"Blown Sideways Through Life" opens tonight
BY MARY LANCASTER INDEPENDENT WRITER

PHOTO BY ROB BENCHLEY Pam Diem stars in "Blown Sideways," a one-woman show by Claudia Shear about the 65 jobs different she has held.

Claudia Shear has quite a story to tell about her career life, one that is guaranteed to make you laugh and feel lucky for your own stability. When the Theatre Workshop of Nantucket's "Blown Sideways Through Life" opens tonight, New York actress, island summer resident and jewelry designer Pam Diem will take the stage to perform Shear's adventures in this one-woman show written by Shear about the 65 different jobs she held.

"She was a receptionist in a whore house, a movie actress and a make-up artist for Helena Rubenstein; she worked in a hardware store in Coney Island and she was a nude model for a painter," said Diem, who describes the play as adult theater. "It's kind of like a "Sex in the City" type of thing. It's really fun. No one will be offended by it, but it's definitely for a mature audience."

The story, directed by Jane Karakula, takes place in Shear's studio apartment in Manhattan with Diem covered by a sheet in the opening scene as she poses for an artist. There is just one set in "Blown Sideways," but costumes and lighting change during the hour-long monologue in which Diem portrays every character.

"This is one of the most challenging roles I've ever had. I'm constantly doing different voices," said Diem, who holds a master's of fine arts degree in acting from the Institute for Advanced Theatre Training at Harvard University. "It's about a woman who grew up in Brooklyn and had a hard time finding her place in life. It's about how you meet different people, learn to respect differences and make sure you laugh all the time, even when you're scared and don't know where your next pay check is coming from. A lot of it is about looking for the next adventure. Adventures are what make up the story of a person's life. Acting her story is Shear's 65th job. It's very hysterical and lively, and then there are times when it makes you think."

Diem, who was featured in TWN's "The Faith Healer" last season, has spent part of each summer here since 1999. Her husband is a sous chef at Sfoglia. This year she opened Little Miss Drama, her first shop, on Old South Wharf to showcase her original handmade jewelry based on characters in plays and books.

"It's great," she said. "I've been so busy with the theater, but I have good girls taking care of the shop so I can take time off."

Curtain is at 8:30 p.m. in the downstairs performance center of the Methodist Church. The play runs Wednesday through Saturday from tonight to August 2 with a 3 p.m. matinee on Sunday, July 27. "Blown Sideways" continues with 8:30 p.m. performances from Tuesday through Saturday August 5 to 8. Tickets are $25. I