Actress Linda Kenyon will perform as Julia Child at the Potomac Community Village program 7 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 20 at the Potomac Community Center. Photo courtesy Linda Kenyon
“That was a big dilemma when the show was being written, because you don’t see Julia without her cooking. It is performed in people’s living rooms, church sanctuaries and [other places] where there is no kitchen available.” —Linda Kenyon
Julia Child to speak in Potomac Thursday.
Well, not really.
Julia Child, the woman who brought French cooking into American homes with the publication of her cookbook, written with two others, “Mastering the Art of French Cooking” in 1961, died in 2004.
She comes alive in the person of actress Linda Kenyon, who will perform a one-woman show, “Bon Appetite,” at 7 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 20 at Potomac Community Center, 11315 Falls Road.
“I wear a wig and I bought a blouse that I thought Julia would like,” Kenyon said of her preparation for the role.
She also said she adopts the mannerisms and voice of Child. And, of course, there was the study.
“I really liked the book of letters she wrote to Avis [Avis De Voto was a good friend and an early editor of “Mastering the Art of French Cooking.”],” Kenyon said. “And her general sense of fun.”
Thursday’s performance is sponsored by Potomac Community Village, a “Neighbor Helping Neighbor” community.
“[Kenyon] did Eleanor Roosevelt for us last year,” said Thalia Meltz from Potomac Community Village. “She was excellent.”
Kenyon is a professional actress who lived in the Washington D.C. area for 42 years. She now lives near New Hope, Pa, and her professional career centers around three famous women: Eleanor Roosevelt, Julia Child and Babe Didrikson Zaharias.
In spite of Julia Child’s fame as cookbook author and TV cooking personality, there is no cooking in “Bon Appetite,” which was written by local resident Clay Teunis.
“That was a big dilemma when the show was being written, because you don’t see Julia without her cooking,” Kenyon said. “It is performed in people’s living rooms, church sanctuaries and [other places] where there is no kitchen available.”
So, she mimes it.
“I mime scrambling eggs and sharpening a knife,” she said.
“Audiences love the show,” Kenyon said. “I’ve always had very good reviews.”
Kenyon said that after each show she is available to answer questions as either Julia or herself. One usual question is, does she like to cook.
And she does, she said.
The performance of “Bon Appetite” is free and open to the public this week, Meltz said.
To learn more about Linda Kenyon, visit lindakenyon.com.