Christine Baranski, the gifted actress who has appeared in many films (including “Mama Mia”), reads a very, very funny short story by Thomas Mehran before a live audience In New York City B.P. (BeforePandemic). I almost cried with laughter. Enjoy!
Thomas Mehan’s utterly hilarious short story “Yma Dream” is one of our perennial favorites to listen to–especially in the hands of the incredible Christine Baranski. Tune in to join this absurd dinner party of Mehan’s imagination and try to keep up with Baranski’s masterful delivery.
Diane Ravitch's blog 
LOL. Great one.
OK. A story.
So, Jake was told that if he wanted to get the authentic Australian experience, he should rent a dune buggy and drive into the Outback. Ever game, he did, intrepidly heading across country toward Uluru, aka Ayers Rock. As he drove, the terrain got more and more desolate, signs of human habitation disappeared, the air hotter and hotter, and he began to calculate, in his head, how far he had to go, how much water he had left, and whether he could make it. Just as he was about to give up and turn around, he came upon a sign for a town with the altogether appropriate name of Mercy. It consisted of a single general store and a café. Pleased, he stopped and went in to get a bite and a drink.
When the waiter brought the menu, his eye went immediately to the beverages. One of these was “Iced Tea Made from Genuine Australian Koalas.” Well, Jake was nothing if not adventurous, and he wanted the authentic Australian experience, so he ordered a cup, and when it arrived, it had unmentionable things floating on top. He motioned to the waiter, and she came over. “Problem?” she asked.
“There seems to be, uh, something floating in my drink,” Jake said.
The waiter looked at him severely. “Oh, c’mon, Mate,” she said. “Everyone knows the koala tea of Mercy is not strained.”
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Thanks, goes perfectly with my smoked salmon, scallion cream cheese and iced black coffee
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Thank you. Hilarious. I love Abba Eban. Where was Uta Hagen and U Nu?
This one reminds me of the lyric: “abba dabba dabba dabba said the monkey to the chimp.”
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Freaking brilliant! Thanks for a much needed, intelligent laugh.
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I suppose Uma Thurman wasn’t around when this was written.
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Uma is mentioned in it.
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I say Uta and you say Uma.
U Thant stayed home–no sense of humor
Ban Ki-Moon and Kofi stayed far away.
But Boutros Boutros joined the soiree.
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LOL. Excellent, Fred!
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I listened very carefully, and waited patiently for Uma to be mentioned. Now Una? Yes. But not Uma.
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Peekaboo Street gifted a new hospital wing to fight Covid-19. It’s to be called the Peekaboo ICU.
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::rim shot::
At least they didn’t name it the Street of Dreams for the coma patients.
I’ll show myself out.
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Double-checked. Uta was there. My blunder.
But where was Idi of Uganda?
Not on the A-list? Makes me wanda.
Bob, Peekaboo ICU—truly inspired.
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Fred, you are in the spirit of the party!
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That would have been a good one!
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Thank you, Diane, for that laugh this morning! We all need that right now. Last night I filled out the survey for staff in Richmond Schools and there were 4 options so far for Fall: AM /PM classes; MTu/WTh – F as virtual; MTuW/ ThFSa ; and I forget the fourth one. It will be interesting, for sure!
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