ABOUT THE PRODUCTION
This production marks the 20th anniversary of my first encounter with “The Boy with a Cart.” In 1996—while teaching theatre at Messiah College—I stumbled upon a tattered copy of the play while visiting a used bookstore on cape cod. I thought it would make for some good night time reading…By the turn of the first page I knew that “The Boy with a Cart” was my next creative project. The beauty of the poetry was driving me forward into the script, into the characters, into this enchanting story. More so, it triggered strong visual images in my mind’s eye: A modest gathering of villagers in tattered vestige, using humble instruments of their trades to tell the story of Cuthman—telling it within their own humble limitations, telling it the way stories were conveyed in the middle ages, and telling it as if Cuthman were their very own. Out of all this came the first production of the play at Messiah College--and probably the first in the State of Pennsylvania for that matter. It featured two actors playing dedicated roles from start to finish (Cuthman and his mother), they being supported by a handful of raggedly dressed chorus members who drove forth the poetry and narrative, sometimes in choral style and sometimes exchanging small supporting roles. There was very little set to speak of. In fact, I staged it for the pure joy of doing it, and my actors at the time seems perfectly happy just at the taste of the script’s perfectly sculpted poetry in their. None of us really expected the audience to fall in love with it…but they did. I hope you do as well. |
THE STORY OF CUTHMAN
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Presented by Christ Community Church--- Produced by BOOM!Creative, LLC