IRENE BLEND AT THE BARN — The award-winning play “Sordid Lives” will be presented by the Barn Players May 31 through June 16. “Sordid Lives” is a black comedy about white trash. Set in a small Texas town, chaos erupts when Peggy, a good Christian woman, hits her head on the sink and bleeds to death after tripping over her lover’s wooden legs in a motel room. It features local Jewish “star” Irene Blend in two roles, Juanita, a bar fly who is always drunk, and Dr. Eve Bolinger, a pill-popping, alcoholic therapist. Ticket information for the play, suggested for adult audiences only, is available at thebarnplayers.org or by calling 913-432-9100. Performances take place in Mission, Kan., at 6219 Martway.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY MARLENE — The happiest of birthdays to Marlene Capito, who turned 80 on Monday. Capito has worked at the Jewish Community Center for 63 years. She currently works part time in the membership department as the membership retention coordinator.
SHALOM OPHIR — The Jewish Federation’s Shlicha Ophir Hacohen is returning to Israel to prepare to attend university classes in Jerusalem. The community will say lehitraot (we’ll see each other again) at a farewell party from 2 to 4 p.m. this Sunday, May 26, in the Galleria at the Jewish Community Campus. Her last day on the job here will be June 3. I know she will be greatly missed by students here and at KU, volunteers and most of all the Federation staff!
MISSING SOME FAMILY HISTORY? — Historian Frank Adler has photocopies of four wedding certificates signed by Rabbi Joseph Krauskopf between 1885 and 1887 while he was the only rabbi serving in Kansas City. The originals were not received by those for whom they were intended. The originals are at Congregation Keneseth Israel in Elkins Park, a suburb of Philadelphia, where Rabbi Krauskopf served after leaving Kansas City in 1887.
The names of the four bridal couples are: Samuel Pettigrew Ancker Jr. of Chicago and Miss Sadie Kahn of Kansas City; Samuel R. Lipsis of St. Louis and Miss Jeanette Hammerslough of Kansas City; Jacob Strauss and Miss Tillie Hahn, both of Topeka; and Daniel H. Brown of Atchison and Miss Florence Tobias of Kansas City.
Relatives may arrange to pick up these copies after calling Adler at 913-381-6000.
