May 15, 2001

Dear Stephen,

I wanted to let you know how much the Never Too Late Group enjoyed your presentation of Walt Whitman at the last meeting. Your portrayal of Whitman is incredibly compelling and believable, and your effortless transformation from the frail, aged poet to the vigorous young man makes one laugh at costly special effects. The script is well-written, and the easy and natural incorporation of the poetry is an excellent introduction to the work if one is not already familiar with it. You convey Whitman’s joy and vibrancy, his reverence for life, yet at the same time, without compromising Whitman’s values and earthiness, there is no material which need worry a presenter in these conservative times. The audience particularly enjoyed the discussion about the play and Whitman afterwards, when your obvious knowledge of the subject and the extensive research you have done was more than clear. I personally enjoyed the presentation as much as anything I have seen in the two years I have been running the group, and I look forward to seeing you in the role again some time. Please feel free to use me as a reference if it will be at all helpful. I hope to be able to present the program again at the Library soon.

Sincerely,

Elisa Birdseye
Never Too Late Group Coordinator
(617) 536-5400 ext. 2339