When William Balzer sits down for “Two Drink Minimum,” it will be as a first-time playwright and not as an arts patron.
Balzer, a retired, civic-minded UPS executive, took a can-do attitude that has served him well over the years and done what many only talk about — he put his life on a page.
In the opening lines of his new play, Balzer offers a no-holds-barred, humorous look at the complex relationship with his mother, Mary B.
Even simple tasks — like calling home — took a “two-drink minimum”.
“The first drink was for the courage to make the call,” he said. “The second provided the courage not to hang up.”
The play runs Wednesday through Nov. 18 at the Balzer Theater at Herren’s at 84 Luckie St. The theater was named after Balzer and his wife of 40 years, Peg, both big supporters of the Theatrical Outfit company.
“Bill has always been a good storyteller,” Peg Balzer said. “The first thing I liked about Bill was his sense of humor.”
For years, Balzer, who grew up in Connecticut, entertained friends and his in-laws with stories about life with his Polish-American mother, whom he loved but describes as emotionally distant.
“We were never touchy-feely,” said Balzer, 69, who splits his time between a home in Roswell and a condo in downtown Atlanta. “It wasn’t all bad times, but you could only take her in small doses. It wasn’t easy. “
He thinks a lot of his mother’s problem had to do with her own relationships with her family.
“She was treated like Cinderella,” he said. “She had to clean for her three brothers, younger sister and her dad after her mother died. … I think my mother became bitter.”
Director Scott Warren said some people may recognize bits and pieces of their own family relationships.
“The real takeaway … is that there are times when it’s difficult and the easy thing would be to walk away,” he said.
He added, “There’s honor that comes with family love, and sometimes you have to do the right thing which is not always the easy thing.”
Executive Artistic Director Tom Key said he has a real aversion of Hollywood tell-alls, but this isn’t the case with Balzer’s play.
“She’s not a villain, but given the situation, what she came through — the war, losing her husband — it made for a very difficult situation. I think that’s why the audience really rallies around Bill,” Key said. “What caught Bill off guard when he was reading is that the bottom line is this is his mother, and when he loses her it’s a profound loss.”
In some ways that experience helped shape who Balzer is today.
While he was never showered with hugs and kisses, he makes sure to let his wife and two adult children know they’re important to him.
When Peg Balzer wondered about her life’s contributions, he wrote her a letter and gave it to her on their 40th anniversary. The letter detailed the influence she has been to him, their children and others she brought into their lives.
He takes time to enjoy life, including late afternoon chats at poolside with his neighbor. All helped him prepare for this latest chapter in his life.
After retiring, Balzer enrolled at Georgia State University and graduated with a degree in interdisciplinary studies.
He became involved with Theatrical Outfit, one of Atlanta’s oldest theater groups, rising from board member to chairman. He was instrumental in helping Theatrical Outfit build its own new space as part of the downtown’s revitalization, creating the Balzer Theater at Herren’s.
But he still had an itch he couldn’t scratch. He wanted to write a play.
He attended a one-day playwrighting workshop, then decided to hire someone to teach “Playwright 101.” In time, a “Two Drink Minimum” was born.
“Everyone thinks they can write, but the hard part of writing is actually writing,” Warren said. “There’s something about putting the word to the page that is really a difficult and dedicated process.”
Key said he raised the bar for Balzer. “I told him, ‘In order for me to even read it, you have to do this, this and that,’ ” he said. “I gave him criteria, and he just started meeting all the criteria.”
Some may wonder whether Balzer had an “in” because the theater carries his name. No way, Key says. “I don’t choose bad plays to produce at Theatrical Outfit,” he said. “And Bill Balzer doesn’t want to put on a bad play. He’s trusting me to be honest. “
Now, Balzer is mulling over ideas for other plays — fueled by those poolside conversations and drinks with his neighbor Mike Buscher. Buscher will be in the audience when “Two Drink Minimum” debuts.
“When Bill says he’s going to do something, he does it,” Buscher said. “He’s not someone you want to challenge.”
About the Author
