[This page recounts a library open forum and acting workshop held December 11 from 2 to 3:30 pm at the Glenwood Public Library.]

The purpose of this event is to support the production's goals of encouraging reading and developing critical thinking.

The library workshop will provide members of the community with a chance to do two things:

1) Discuss topics and issues raised by the book and the play (organized religion, spiritual instruction, education, boarding school, women and girls) so that the cast can better understand the characters in the play.


2) "Try on" scenes from the play so that women and girls who may not have gotten a role in the play can still experiment with playing characters from the show.

  • Click here to see comments from cybercitizens about attending parochial/Catholic schools.


    CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT MATERIAL GLEANED FROM THE WORKSHOP.

    A discussion of passages from Trahey's book, comments from cyberspace, and the experiences of the participants led to the following conclusions about the characters in our production.

  • We know why Rachel and Mary are in boarding school. How about the others? A discussion of reasons parents send their children away to school led to the following conclusions. MARVEL ANN is clearly there because her father can't be bothered with her. CHARLOTTE is probably there for the increased socialization (so she'll stop faining for attention). VALERIE may be there because her parents felt she deserved better than they could give in terms of mental stimulation.
  • Though it is never mentioned or portrayed in the production, the girls probably go to chapel (mass) every day. They probably enjoy it less than the sisters do vespers (except for Sheila) but they are doubtless well-behaved while there because we see evidence that they respect the customs and rituals of their faith even if they don't yet understand them completely.
  • Their curriculum may resemble that of some home-schoolers by including more religious references than would be found in similar subjects in public schools.
  • Cybercitizens report that nuns tend to be more humorous and more comfortable with themselves in the classroom, perhaps because job enjoyment is all the compensation they get. The actresses playing nuns in our show should explore humor, edginess, even a bit of eccentricity (while maintaining devotion to education and their pupils).
  • Rachel (Jane) is less of a follower in the book... many of the ideas for shenanigans are hers. The actress playing Rachel needs to be sure her humor is not lost in the shadow of Mary's rebelliousness.

    Photos from the workshop:



    The kids turned up in uniform to take notes during the discussion forum and then perform a few scenes during the acting workshop.


    Lois Maher (right...hope I'm spelling that right) was a welcome addition to the event. And look, there's Judi Morton's first appearance on this web site! (Sister Ligouri).


    Ruth Munn, dressed for her later success answering phones for PBS, joins Rebecca Chapman in the cheap seats. Another valuable participant, Diane DeJong, was off chasing Meggie while the pictures were being taken.


    Brandee and Jenny work a new scene for Sheila and Marvel Ann. Brandee, we have GOT to remember to tell Melissa (Sheila) what we came up with (by applying critical thinking to character development) as a beat objective for this moment... that devout but still human Sheila has made a mistake she regrets over the summer and is praying to do better during the school year.


    As for her own character, Brandee developed the theory that attention-hungry Charlotte is also competing with Valerie for the "smartest in the school" spot.


    "Rachel" and "Mary" work the "junior spies" scene. It was a real delight when Annie, who missed part of "library event" practice, spontaneously came up with the same actions Ashley and Jenny thought of when preparing this scene.