I mean, my people were very, very simple. They were peasant people, you know?

Before my grandpa built his own church, we went to the neighboring town, and it was a white community. You know, up north, mostly middle European people and Indians, Chippewa Indians. We were welcome to that church, but once we got in, they didn't know what to do with us.

And nothing embittered me, which is important, because I think ethnic people and women in this society can end up being embittered because of the lack of affirmative action, you know.

Even during the rationing period, during World War II, we didn't have the anxiety that we'd starve, because we grew our own potatoes, you know? And our own hogs, and our own cows and stuff, you know.

He observed neighborhoods, people in neighborhoods, and he learned how they talk. I think that is the greatest achievement that he has done - he brought that to his plays, the language of people.

I'm very simple. I'm not for the flashes, I'm not for glitz and glamour, you know.