Ann

Even once you've seen it, it's hard to fathom. It's hard to fathom that someone could be so enthralled with a historical figure that she could write a show about her in which she portrays her for more than two hours on stage all alone while keeping packed house after packed house rapt. But that's exactly what actress Holland Taylor is doing with her show "Ann."

Does it work? You bet. It works so well in fact that the packed house at the ZACH Theatre in Austin, Texas on the night of April 20 sat glued to their seats laughing and clapping and remaining glued to Taylor's -- or rather Richard's -- every word. And getting a ticket to the show is near impossible, with it all but selling out with just the announcement of the run.

"Ann" is a show about Ann Richards, the Texas Governor who changed the face of politics, Texas politics, and women in politics. She was an irreverent, funny, straight-shooting woman who was as honest as Texas summers are hot. People listened when she spoke because she had something to say.

She was an engaging speaker who could speak to almost anyone about almost anything. She used her powers to make the the Great State of Texas, well, the Great State of Texas. She fought for the rights of women and the under-represented and she could throw a one liner better than Nolan Ryan could pitch a ball on his best day at the park.

Taylor has brought Richards to life. She has captured her look, her sound, her demeanor. At any given moment, you would swear you were watching Richards herself up on stage. Speaking of the stage, the opening set is as simple as could be, with little more than a podium. But then the stage literally morphs into the Governor's office. It was as magical and complete as you can imagine.

The only other "character" in the show is Nancy Kohler, Richards' assistant, played off-stage by Julie White. The audience only ever hears her voice. But it's an impressive device for moving the show forward, allowing Richards to converse with someone else. She talks to herself plenty and a number of people on the phone. And you simply have to keep reminding yourself that there is no one on the other end of that line. Taylor just makes the illusion so damn real.

That is the real glory of the show. Taylor's ability to make it all so real. It's one woman on a stage with a desk, and yet it seems as if there is an entire bustling world all around her. The pace is surprisingly fast for a one-woman show. But Richards was a spitfire who never ever had moss growing beneath her feet. Taylor has created that same breathless, tireless, exuberant pace onstage.

It is so easy to both villainize and aggrandize historic figures. But Holland -- through her writing, her research, and her performance -- has managed instead to being a balanced, real-life portrait to life. "Ann" offers a window into the past, a glimpse behind the curtain, a look into the world of a woman who said to hell with the way people want her to act and ushered in a new way to get things done. Her mission was to create change and she didn't to let anything -- or anyone -- stand in her way.

The only bad news is that Taylor says this run in Austin is the last time she'll perform "Ann." It's not completely surprising. It has to be an exhausting pursuit, portraying a woman who didn't seem to need to eat or sleep and who appeared to have to remind herself to go to the bathroom.

But Richards didn't care. Taylor doesn't either. Richards set out to create the political environment that she believes this country deserves, because "Life isn't fair. But politics should be." And Taylor set out to prove once again that we must never forget that "Ginger Rogers did everything Fred Astaire did backwards and in high heels."

"Ann" runs through May 15 at the ZACH Theatre, 1510 Toomey Road in Austin, TX 78704. For tickets and information, call 512-476-0541 or visit http://www.zachtheatre.org.