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Community Performance Inc.

March 15, 2007

Oh! somewhere in this favored land the sun is shining bright;
The band is playing somewhere and somewhere hearts are light,
And somewhere men are laughing and somewhere children shout;
But there is no joy in Mudville -- mighty Casey has struck out.

I don’t know why this came to me. I’m not even that huge of a baseball fan, but when I got home today, and changed back into my regular clothes, this kept coming to mind.

We didn’t lose a game. But we lost the Barn. Today was the official hand-over ceremony. John David Yoder literally pulled the keys- about twenty of them on one key chain and about thirty of them on another- and handed over all the keys to the Yoder Barn Theater, and placed them in the hands of Paul Trible, Presdent of Christopher Newport University.

Certain members of the Folk Operas were invited to sing one last song. “Love Will Guide Us”. Using my new-found strength in my voice, after opening weekend’s performance for Swamp Gravy, I joined my cast in singing this four part harmony, magnificent song. Shoulders up girl, chin up, girl. No crying girl. Especially no crying. I met Twilah Brunk, JD’s sister, coming up the stairs for the ceremony. She told me, too, “No Tears”. God, did I try. No matter how much I tried to hold my head up, somehow, the tears overpowered my will, and they flowed down. That’s OK, stand tall, anyway. I did.

It wasn’t just me. I looked to my fellow cast members, after the song, and realized we dare not look at each other until this was all over. Men were weeping. It was hard. The end of an era.

Mr. Trible spoke of his appreciation of the Barn. He spoke of how they will enhance the seating and the sound system and the programming. I felt good about some of it, but grew worried at the idea of “Second City Comedy nights” and “Off Broadway Shows”. Ah, well. I did find comfort in knowing that George Hillow will be involved in the seating and stage enhancements. George first worked with us as Richard, Brackley, Joe developed the lighting for the very first production. He has worked with us in the barn, as well as for our professional show in Swamp Gravy land last summer.

Mr. Trible gave the closing comments and invited everyone downstairs for refreshemtns. (Which was very well done.) But before leaving, the Folk Opera cast members, begun by Curt, sang one last song, spontaneously. “Joy go With You” the lyrics are simple, the melody is moving. “Joy Go with you, Peace will follow behind. Joy go with you, peace will follow behind. Joy go with you, peace will follow behind. The lord god will lead the way and peace will follow behind.” It had become our signature farewell song at all of the shows. We sang one last farewell to the community.

I spoke with CNU’s theater director, Dr. Stephen Breese. I expressed to him my hope that they would maintain the architectural integrity of the space. We designed the lighting, electric, and AC in a way that the balloon-frame, bow-truss cathedral-like ceiling remained as such. He said he admired the architecture too. And assured me they won’t try to make the barn into something it isn’t. It was difficult, in a way, talking to him. I was standing with the person who would be doing shows at the barn, now. That person was no longer me. It’s his baby now. It wasn’t jealousy. It was something else. I get to work in fabulous communities all over the country. It isn’t jealousy of not getting the work. But I’m connected to this place. It’s my home. I ache, wondering if I’ll ever get to work in that space again. I sat today, in the audience, listening, or trying to listen to all the words Mr. Trible was saying, but it was hard to focus, as I was looking, really looking at my barn again for one last time.

I found my life in this barn. I found the purpose for my talents. I’ve done the professional thing. I’ve had my taste of the professional track, and have written the much coveted show at the Kennedy Center, with my friend, Don McCullough, the conductor of the Washington D.C. Master Chorale. And God, it did feel good to take a bow on that stage to all those people standing on their feet. It fed my ego. It was a great feeling. My community performance work, which I found at the Barn, fed my soul.

It is a different animal. It is theater, but writing for community is so far removed from writing a play. It’s such an incredible responsibility and honor and challenge and joy to bring alive the voices of the lesser known community members, and in a way that they can perform it.

I hope, somewhere in this new arrangement, that the ordinary voices of Newport News can still find a place in this Barn. I hope, somewhere, there will still be a place for me.

As I think now, I know what that feeling was, as I was talking to Dr. Breese. As I’ve written earlier, I’m about to take in a boy from Brazil. Before his mother died, she wasn’t sure what was going to happen to Cosme. He is coming into loving arms and a loving family here with me. But she only met me once. No way to know for sure if he would be cared for. So, CNU, I hope you become as good a steward and loving family for this Barn, as I hope to become for Cosme.

Oh! somewhere in this favored land the sun is shining bright;
The band is playing somewhere and somewhere hearts are light,
But there is no joy in Denbigh – I lost my Barn tonight.

   

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