As rehearsals began this weekend, the cast of The Bluest Water came together as performers beginning to set the stage, but most particularly as active participants in the story of Hurricane Camille. As part of the Nelson Ensemble, Wanda Bond shared with the cast her personal connection with the hurricane; she was twelve years old when her family huddled on the second floor of their home in Massie's Mill, watching the water reach the tenth of thirteen steps of their home. She remembered the roaring sound of the water throughout the night, as they waited for the water to subside. Even today, Wanda can recall the smell of the mud in the days following the hurricane. Hearing her story was not only moving but grounding for the cast - a constant reminder of the personal elements, the many lives impacted in August of 1969. There is a significant story to tell.
As Jason, our devoted playwright, exits for the moment, having revised, re-arranged, and removed as well as adding portions of text, our fearless director Geoff forges ahead with staging the opening prologue of the show and the complex scenes with characters Jared and Liz. The vision is becoming a reality, thanks to the collaboration not only of the production team, but also with the support from the community and Sweet Briar College. The journey continues...
Sally Southall and Ken Parks rehearsing Liz and Jared Boyle
Sally Southall
Endstation Blogger
Endstation Blogger
1 comment:
It sounds like you are telling a significant story. It is always gratifying to work on dramatizing historical events. I tried my hand at a few of those, too, but I had to be careful about my histories. Too many people who put pressure to make sure their ancestors smelled like roses. I had to change Oldcastle's name to Falstaff because his descendants complained - jerks. Anyway, what's in a name? A fat knight by any other name would smell as sweet.
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