Passaparola – Pass Those Words Along

As I entered the office, I turned and said: “Bongiorno Graziella – il tuo vestito blu è magnifico.” “Luigi – che fa?”

Vittoria, our morning mom looked around and then at me like I was – well – justifiably insane. There wasn’t a sole in my little office under the stairs. Well, cripes, I was dressed, made up and going to work. Can’t I talk to my pretend co-workers? Is that so strange. I figure it is better than talking to myself.

Jack, walked down the stairs and raised an eyebrow – talking to yourself again?

Not wanting them to stare boldly at me anymore, I picked up my iPad and headed down to the piazza. There, I could talk to myself and it is ok. I’m the bizarre American lady – it is expected.

Writers write – isn’t that talking to yourself and hoping that someone answers? Or better still that someone takes those words and passes them to others via a production. Passaparola means passing something along – word of mouth. Doesn’t that imply the sharing of tales and passing them down mouth by mouth? As I sit in Piazza Roma, I realized I had the perfect tale of passing stories on. The play I wrote, Many Snows Ago, is based on the very short tales of the Lenape and other Eastern Woodland indigenous people who shared their history, philosophy and humor verbally. During winter months, a storyteller would gather everyone around and bring those tales to life. Passaparola!

This past spring, a group of incredible teenagers passed the words found in Many Snows Ago around. . Actually, they questioned and understood more about my words than I did. Thanks to the forever creative Janet Cantore Watson, my play, Many Snows Ago, was used for a New Jersey Skills USA Stagecraft Design Competition. NJ Skills USA is part of the Vocational, Technical and Industrial Schools program.

Teams of four students, dressed in backstage black arrived at the state-wide Skills USA competition held at Somerset County Vocational Technical High School. These were creative whipper smart Vocational Technical High School kids. Each team included at least one Theater Arts student to draft the Stage Management book. Three other team members were students from supporting vocational programs (i.e. Carpentry, Electrician, Cosmetology, Performing Arts…)

Each team got a copy of Many Snows Ago and had three hours to read it, design it and make a short video pitching their visions. Three of the following areas had to be created – Set Design/Construction, Costume Design/Construction, Theatrical Lighting Design, Stage Make-Up Design, and/or Theatrical Sound Design. The theater arts student was responsible for notating all cues and stage direction in the Stage Manager’s binder copy of the script. THREE HOURS to accomplish all of that!

The Winning Team produced an unbelievable production proposal. It was so good, I wished their school would produce the play using their ideas. What school? Only the award winning Monmouth County Vocational School District’s Communications High School located in Wall, NJ. Actually, I wish any school would use their ideas and create this nuanced vision of the script. Kudos to Shawn Ribeiro, Sophia Vigliotti, Ava Tohy and Juliet Hernandez. Janet snapped a photo of me with the talented winning young women. (I’m the smushed face FaceTiming in on the phone.)

Their video pitch started with an overview of their perspective on the themes and through lines. WOWZA! When I write, I just tell the story. These teens mined for ideas found deep in each tale. Our roots, ie heritage, transcend the passage of time and connect us to those who came before us and will come after us. The design through lines included roots, clocks, and Lenape iconic clothing interspersed with hints of the 1600’s to modern wear.

I was blown away by the costume designs. The principal character is the Storyteller who shares each of the individual tales in story theater manner with the ensemble. What follows is what the designer explained. Note the skirt made of torn up pages of books that represented the interconnections of the stories as they were passed down. The belt is classic Lenape. The greenery in the hair represent the roots of the tales. Can I say WOWZA again.

One of the secondary themes the group explained was the intertwining of greed and imperialism. They noted that greed is still very present today. Hence, the garb of the European explorers juxtaposed contemporary suits, bling and a fur cape. The make up was a touch of Regency – powdered wig and white powder. Another WOWZA.

The circular set had a tree with exposed roots in the center. This was the position of the Storyteller. A clock face, symbolizing the passage of time was embedded. They noted the clock would chime between scenes. OMG, I want these kids to produce this play. Monmouth County Vocational School’s Communications High Schools rocks it!

Now another generation has learned from the EasternWoodland Indians and they too can pass those tales – words- on. Passaparola!

So what does this have to do with Nonna’s Mulberry Tree and a woman spending her third act in a small Italian village? Everything. That play, even though it had been presented numerous times, got its publication chops right here in this piazza. Where I could revise, talk out loud, look deranged and with the spirit of my nonna beside me send it off to a publisher. Next Stage Press now has the work and it is available for purchase just to read and/or licensing. (Yes, that was a blatant pitch.)

Ci vediamo!

Midge