It begins before it begins, which is exciting. As you're getting settled in your seats, scrutinizing the program and the set, suddenly there's Ellen Lauren, popping up in mid-auditorium, interrupting your reverie with a crisp, jumpy "Good evening." Her hair drawn back in the characteristic V. Woolf bun, her profile looking more like the jacket photo on the Quentin Bell bio than any profile alive has a right to, she makes her way down to the stage as the house lights finally dim, and has begun her lecture almost before the spotlight has come up on her to compensate. Then, of course, after all the ceremonial signals have been gotten through and we think we've started, her opening words are, "Before... More >>>