Of Plimouth Plantation

Posted by viqui - 14/11/09 at 01:11:16 pm

Of Plimouth Plantation

Performances

Friday, Nov. 20 @ 7 PM
Saturday, Nov. 21st @ 7 PM
Monday, Nov. 23rd @ 6:30 PM

This epic story of bravery, faith, suffering, love and unity celebrates the struggles of the group of Separatists, we know today as Pilgrims, as they sought to establish a colony at Cape Cod. This isn’t your happy little Thanksgiving play, but it reveals a deeper joy the Pilgrims experienced as they fled religious persecution in Holland in their historic Atlantic crossing. This production, written by local playwrights Briana Nei and Leigha Cabrera, opens the dusty pages of the pilgrim’s diaries and reveals the amazing saga lost in history.

The performances are free to the community. Donations accepted. Free refreshments at intermission.

Friday, Nov. 20 @ 7 PM
Saturday, Nov. 21st @ 7 PM
Monday, Nov. 23rd @ 6:30 PM

Produced by The Emmaus Theater Troupe
emmausofclarke.com

http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=173590351861&ref=mf

Local Thanksgiving Play, Best Show Around

Posted by viqui - 13/11/09 at 01:11:40 am

Local Thanksgiving Play,

Best Show Around

By René White Feather
Lumbee Indian, ancestor to the Cheraw Native Americans traced to the 1700’s

This is no ordinary Thanksgiving play. Scheduled to premier at Johnson-Williams Middle School in Berryville, VA, this production by Emmaus Church, is perhaps the most realistic Thanksgiving show around.

Nestled inside the school auditorium the drama of settlers from the old world and what they encountered unfolds. The Thanksgiving show is open to all ages on three dates: Friday-Saturday Nov. 20-21 at 7:00 p.m. and Monday Nov. 23 at 6:30 p.m.  This 2-hour Thanksgiving play has more than you’d expect and well worth the price. It’s free.

The play is visually, audibly and intellectually entertaining, with detailed costumes, composed music and sound effects.

Researched from historic diaries and journals, see a brand new production depicting insight not normally shown in Thanksgiving plays. This play is not the typical parading of fake paper pilgrim hats around Indians and a cornucopia of vegetables and a fat turkey. Nor is it about “conquering” Native Americans or about “discovering” a place where people already lived.

“What I hope people will see is the cost of freedom,” said play author, director and producer Briana Nei. “I hope they see who the pilgrims are; their integrity. They were very colorful and musical people and full of light. They didn’t wear black,” she added. “I think they were some of the most incredible people who ever lived on the face of the earth.”

Nei and her cast of more than 60 youth and adults dramatically recreate the hardships pilgrims (or deemed at the time as separatists) faced leaving family behind in Europe. Boarding sailing ships with dozens of strangers, the pilgrims headed for stormy seas, strange lands and unfamiliar people. Audience goers from all ethic and cultural roots will be able to appreciate the struggles, tragedy and humor aimed towards a common a goal in this big piece of theatre.

The original script is historically accurate, engaging and risky. Authored by Nei, and her co-author and sister Leigha Cabrera, they spent countless hours researching the Pilgrims diaries and letters for the just the right words.

Expressions used in the script are deeply rooted into the hearts and minds of their original authors and regarded by historians as preeminent writers of 17th century America; like William Bradford, governor of Plymouth, Plantation. Nei referenced his original journals for actual eye witness accounts and reactions from the colonists.

Nei said the dialogue in the play is risky because, “It is not politically correct, but true history. It is important to understand who our founding fathers really were. It is easy to look at them through our 21^st century glasses, but I wanted to present a story without an agenda. A story as they told it,” she added.

Gifted with passion and enthusiasm, Nei inspires the cast to capture the minds of children, teenagers and adults who come see the performance.

“I have amazing committed actors. We have a lot of talent in this production,” Nei said. “They are really coming into their roles and becoming the Pilgrims and Indians of 1620. They put a lot of effort into learning huge amount of lines.”

Nei, herself, leads by example often directing with one arm, not missing a beat, while nursing her baby son Isaac at the same time. Nei said the entire crew and members of the community have been is incredibly dedicated; many putting in more than 40 hours a week volunteering with costumes, music, sound and sets.

“As far as costumes go, we didn’t want typical pilgrim hats, typical pilgrim shoes, and things like that,” said Sue Peoples, costume coordinator glue-person extraordinaire.

Peoples said, with two acts and 39 scenes, this play calls for a spectrum of costumes, from poor sea pirates to affluent government leaders, each fashioned to each character’s personality and his or her role in the performance. The garments are high-quality and low-quality, sewn and glued with time consuming attention to detail.

“We wanted to do the research and get the real picture, even with the Indians. We didn’t want something that was not going to do them justice. So everything that we portray is to the letter, accurate,” Peoples said.

Costumes are vivid colors and fabrics with a range of styles that allow for diversity and variety. Accessories, from felt and leather to bone and corn seed, adorn the costumes and give the feeling of how people dressed during the 17^th century.

“We’re borrowing bear skins, animal hides,” Peoples said.  “For the necklaces we’re using teeth, claws and turkey feathers, quail feathers; keeping in mind the natural materials that they would have.

“In fact, Massasoit (the Wampanoag tribal political leader who met the English) wore a large bone necklace,” as described in journals she said. “We’ve gotten people making necklaces and jewelry out of goat and deer bones to appear authentic and stage worthy; something big that looks pronounced.”

For Native American costumes, the designer said the audience will not see Southwestern head dresses. For accuracy, they referred to archeological digs of what Native Americans really looked like in New England during those days.  Also, Pilgrim Edward Winslow in his journal describes in detail exactly what the Indians wore, from hair and jewelry to bear grease they wore on their faces.

“A lot of the actors will have to have (hair) weaves, but not cheesy,” added Peoples, “more like noble people.”

Peoples, who plays electric and bass guitar during Emmaus Church service on Sundays, said those seeing the play must also take special note to the sounds during the play. She said back then, as now, men, women and children sang songs to ease their burdens and to help withstand persecution. The team worked hard to create realistic music and sounds.

Nei’s brother, Ethan Dean and her husband Caleb Nei composed original music and pre-recorded it for the play. Using a rare collection of music found from the 1600’s called the “Anisworth Psalter,” they bring to life pages in history rarely heard. These early psalm tunes, written by Henry Ainsworth, are considered to be the only handbook of music brought to New England in the early 1600’s by the Separatists.

Creating sound effects for the play is Nei’s other brother Seth Dean.

“That’s what I went to school for, I’m an audio engineer,” said S. Dean, graduate from Full Sail University, Orlando Fla.  S. Dean draws on his degree in Recording Arts to give life to various sounds like waves crashing, old gun shots and breaking beams.

Look for Dean in the Act 1 where he plays three separate and distinct characters: Captain Thomas Hunt capturing Squanto (a Native American warrior who later assists the Pilgrims and is integral in their survival), old rich Sir Thomas Westin (who helps back the voyage), and arrogant, rough and tough John Dillington.

Actors are played by children and adults from ages 5 to 45. Casting includes Christian and non-Christians working side by side, some speaking the Wampanoag language and others with old English accents. They seem to fall into their roles and their lines.

“The woman I portray is not a pilgrim, but brash and bossy. Her family is rough and always getting into trouble and things like that,” said Peoples about her character Ms. Eleanor Billington. “They weren’t at all prim and proper people. I think that people need to know that. God knows we’re not all perfect. And I think that’s even important for a church to portray, that here we are – we’ve all come together. We all have flaws. But we all come together for one purpose.”

Remarkable props include authentic 1700 rough-hewn benches, tables and chairs. Burwell-Morgan Mill in Millwood, VA generously loaned dozens of items for the play, from wooden barrels, crates and tools to rigging rope, brooms and cups. The stage even has a set of original Daniel Morgan’s cookware and a large antique Bible.  Other little details include quill pens, flasks, walnuts and stumps. Old shovels and brooms, swords and muskets round out for a real experience.

The play is in three main parts, explains Nei. In England and Holland in the beginning, the story begins with Squanto’s kidnapping.

“Captain Thomas Hunt shows up in the first scene,” explains S. Dean. “The important part about him is that he came over and tricked the Indians to get them on the ship, then sold them over in England.”

The middle part of the play is devoted to the Speedwell and Mayflower ship scenes.

The play quickly builds and is chocked full of drama sandwiched between moments of humor, love and death. Scenes move rapidly. During one scene the audience will feel like passengers onboard the Speedwell as they sway back and forth during a furious ocean storm.

“The last part of the play is on land, building the plantation, dying-time in the winter and meeting the Indians,” said Nei.

While some plays strive to show thanksgiving and turkeys, Nei said she’s striving to show freedom.

“I’m striving that all Americans, from whatever ethnic or cultural roots, would know why we have the freedoms we have and the sacrifices made; that they would also know that our country came into being with such success of our Christian heritage. The pilgrims were so successful because of their faith in God, which influenced how they treated one another.”

“That they valued human beings and they were selfless. Their faith influenced how they treated the Indians, unlike the greedy adventures. The pilgrims really believed they were modern day children of Israel and they were coming to the promise land for freedom,” said Nei.

This is not just a church putting on an entertaining play. Here’s an opportunity for kids and adults to see a rare part of history. The play in being presented free by Emmaus Church which meets at 11:0 a.m. every Sunday at Johnson-Williams Middle School, at 200 Swan Avenue in Berryville. Play dates and times are:  Friday-Saturday Nov. 20-21 at 7:00 p.m. and Monday Nov. 23 at 6:30 p.m.

Plimouth Plantation Rehearsal 9/20 @ 2 pm

Posted by viqui - 20/09/09 at 08:09:13 am

Cast List for Of Plimouth Plantation.

As you can see, there are some open parts. We need: Francis and John Billington, Mrs. Martin, Alice Mullins, Massasoit and Hobbomack. I have some individuals thinking about these roles, but if you know of anyone who really loves acting, try to recruit them. We also need as many Indian braves as we can get.

The first rehearsal is tomorrow, Sunday the 20th from 2-6. I will hand out scripts (first Act only) However, ONLY THE PEOPLE IN THE SCENES BEING REHEARSED SHOULD COME TO REHEARSAL at the given times!

2:00 everyone get scripts
2:15 Squanto, Capt. Hunt, Indian braves, sailors
2:45 Brewster/Cushman, Brewster Family, John Carver, John Alden, Priscilla Mullins, Mr. Mullins
3:45 White family, Winslows, Allertons, Bradford family
4:45 John Robinson, Bradfords, Winslows, Whites, Standish family, Catherine Carver, John Howland, Allertons, Martins, Dr. Fuller, William Button,

William Bradford- Dugan Schmidt
Dorothy Bradford- Moriah Ilsley
John Bradford- 2 or 3
William Brewster- Brian Genda
Mrs. Brewster- Marlisa Eyre
Fear Brewster- Elizabeth Blight
Patience Brewster/Indian – Kara Stockwell
Love Brewster- Chris Mason
Wrestling Brewster- Elliot Eyre
Richard More 6 Ethan Henard
Mary More 4-Josie Henard
Edward Winslow- Patrick Mason
Elizabeth Winslow- Kaitlyn Dykes
Ellen More- Emma Delany
William White-Zach Phanuef
Susanna White- Erin Gum
Resolved- 6 Ellis Nei
Robert Cushman- Adam Campbell
John Carver- Victor Hajnos
Catherine Carver- Lisa Gum
Desire Minter- Ariel Nei
Jasper More- Daniel Schlosser
John Howland/Indian-Andrew Rogers
Captain Jones- Chris Eyre
Vulgar Boson/sailor-Jesse Robinson
John Billington/Captain Hunt- Seth Dean
Mrs. Billington- Sue Peoples
Frances Billington 14
John Billington 16
Stephen Hopkins- Ethan Dean
Mrs. Hopkins-Natalie Schlosser
Constance Hopkins-Rachael Schlosser
Giles Hopkins- Nathan Wallace
Damaris Hopkins- Isaac Nei
Oceanus Hopkins- baby doll
Isaac Allerton- William Bigelow
Mrs. Mary Allerton- Sydney Wilkins
Bartholomew 8/Indian – Sam Mason
Remember 6 Trinity Walraven
Mary 3 Addie Eyre
John Alden/Indian brave- Robert Madden
John Robinson- Beau Johnson
Robinson child- Abby Mason, Elisa Delany
Christopher Martin/Indian-Thomas Delany
Mrs. Martin-
Thomas Weston/sailor- Stephen Nickens
Squanto-James Schlosser
Samoset- Ben Williams
Massasoit-
Braves- Needed
Crying Indian Woman- Lee Bryan
Myles Standish- Travis Strother
Rose Standish- Alecia Schulz
William Mullins-Troy Crossley
Alice Mullins-
Patricia Mullins- Anna Delany
Joseph Mullins- (young guy)
Elizabeth Tilley- Kristen Hackworth/ understudy Elisa Delany
Dr. Fuller- Clay Givens
William Button/sailor- Andrew Walraven

Indians

Massasoit:
Hobbamack:
Squanto: James Schlosser
Samoset: Ben Williams
Indian braves: Andrew Rogers, Robert Madden, Thomas Delany

Indian women: Rachael Bracken, Lily Davis, Kara Stockwell
Indian children: Emma Dowling, Danielle Smith, Emma Eyre, Victoria Bryan, Elaine Bryan, Kara, Sam Mason, Noah Wallace, Rachael Poffenberger

Demolishing Strongholds

Posted by Diane - 01/09/09 at 10:09:42 am

Tired of ho-hum Christianity?  Want a purpose and a passion?  Demolishing Strongholds is the course for you!  Joe Bracken and Diane Gum are leading this 13-week course designed to equip you to serve the Lord with boldness!  They are still in the process of choosing the best time and day for everyone, so please contact them if you’re interested.