Last night I finally headed over to The Source Theatre to see “Kenneth, What is the Frequency?” — a play I first found out about from fellow Liberty alum Andrew Chamberlain’s blog. Andrew also linked to the Harper’s article on which the play was based. I knew about the incident that inspired the article — the 1986 assault in which Dan Rather was accosted by straingers shouting “Kenneth, what is the frequency?” at him — but for some reason, I had never heard of this article. Even though it tentatively implicates postmodernist writer Donald Barthelme, one of my favorites since I discovered him and saw him lecture while I was in high school (not too long after the Rather assault, incidentally).

I wish I could tell you how the play was, but I can’t. I was running a little late, and ended up having to circle for a parking spot for about 15 minutes, until a space around the corner opened at exactly 11:00, the advertised starting time. I hurried to the theatre, hoping they hadn’t started exactly on time, barring latecomers from disturbing the show . . . but they hadn’t even started seating yet. After I bought my ticket there was nothing to do but stand around, reading my program repeatedly and avoiding conversation with those around me. I finally picked up a local free gay newspaper after my program became too boring. After a half-hour of standing around waiting, they announced that the computer that controls the video portions of the performance had crashed. They offered a free drink and a comp to another night, but no show last night. Oh well . . .

I ended up heading home, realizing that with some crafty driving I could make it back about the time Letterman finished his monologue. Trying to avoid a red light, I ended up taking a wrong turn and somehow ended up circling the Jefferson Memorial and West Potomac Park. At least I still made it home before “Will It Float?” started.

I could probably still make it back to the theatre for tonight’s show, if I left right now, but I think I may chill out with my new Wings of Desire DVD instead (this is a movie that cements Peter Falk in the pantheon of brilliant actors, in case anyone has doubts that he belongs there).

It all reminds me of something I only vaguely remember from a Simpsons episode. Something about life, disappointments and windfalls. And roller skates.