We arrived in Grafenwoehr after a beautiful ride through the countryside of Franconia, this particularly picturesque section of the country. We went back into the Tower Inn on base. (This tank in the photo at right is one of the few I saw on the bases. I'm sure I wasn't supposed to photograph it.) Tonight's show starts early so we will eat dinner afterward. (If you are keeping track, this is the same theatre where we saw Agnes of God a few weeks ago.) Tonight's selection is called Miss Nelson is Missing, a comedy. It is again directed by Joline Powell.
The play for children tells the story of a too-nice elementary school teacher who lets her class get away with murder because of her lack of discipline. One day she doesn't show up for class and the substitute is a harsh disciplinarian who makes the students actually work. The students are so upset by this turn of events that they go out to find Miss Nelson to get her to come back. Meanwhile, they are studying for the "big test" and doing better than ever. After the test, Miss Nelson returns to a grateful class. Only one of the students has figured out that the substitute was Miss Nelson in a bad wig and fake nose...
Okay, so it's not Shakespeare. The kids like it.
After the show, Joline took us for Thai food with a small group from the cast and crew. She is doing wonderful work in her new position as Entertainment Director of this base. She may do Avenue Q next season. That would be controversial here (it has strong gay content and hilarious 'puppet sex,') but she is a determined woman who is eager to build a significant theatre here with a sizable following. My bet is that she will succeed.
The next morning we pressed on to Stuttgart, another place we had been before. Last time it was for the drama, The Mousetrap; this time a comedy: A Midsummer Night's Dream. It is Shakespeare! The first one we've seen by this author. Actually, we heard that this is the first Shakespeare that has ever played this theatre in Stuttgart (which is over 30 years old.)
The Entertainment Director (and director of both productions) here in Stuttgart is Richard Roberts, also new at his job, like Joline, but much more experienced having worked at theatres on other bases for many years and directed a lot. These two places could not be more different. It's a good example of the diverse conditions at the different bases. In Stuttgart you a state-of-the-art theater that seats about 190 people, with all the latest lighting and sound equipment, two lobbies - one with a bar, the other for coffee and desserts, and a strong following in the community. They also have access to actors who work in a town which has two major and several smaller professional theatres in it.
By contrast, Graf (as we in the business call it :)), has not had an operating theatre for several years. Their "theatre" is a gymnasium in which they have constructed a stage. They have 8 lighting instruments, one of which isn't working properly. The community is not yet accustomed to attending plays, so the audiences are small. They use folding chairs (or cushions for the kids) and the heating/cooling is controlled by someone who has nothing to do with the theatre, so it can go on and off without any notice. At the performance we attended exhaust fans were on, creating a loud hum that made it difficult to hear the actors. They had no clue how to turn them off.
Still, Joline has big plans for the place. She has an opportunity to build a theatre in the shell of this building, which could work because it has a very high ceiling and no columns (it was a basketball court - the markings are still on the floor.) She is in the midst of creating more programming, encouraging involvement of community members, gathering support from the MWR folks who oversee the Program.
Throughout this experience, we found that each of the locations has its advantages and challenges. What is inspiring, is that wherever we went the participants in the programs work exceedingly hard to provide the best experience for their audiences and for the all of the volunteers working on the shows. Community theater doesn't have the "success/fail" element of professional theatre and that's an advantage. While they strive for quality, they are doing what they do just for the love of it. The "community" of Community theater is a large one. Jim told me that the US Army division is the largest section of the American Association of Community Theaters.
As I board the plane for my flight home, I am reflecting back on this experience. There has been a lot of driving, and driving and eating, and driving and eating and sleeping. Oh, and then we saw the plays and met the people. And had some fascinating conversations. And saw some awesome sites. And felt welcomed wherever we went.
I’m not sure whether I would do this again, but I am glad I did it this time. I couldn’t shake the feeling I was missing something at home (aside from the obvious, that is.) During the summer when I spend a longer period of time in Italy with the Symposium and Retreat, it doesn’t feel quite the same.
As long as I can remember I have had wanderlust. I want to go everywhere and see everything that’s out there. Mostly, I want to engage different people, learn about their lives, share ideas and art and creativity and a certain kind of warmth that comes from mutual understanding and engagement in a common goal.
I’ll keep looking. Stay tuned.
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