In "Blessed By Thunder", Flor Fernandez Barrios describes growing up in this country during Castro's revolution
Cuba
From the Latin for "hearing", it's a short performance by an actor applying for a role
Audition
Lie flat on your back with arms & legs outstretched to avoid sinking in this, which is just sand mixed with upwelling water
Quicksand
It's the common term for the young of a whale as well as a cow
Calf
The Russet Burbank potato is also known by this "state"ly name
Idaho Potato
His 1999 memoir "'Tis" opens in 1949, when he emigrated from Ireland to America at age 19
Frank McCourt
This name for the Hollywood actor's necessity seen here sounds like a boxing blow to the skull
Headshot
[Hi, I'm Jeff Probst of "Survivor"] Stings from this marine creature, also called a medusa, should be washed with rubbing alcohol or vinegar
Jellyfish
Of a wild dog, a rabbit or a bird, what a jackdaw is
Bird
At a New Jersey spelling bee in 1992, he insisted that "potato" was spelled with an "E" at the end
Dan Quayle
Euphrase Kezilahabi of Tanzania wrote his novel "Rosa Mistika" in this African language
Swahili
Important on-set experience can be gained working as one of these AKA atmospheres or background artists
Extra
A person who's suffered this "stroke" should be cooled quickly -- he may have a high fever & have stopped sweating
Heat stroke
This civet relative not only kills cobras but mice, rats & poultry as well
Mongoose
Don Rickles voiced Mr. Potato Head in this 1995 film
Toy Story
Some find that reading this marquis' 18th century novel "Justine" is pure torture
Marquis de Sade
For practice, many Hollywood actors memorize one of these long passages in a play spoken by only one character
Soliloquy/ monologue
Direct pressure & elevation can control bleeding; this device -- a last resort -- can cause gangrene & the loss of the limb
Tourniquet
These mollusks, not oysters, are the most common source for freshwater pearls
Mussels
This snack company uses over 5 billion pounds of potatoes annually to make Ruffles & other chips
Frito-Lay
This Canadian author of "The Handmaid's Tale" set her novel "Cat's Eye" in Toronto
Margaret Atwood
They're the 2 main unions that represent professional TV & film actors in Hollywood
(AFTRA: American Federation of Television & Radio Artists)
(SAG: Screen Actors Guild)
If attacked by a python or boa, this type of snake that coils to suffocate its prey, try to control its tail & uncoil it
Constrictor
"Euell" be glad to know these small apes are the only ones to habitually walk erect
Gibbons
In Gaelic it's known as "An Gorta Mor" (The Great Hunger)
The Irish Potato Famine