THE LAST RAINDROP WALTZ

Well, folks, last night (October 14), I attended what is probably the last performance of "The Raindrop Waltz." This little autobiographical play has been around for about 20 years, and after over 200 + performances, it needs to be retired. What is especially interesting about this production is that it has been "toured" by the Burnsville Little Theater and has been performed in Burnsville (several times), Sylva, Tryon, Flat Rock (Blue Ridge Community College) Andrews and now Franklin. In many ways, it is a strange little play that is composed of a series of stories that I tell. I just linked about eight of them together and they form the story of my father's murder and the death of my grandmother.

It is not a dark and brooding play .... quite the contrary. It is filled with humorous insights into the lives of my grandparents and some relatives. I think I am content to put it on the shelf. It has been strange places, including California (Pewter Plough),Jacksonville, Florida (Atlantic Experimental Theater), Atlanta, Georgia (The Art Station), Western Carolina University (Niggli Theater) and Asheville (ACT). In addition to that, it has been done throughout WNC in libraries and community theaters. Both the play and I have been fortunate. In many productions, I have gone on the stage after a performance and fielded questions about the play and "the truth" of some of the events depicted in it. Audiences have always seemed to be genuinely interested in the music, the tragedy and the culture depicted in the play.

I would appreciate a response to this post since my blog has come to represent my "social life."
About the only people I have conversations with are here on hollernotes.

THE RAINDROP WALTZ IN GRETNA, VIRGINIA

Kind hearts, this is a cast/rehearsal shot of the production of "The Raindrop Waltz" which ran for three performances at the Gretna Theater last week. I am very pleased. Prior to the production,
the director, Jimina Shoemaker (who also played my grandmother) placed a photographic display in the lobby composed of shots that I had sent her of the "real people." As a result, the audience was able to see photographs of my mother and father, my grandparents and me. I am very fond of this play and it has been produced over 200 times.