. 28. Available to view in-person and online, hosted by History Fort Lauderdale. New River Inn, 231 SW Second Ave., Fort Lauderdale. 954-463-4431. historyfortlauderdale.org/ museum/events. $7-$15.
$10 Tuesdays at MODS,
10 a.m.-5 p.m. Feb. 23 and Tuesdays through May
18, guests are welcome to explore interactive exhibits. Museum of Discovery and Science, 401 SW Second St., Fort Lauderdale. 954-467-6637. mods.
org/10-stem-afternoons-atmods. $10.
Tech Talks, noon Feb.
23. Boca Raton Historical Society & Museum and the Innovation Campus present “The Early Years: Technology of Radar, IBM and the First PC (1940s1981). Each program is 45 minutes and can be viewed on BRiC’s channels on YouTube or Facebook. See BocaHistory.org. Free.
Art Therapy for Health Care Workers,
3-4:30 p.m. Feb. 23. A four-week in-person art therapy program from the University of Florida’s Center for Arts in Medicine Program designed as a self-care workshop called “Creating for Compassion Capstone.” ArtServe,
1350 E. Sunrise Blvd., Fort Lauderdale. 954-462-8190.
fb.watch/3nU3iZOh3Q. Free.
Climate, Energy & Environment Forum,
7-8:30 p.m. Feb. 23. ReThink Energy Florida invites you to a webinar with newly-elected officials answering questions from moderator Tom O’Hara of The Invading Seas. Register at tinyurl.com/ browardforum Virtual from Hollywood. 954-268-9678. bit.
SENTINEL 2019
ly/375GfAp. Free. Backstage at Broward Center Tour, hourly 2-5 p.m. Feb. 24. Available Wednesday-Saturday through March 27. Broward Center for the Performing Arts, 201 SW Fifth Ave., Fort Lauderdale. 954-4620222. browardcenter. org/events/detail/backstage-tour. $10.
Have We Done Enough? America’s Long Overdue Awakening to Systemic Racism, 7-8:30 p.m. Feb. 24. Fact-based debate with panelists from Broward College, City Furniture, and Urban League of Broward County. Virtual from Fort Lauderdale. 954-800-9549. Register for Dinner at the Square debate at bit.ly/2Z4mWTT. Free.
Famous Trials with Stephen Singer, 7-8 p.m. Feb. 24. Preregistration required for the Patty Hearst Murder Trial presentation. Stirling Road Branch Library, 3151 Stirling Road, Fort Lauderdale.
954-357-7550. stirlingfriends.org. Free.
Moonlight Tales: Distance Separates Us, Kindness Brings Us Together, 7-8 p.m. Feb. 24. Features three storytellers guided by one single theme, kindness. Broward County Library, 100 S. Andrews Ave., Fort Lauderdale.
954-357-7444. Register at broward.libnet.info/
event/4796055. Free. Sandoway Discovery Series, 9:30-10 a.m. Feb. 25. Ongoing weekly series of discovery, geared for families with children ages 3-5. Each 30-minute program will explore a different topic, from bugs to pythons, plants to butterflies. Sandoway Discovery Center,
142 S. Ocean Blvd., Delray Beach. 561-274-7263. sandoway.org. $8.
La Vida Pride webinar, 5:30-7 p.m. Feb. 25. Features author, lecturer and FIU adjunct professor Sorah Dubitsky, Ph.D. Topics include LGBTQ+ sexuality, from tech trends to COVID-19 safe sex. See drsorah.com/sex-education. Register for Zoom link at bit.ly/3tTPg9p. Free.
Hyperreal Landscape: Mary Claire Becker & Taryn McMahon, 6:30 p.m. Feb. 25. Online event. Campus exhibition runs through April 7. Bailey Hall at Broward College,
3501 SW, Davie Road, Davie. 954-201-6843. bit.
ly/3acaTtU. Free with Eventbrite registration.
Virtual Yiddishfest, Feb. 25-28. Features performances, concerts, readings and interviews to celebrate the holiday of Purim, often called “the Jewish Carnavale.” See YILoveJewish.org or on Facebook at facebook.com/YiddishkaytInitiative, email info@ yilovejewish.org or call
888-945-6835. Free.
Black History Month celebration, 6-8:30 p.m. Feb. 26. Tamarac Sports Complex, Tract 27, Tamarac Skate Park, 9901 NW
77th St. tamarac.org/ SpecialEvents. 954-5973620. Free; preregistration required, as well as masks and social distancing.
Gumbo Limbo After Dark, 6:30 p.m. Feb. 26. Let the Nature Center’s staff in Boca Raton take you on a virtual tour on Facebook Live. Become a night explorer to paddle through the mangroves in search of swamp creatures. facebook. com/GumboLimboNatureCenter. Suitable for all ages.
561-544-8605.
Creel Palooza Drive-In Movie: Frozen 2, 7-10 p.m.
Feb. 26. Gates open at 6 p.m. in the Butterfly Parking Lot, 5303 NW 40th St., Coconut Creek. 954-5456682. coconutcreek.net/ Palooza. Free.
Bob Merrill & Friends Celebrate Wit and Wisdom of the Great American Songbook, 7:30 p.m. Feb. 26-27. Features Merrill on jazz trumpet and vocals. Rinker Playhouse stage, Kravis Center for the Performing Arts, 701 Okeechobee Blvd., West Palm Beach. 561-832-7469. kravis.org/merrill. $39-$49.
Virtual Race of Hope,
8 a.m. Feb. 27. This is Hope for Depression Research Foundation’s Winter 5K. Participants can view a live broadcast at hopefordepression.org. Send selfies to raceofhopeseries.com/ contest. Register for $40 at raceofhopeseries.com.
Outdoor Vendor Mart & Yard Sale, 8 a.m.-2 p.m. Feb. 27. Woman of Saint Mark the Evangelist Catholic Church will host this event in the parking lot on the west side of church grounds, 5601 S. Flamingo Road, Southwest Ranches. Social distancing enforced.
954-434-3777. Vendor fees benefit local charities. Food available for purchase. Admission and parking are free.
‘Quilting: A Historical Perspective Through Art,’ 10 a.m. Feb. 27. This is a virtual guided workshop with artist George Gadson. Explore the Black historical tradition of storytelling through quilting from the time of slavery to the present day. tamarac.org/ SpecialEvents. Preregister for link at 954-597-3620.
$10.
Arsht on the Road, 5 and 9 p.m. Feb. 27. Presents “Zoetic Schmoetic,” a socially-distanced outdoor improv experience. Thomson Plaza for the Arts, 1300 Biscayne Blvd., Miami. See
bit.ly/39DoOsC. $15.
Creel Palooza Drive-In Movie Series, 7-10 p.m. Feb. 26. Every Friday night in February in the Butterfly Parking Lot, 5303 NW
40th St., Coconut Creek.
954-545-6682. coconutcreek.net/Palooza. Free.
South Florida Symphony presents Beethoven, Stravinsky & Bach, 8-9:30 p.m. Feb.
27. Masterworks IV virtual concert. 954-552-8445.
bit.ly/3tQ2ggw. $25-$45. Save $20 with promo code
STRAVINSKY25 Stepping Out to Cure Scleroderma, 10:30-11:30 a.m. Feb. 27. Virtual event from Tradewinds Park, Coconut Creek. 954-7981854. scleroderma.org/ steppingoutsefl. $25.
Private Affairs, Public Displays: Valentines erotica exhibition. Runs through Feb. 28, at The Box Gallery, 811 Belvedere Road, West Palm Beach. Free; RSVP required at bit.
ly/39Sbgd6 or TheBoxGallery. Info.
Broward Symphony Orchestra presents Masterworks III, 2 p.m. Feb. 28. Online event features works by Mozart, Rossini, Respighi and Gounod. 954-201-6843. Register with Eventbrite at
bit.ly/3aXQat6. Free. Greenacres Green Market & Bazaar, 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Feb. 28. Community Park, 2905 Jog Road, Greenacres City. 561-6422196. bit.ly/3d4hHeU. Free. Live Jazz at Flamingo Gardens, 2 p.m. Feb. 28. Features the BC Big Band and BC Combo. Flamingo Gardens, 3750 S. Flamingo Road, Davie. 954-201-6843. flamingogardens.org/
events. $15.95-$21.95.
Scandalous Nights,
5-6:30 p.m. weekends through Feb. 28. Variety show in Fort Lauderdale features a revolving cast of the best in cruise ship and local talent. Empire Stage, 1713 SW 14th St., Fort Lauderdale. 518-330-2775. empirestage.com. $35. Get
$10 off with code SAVE.
In God We Trust: Early Bible printings, 1-5 p.m. through Feb. 28. This exhibition from the David M. Rubenstein Americana Collection includes historic American Bibles and religious texts. Society of the Four Arts, 102 Four Arts Plaza, Palm Beach. 561-6557227. fourarts.org. $10; children under 14 free.
Learn to Drive Simulator, weekly in March. Monday and Friday 10 a.m.; Saturday at 1 and 2 p.m. Square One, 2nd Floor, Mandel Public Library of West Palm Beach, 411 Clematis St. Choose to learn automatic, manual (stick-shift), or both in a one-hour session. You must be at least 15 years old. Registration required. Visit wpbcitylibrary.org or call
561-868-7760. Free.
Boca History 102,
noon-12:30 p.m. March
4. Presented by Boca Raton Historical Society & Museum on Zoom. Learn about the nifty ‘50s, hurricanes and the curator’s favorite collection of items and stories that go with them. To sign up, email Patricia Fiorillo at research@BocaHistory.org, call 561-395-6766 or see BocaHistory.org.
FAU University Galleries exhibit, through March
6. The Dorothy F. Schmidt College of Arts and Letters is open to the public with the exhibition “Expanding Printmaking: South Florida Artist Run Presses,” in the Ritter Art Gallery, Boca Raton campus. Visit fau. edu/galleries.
Garlic Fest, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. March 6-7. Features art, products, food, tribute bands and homemade goods at Wellington Green Park, 2175 Wellington Green Drive. garlicfestfl. com. Garlic Fest is a fundraiser for nine local nonprofit organizations. Masks mandatory. $10.70 admission.
MOCA presents Art on the Plaza, daily through March 7. Artist Reginald O’Neal will showcase a detailed mural depicting his cultural heritage and narratives relating to Miami’s Historic Overtown neighborhood, in a powerful depiction of past and present. Museum of Contemporary Art, 770 NE 125th St., North Miami.
305-893-6211. mocanomi. org. Free.
LGBTQ+ Teen support group, 6-7 p.m. Weekly through March 9. Meets via telehealth from the Faulk Center for Counseling, Boca Raton. 561-483-5300. Visit bit.ly/3990A8g for schedule of more support groups, including those for men, women, marital status and life issues. Teen group is free. Separate adult group meets at the same time for a monthly donation of $10.
Soul on Art: Ghosts of Africa, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Daily except Sunday, through March 10. Features works by significant brown and Black artists. See Lighthouse ArtCenter Gallery & 2D Studio, 373 Tequesta Drive, Tequesta. 561-3073330. lighthousearts.org.
$5.
JazzAid Live, 8 p.m. March 13 and April 10. Enjoy this streaming show
for some cool (virtual) jazz while fundraising for World Central Kitchen by Chef Jose Andres. Presented by Pinecrest Gardens, at the Banyan Bowl Amphitheater, Miami. 305-669-6990. pinecrestgardens.org/ jazzaid. $15 a performance.
‘In Time of Protest’ art exhibition, 9:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Thursday through March 14. Curated by Rolando Chang Barrero, exhibit features “Louder,” by Aaron Schwartz, among others on display at the Miramar Cultural Center in the Ansin Family Art Gallery. 954-602-4525. miramarculturalcenter.org.
Dancing with Ira Weisburd, 7-9 p.m. Mondays learn Israeli dancing; or practice line dancing 10:30
a.m.-12:30 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays. Balkin and international dancing, 1-3 p.m., Saturdays. Dance workshops online through
2021. Join at youtube. com/user/iraweisburd, from Kings Point in Delray Beach. 561-901-1200. Free for everyone over 18.
NSU Art Museum extends exhibit. Ongoing. ”From Pencil to Paint” by William J. Glackens will remain until spring at the NSU Art Museum in Fort Lauderdale. See new exhibition with the South Florida Cultural Consortium and more virtual tours at nsuartmuseum.org.
Play Readers’ Series: Race On The American Stage, 3-5 p.m. through March 28. Via Zoom from Fort Lauderdale. 954-6107263. bit.ly/3pfPzJi.
$15-$30.
Charles & Jackson Pollock exhibit, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. through March 28. Nearly 70 paintings and works on paper by older brother Charles, the exhibition presents a small, intimate selection of works revealing a Jackson Pollock little known to the general public. The Society of the Four Arts, 102 Four Arts Plaza, Palm Beach. 561-6557227. fourarts.org. $10; children under 14 free.
Westfield Broward mall Drive N’ Drag, 7 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. Feb.
26-27. See westfield.com/ broward.
Contemporary American artist Philip Haas: The Four Seasons,
10 a.m.-5 p.m. through March 31. Displayed in the Philip Hulitar Sculpture Garden, this group of painted fiberglass sculptures are inspired by the portrait series of the Italian Mannerist Giuseppe Arcimboldo. The Society of the Four Arts, 102 Four Arts Plaza, Palm Beach. 561-6557227. fourarts.org. Free. Open weather permitting.
‘Biscayne Bay: Our Water, Our World’ exhibit, noon-5 p.m. through March 31. Features historic photographs, contemporary images and the Coral City Camera, provides visitors an opportunity to learn about the importance of protecting and preserving Biscayne Bay. Dade Heritage Trust,
190 SE 12th Terrace, Miami. 305-910-3996. dadeheritagetrust.org/ exhibits. Free.
‘Collecting Stories’ exhibit, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Runs through April 3. Drawing 140 works from its esteemed permanent collection, the museum’s current exhibit portrays a collective narrative of Japan’s majestic history and thriving culture. Morikami Museum and Japanese Gardens, 4000 Morikami Park Road,
Delray Beach. 561-4950233. morikami.org/ current-exhibitions.
$9-$15.
Lincoln Road Outdoor Antique & Collectible Market, 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Sundays through May 9. More than 100 dealers offer art, pottery, jewelry, paintings, furniture, rugs, sculpture, curios, books, posters, knickknacks, clothing and more. Lincoln Road,
1100 Lincoln Road, Miami Beach. 305-673-4991. antiquecollectiblemarket. com. Free.
Judy Levis Krug Boca Raton Jewish Film Festival: Daily through May
16. Presented by the Levis JCC features over 50 films, plus Q&A webinars, and more. 561-558-2514. bocajff.org. $4.99-$12 each or
$59-up for packages; link good for 72 hours. Public welcome.
Bring Butterflies Back, daily, weather permitting. Butterfly World features self-guided tours, gift shop, workshops and lectures with tips on gardening and planting host plants for butterfly caterpillars. Watch videos on YouTube at bit.ly/2CuyZ5e. Shop for gifts, plants, ladybugs or pupa. 954-977-4400. Tradewinds Park, 3600 W. Sample Road, Coconut Creek. $22.50-$32.50. butterflyworld.com.
Broward Center online classes for all ages. Ongoing. Free classes include singing, acting, dancing and improv. Stay connected with this online series available anytime. You can also follow the Facebook page to access previous videos and content. For details, see browardcenter.org and click on Education@Home or visit
bit.ly/2EhNvxA. Broward Library’s Facebook collection. Ongoing. Includes videos curated for all ages. Consider a recorded Zoom performance by the Miami Children’s Museum; or a “Matter of Fact Show” with MODS. You can meet an engineer from the NASA Artemis Program, take a virtual tour of Flamingo Gardens; or celebrate the legacy of Stevie Wonder. Visit bit.ly/3igsmCP or broward.org/library. Free.
Palm Beach County Library digital events. Ongoing. Many activities and programs are held on Zoom. Participants must preregister. Download a PDF with instructions and then sign up for things, like stories and songs about magical unicorns, or learning more about watercolor painting. Whatever piques your interest is now online, from engineering a paper airplane to a Latin-flavor cooking demo. Visit bit.
ly/2C62OZE or pbclibrary. org.
Pompano Beach Arts. Ongoing. Entertaining and educational videos for all ages, including, creative writing classes, visual and therapeutic arts, music, lectures, interviews, workshops, theater basics, storytelling and more. Some events have fees and specific times; others are ongoing and free. Visit pompanobeacharts.org.
Visit Manatee Lagoon’s virtual learning site. Ongoing. Take a deep dive into the history of Manatee Lagoon, an FPL Eco-Discovery Center and educational attraction in Riviera Beach. Follow Mia on the Manatee Cam. Learn what manatee observers do and complete some at-home activities, like watching the sea turtle art lesson video or downloading the smalltooth sawfish facts and coloring sheet at bit.ly/31iyHH4. 561-626-2833 or visitmanateelagoon.com.
At Home with Gumbo Limbo. Ongoing. The Nature Center offers many virtual adventures and activities for kids and the whole family. Includes self-guided beachcombing, nature detectives and videos on Facebook and YouTube. Visit the Virtual Program page. Boca residents can register for programs via Webtrac. Visit gumbolimbo.org or call
561-544-8605.
To submit events, see sunsentinel.com/calendars for instructions. Send removal requests and corrections to Calendar@ sunsentinel.com.
Even from the recent virtual year of Sundance, there are still bound to be breakout performances and newly minted stars-to-be. A solid bet for that distinction is Patti Harrison, one of the leads in the grounded comedy “Together Together.”
Written and directed by Nikole Beckwith, the film stars Harrison as Anna, a
20-something woman who is hired as a surrogate by a
40-something single man (Ed Helms). As the pregnancy progresses the two loners soon strike up an unlikely friendship.
The sensitive earnestness of her performance in “Together Together” is something new from Harrison, who first made a name for herself as an acerbic, absurdist stand-up comedian. She has appeared on television shows such as “High Maintenance,” “Broad City” and “Shrill” and was also in the 2018 film “A Simple Favor” and worked as a writer on the series “Big Mouth” and “Dispatches From Elsewhere.”
This interview with Harrison has been edited for clarity and length.
Q: Do you consider yourself more of a comedian, an actor or just sort of an all-purpose performer?
A: I think I identify as a comedian before kind of anything else. Before I identify as a person, as a human being with empathy. I would say that in terms of tracking the career paths of a lot of comedians, it’s an interesting one because there’s so many different ways to do it. … It is a very cool kind of open-ended place to enter because I don’t know if I ever really imagined myself working in a writers room or acting in that capacity.
I’ve been pretty open
to just seeing what my opportunities are and what comes my way. And this was something that I definitely hadn’t imagined happening. I mean, I think everyone has those weird side fantasies of, “What if one day I did something more dramatic?” People in creative industries have these adjacent creative urges, “But what if I became a musician? What if I became a painter?” I think it kind of fell under that.
Q: Do you see the performance in the movie as essentially a dramatic one?
A: I think it’s because I have this bias of me being somewhat aware of myself and knowing myself, that it’s way more grounded and anchored in an emotional drive and purpose and the story that it’s telling than anything I write for myself. A lot of the stuff that I want to create personally
is usually pretty absurd or silly comedy stuff.
So this does feel — even though I understand that it is a comedy, a lot of the goofier moments in the movie don’t come from Anna’s character necessarily. It comes from these orbiting characters like Julio Torres or Greta Titelman or Anna Konkle coming in. And they have these opportunities to add this levity and a fun chemistry. But I think the purpose is more nuanced than anything I ever aspired to do as a comedian, as someone who identifies as a silly comedian.
Q: Was it hard for you to adjust to what this role needed?
A: It was a weird adjustment. Any time I get something sent to me I just assume they want something very silly. I get typecast as kind of … a young millennial assistant. I don’t know if millennial is young
anymore.
At first, I was very hesitant about the tone and what (Nikole) specifically wanted me to be able to deliver to it. And I’m transgender. Is this like a stunt casting thing? There were all these questions because we hadn’t met before. And then when we did meet initially, it was like a beautiful first date. I feel like the story of the movie, the skeleton of the movie is kind of the skeleton of my friendship with Nikole now. Where I’m platonically deeply in love with her.
Q: As a trans performer, to be cast in a cisgender role where your transness is not part of the role, what does that mean to you?
A: I think that it can be looked at in probably a pretty heady way, if you think about just all of the layers of it, but I think it was a lot simpler than that.
It’s been interesting to
think about why I started trying to make stuff, do comedy and act and write. And a lot of the stuff that I found personally interesting to write and create was stuff that didn’t have to do with me being trans. Because for me, getting to do comedy or getting this creative outlet served as an escape to not think about this one lens that I’ve been pigeonholed in for this part of my life and that people have a hard time seeing me outside of — to see me as a fully fleshed-out person.
Everything else that I’ve ever filmed I’ve had to shoot maybe two or three days a week, ’cause I’m in a scene or two, I’m a supporting character. So it’s really fun and breezy, and I just get to fly in and be silly and leave. But this was a lot more work, and it was in this character who wasn’t trans, and it’s a plot point the movie depends on, the fact that this character is cis. But it really helped. I was focusing on anything else for a full month than me thinking about being trans, and it was just a lot of work, and it took me out of this headspace. I was pretty tired, but I think it was a good kind of tired.
This movie specifically felt really special because it was something that I never really thought I was going to get to do. And when I say that, I just didn’t think I’d be playing a pregnant woman in a movie that is earnest. And I want there to be more opportunities for marginalized people who are in the creative industries. Because I do think representation is really important.
I know that a lot of people say that, but not all representation is good, and we need good representation. And that means letting people play roles outside of what their boxes are, what society tells them their boxes are. So this really felt like that for me.
Holy Cross Health, 4725 N. Federal Highway, in Fort Lauderdale recently unveiled a commemorative health care heroes mural outside of its parking garage.
Created by artist Cavan Koebel, better known as Raw Sol, the nonprofit hospital commissioned the mural to honor the health care workers and frontline responders for their dedication and hard work during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The mural is set to be part of a series of works done by Koebel called “Not All Heroes Wear Capes.” The colorful mural featuring aspects of superheroes and comics will be part of a collection of work Koebel creates for hospitals.
HOLY
“I was very familiar with Cav’s work and thought that this was an incredible tribute to our team at Holy Cross,” Holy Cross Health CEO and President Mark Doyle said in a statement. “Our superheroes wear scrubs, masks and PPE. We want them to be reminded every time they walk by this mural how much we appreciate their passion, quality of care and commitment to our patients, especially over the last nine months.”
Born and raised in South Florida, Koebel, who is a Chaminade-Madonna High School graduate, emphasized his belief in giving back to the community.
“I am inspired by health care workers and the sacrifices they make going to work and risking their lives to help others especially at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic,” Koebel said in a statement.