We just finished a great production of "Jane Eyre"! Thanks to Tova for an AMAZING script. The whole journey--start to finish--felt like one of faith. I felt it was important to bring this story to light, to allow these actors to be a part of this particular play. It flew in the face of logic, but it all felt right. I am so grateful for the many miracles that surrounded it, that made it not an encumbrance but a labor of love. And that last bow time, the shine on the actors' faces that radiated from deep within them with a knowledge of a performance well-done...that was my "cadeaux."
It was such an honor to work with these youth. They took on this almost three-hour-long play and brought it to life. To see each of them make their parts their own was transformative for me as well...it's like planting an unknown seed, giving it the water of love, the healthy soil of a positive environment and the sunshine of encouragement and seeing it transform. You plant the seeds in specific locations in the garden as you cast the characters, hoping that they will complement the plants around them for the kind of theatrical garden you hope to see. And the yield was beautiful beyond imagining!
It was incredible.
And they made me feel something.
There is a section of the story of Jane Eyre that captures my feelings:
Adele: Is there not a gift for Miss Eyre?
Ed: (gruffly) Who talks of cadeaux? Did you expect a present, Miss Eyre? Are you fond of presents?
Jane: I hardly know, sir; I have little experience of them: they are generally thought pleasant things.
Ed: Oh, don't fall back on over-modesty! I have examined Adele, and find you have taken great pains with her:
she is not bright, she has no talents; yet in a short time she has made much improvement.
Jane: Sir, you have now given me my 'cadeaux;' I am obliged to you: it is the meed teachers most covet --
praise of their pupils' progress.
Ed: Humph! (goes back to reading)
I have received my cadeaux.
I couldn't help but select the two following songs, one to capture the feelings I had as I watched them walk on the stage to a joyous audience for their bows...
...the other to capture my overwhelming feelings of gratitude to my God who gave me the chance to be there, to see the miracles unfold as we boldly went where we have never gone before with this production.A Facebook post about the experience:
We just put this play on again last night and once again I was BLOWN AWAY by these amazing, resilient young actors!! Imagine 6 large hoop-skirted young ladies and 4 more young men all crowded into a 6 foot by 12 foot space (and that's being generous!!), along with chairs lining the walls and props all around.... not to mention their other costumes they had just changed out of previous. Whew! They adapted this epic play to a stage and backstage only one and a half times larger than my living room area... in one dress rehearsal! They made people laugh, made them cry...it was our best performance of that play ever. (And the kids all remarked how much they LOVED the audience. Someone in the audience even called out to Jane during Rochester's proposal scene, "Say yes!!") We look forward to future productions here as well as in a potentially exciting new location in Athens. A lady was there last night and approached one of our actors and said we could rehearse and perform there for free! I am SO excited as this community-- the youth, me, the parents, those catching a vision of this group!-- synergizes to fulfill our mission: "To make the arts available, transformational and inspirational to as many people as possible." Thanks to all of you: actors, parents, donors, Bethany Ridge Winery, Federal Valley Resource Center, and all those volunteers who make this non-profit (literally) possible! There's something in my faith called "the law of consecration," where everyone voluntarily gives freely of their time and resources that they are capable of towards a common good. I have seen it happen in miraculous ways in this community. I am so grateful! None of this would have been possible without all of you giving of what often feels like the proverbial "widow's mite." Thank you 💛. It's an honor and a privilege to be associated with you all. #lightsideactingtroupe #federalvalleyresourcecenter #bethanyridgewinery
Another post (Band) that captures the many "behind the scenes" people who make this possible:
We have people who have taken on specialties that bless when their seasons allow it--
-our dear backstage Penny whom we all miss!
-Amanda Cochran with lines and secretary work,
-Ning (McKinley's grandma) who inspired us with amazing graphics on flyers and programs and Anna (her mom) who took photos before Beth,
-Missy who stepped in with lines and amazing spreadsheets to help us get on and off stage,
-Beth Flick on camera,
-my brother Mark on sound (huzzah!),
- my son Drew on video camera,
-Wilsons on backdrops and staging transport, set-up and take down, -Ali with t-shirts,
-Elizabeth with entryway magic and candid photos,
- my daughter Tova, and her gift for writing scripts (both "Comedy of Errors- Western style and "Jane Eyre" were hers!)
-Mason for running the sound so well for so long,
-Hillery with her concession stand magic and mass food production for the summer play (and amazing programs for Jane Eyre!),
-Blaneys with putting away lights and contributing artistic touches,
-Shawna as our new costume specialist (with Maia and maybe a friend to help!),
-Shauna--my mom!-- for her amazing costuming in the past,
-the Roells and McCunes who help network, support and take down whenever they can,
- all of you who donate food and crockpots when I need it!
-my husband Quinn who supports me behind the scenes,
-my kids: the most amazing set up, transportation, organization, packing, cooking, babysitting, sounding boards, back and foot rubbing, forgiving, supportive crew I could ever ask for.
(I hope I haven't missed anyone 💛.)
Many of you are new to our community and many of you have different seasons where you can help. And sometimes it is all we can do just to show up. 💛 That's what we're here for! To support each other in times and seasons and celebrate how beautifully, how miraculously, all of us doing what we can is more than enough.
This will definitely be one of my harder plays to move past.
"Alas, the weather turns. I could have sat with thee 'til morning."
Time for another season <3. And many more, God-willing.
