David Rodeback's BlogLocal Politics and Culture, National Politics,
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Monday, August 3, 2009Bravo!My primary mission in attending the American Fork History and Heritage Pageant tonight was to see how they did with my script. They did well. My primary mission in attending the American Fork History and Heritage Pageant tonight was to see how they did with my script. They did well. To wit: Local actor Gordon Jones -- if the Salt Lake Valley is local -- played the lead role superbly. In his capable hands the lines sounded very much as I imagined them when I wrote them. I've written enough scripts to know that this doesn't always happen. Kudos to Pageant Chair Cindy Holindrake for an astute bit of casting, and to Sondra Green for her usual, skillful directing. The supporting cast, consisting of Alex Jones, Russ Voght, Sophia Dunn, and my neighbor Blake Magleby, also did well. To the cast I say: Nice work. I know you didn't do it for me, but I am grateful. I hope you heard the same compliments I heard from the Holmstead family, among others. My secondary mission was to see a lot of friends in their dramatic roles -- 15 of them, in fact, scattered among five of the vignettes. I'd have made more progress in this respect if I hadn't watched my own work twice, and if I hadn't stopped to talk to people between theatrical destinations. (After all, I did say that during the pageant the cemetery becomes the social and cultural hub of American Fork.) But not to worry. I'm going back tomorrow to see what I missed tonight, including a vignette directed by fellow American Fork blogger Leslie Dalton. By the way, after all the actors had called it a night, Ryan Taylor did some fine singing, as he is wont to do. Tomorrow's music is by some Old Time Fiddlers, I believe. And there's more. I'm told that some people actual enjoy the crafts and other displays and activities at the pageant more than the theatrical productions and the music. For example, I can scarcely imagine the skill and patience required to make lace by hand, but the skill, the patience, and the lace were on display. Finally, and equally important to many, the ice cream cones are still 25 cents, and the carriage rides are still free with the price of admission. Leslie Dalton commented (8/4/09, via Facebook): Slight correction, which should be mentioned prior to each performance: Shirley Hatfield wrote our script. I just directed. David Rodeback commented (8/4/09): Thanks for the correction. I revised the post accordingly. David Rodeback commented (8/4/09): I was able to return to the American Fork Cemetery for an hour this evening and enjoy most of what I missed last night. Nice work, people.
Copyright 2009 by David Rodeback. |
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