It is true that, as a man, I have a lot more meetings than I would like, but, in planning these meetings, very seldom do I hear someone say, "Let's have a dramatic reading". This week our ward's women are having a birthday party for "The Society". Today, my wife was asked to take part in a dramatic reading, playing the part of Sariah, wife of Lehi (I imagine that every named woman in scriptures has a part in this; I look forward to hearing about Abish's reading).
Not being entirely familiar with copyright laws, I will reproduce just a small portion of her assigned reading here.
My wife, not being thespianically inclined, is not excited about this. The RS president gave her a few suggestion: maybe dress up in a veil, or, as sand is prominantly mentioned, bring some sand and use it in the reading in some manner, but none of these ideas have really caught her imagination, so I have been attempting to come up with ideas to help her. This is what I have so far:
Unfortunately, she is not entirely happy with my suggestions, so if you have anything else, I would be happy to hear it.
Not being entirely familiar with copyright laws, I will reproduce just a small portion of her assigned reading here.
Sand. Dry crusted earth. Lifeless wilderness and sand, everywhere. If it is not the scorching sun glaring off the sand, then it is the blistering winds driving the sands against us. If not the wind, why then rocky steep paths, and crying children for want of food. And when we do have food, it is seasoned with . . . with sand.
Sometimes I sit in this place, in this land of desolation and close my eyes and envision in my memory a home. A splendid structure, spacious, modern, and filled with the comforts of Jerusalem living. And beautiful room after room of so many lovely things. . . And a kitchen! Oh, I miss that kitchen. But above all else, I miss ... the bath. I think of those clean refreshing waters soothing my tired aching body. It seems so real sometimes I reach down to splash . . . SAND!
.. Could I leave my home, my worldly comforts, my friends and many loved ones? Could I leave it all? . . . Yes! YES! I have left it. That someday I will have much more. Much, much more. For when I think of Christ I remember the promise that . . . He prepares for me . . . a mansion. A mansion, on high
Sometimes I sit in this place, in this land of desolation and close my eyes and envision in my memory a home. A splendid structure, spacious, modern, and filled with the comforts of Jerusalem living. And beautiful room after room of so many lovely things. . . And a kitchen! Oh, I miss that kitchen. But above all else, I miss ... the bath. I think of those clean refreshing waters soothing my tired aching body. It seems so real sometimes I reach down to splash . . . SAND!
.. Could I leave my home, my worldly comforts, my friends and many loved ones? Could I leave it all? . . . Yes! YES! I have left it. That someday I will have much more. Much, much more. For when I think of Christ I remember the promise that . . . He prepares for me . . . a mansion. A mansion, on high
- Play it as "Deranged Sariah". With each invective against sand, raise the volume until at the end she is screaming almost incoherently, then, at the end of the paragraph, she flings handfuls of sand at the audience. This one has the advantage of using the RS President's suggestion.
- Play the entire reading completely straight, except do it with a cockney accent. Pretend nothing is odd at all.
- Do it beatnik style. Wear black clothing and sunglasses. Sit on a stool with bongo drums between her legs, and alternate the reading with long pauses puncuated by drumming.
- Since the author already seems to be exaggerating the comforts of 600 BC Jerusalem, embellish it a little more. Instead of just talking about missing her kitchen and bath, say "Oh, I miss that kitchen. It was only a month before we left that Laman and Sam had installed the high-intensity burners and granite counter tops. But above all else, I miss... the bath. I think of those clean refreshing waters, the 12 massaging jets, and the padded lumbar support soothing my tired aching body."
Unfortunately, she is not entirely happy with my suggestions, so if you have anything else, I would be happy to hear it.
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