Letters from Buck Creek: I Ain’t One to Gossip, but…

Dear Mrs. Summey,

It shore was good seein’ you last Saturday at the dance.  I allus love comin’ to Buck Creek to visit with my family and friends.  I been over to Coon Holler to visit with my step chilrins and my gran babies–they all doin’ right fine. 

And that miss Edna – well she done growd up!  I know you and Mr. Summey right proud of that gal.  She got her own mind and she seem right smart.  Y’all done a right good job with that gal – I’m telling you the truth.  Now as for some of them other youngins I saw at the dance…but I don’t gossip much.

It seem the General Store doin’ good too.  It right good traffic be in and out that store.  Some folk I see in thar right much.  Now I don’t like to start nothing ‘cause you know I don’t gossip but seem like that ole Miss Metcalf allus in the store.  Now I know you and Mr. Summey don’t have no trouble but if I was you, I would keep an eye on that woman.

Well I’ll be goin’ now.  I’m workin’ on a quilt for my gran baby.  I’ll be shore to see you when I git back in town.

Greeny Gorman

2009/2010 Ensemble member Hazel Edmond makes her REP debut portraying Greeny Gorman and the Conjur Woman in DARK OF THE MOON.

Letters from Buck Creek: A Paw Went Over the Mounting

Dear Clay County Herald,

What’s worst than tryin’ to get yer daughter married off?  A mule for a son-in-law.

I set out over to Chunky Gal Gap to talk to Marvin Hudgens. He a couple a hills over. Hit a right fer walk from our hill, so I toted my shotgun with me jes’ in case I met up with a varmint Maw could throw into the pot when I got back. I figgered Marvin make a fine husband for my Barbara. I knowed that he’s had intrest in my daughter in the past so I went to ast him about considerin’ her hand, bein’ as how she aready with child and a-needin’ to find herself a husband.

When I got to his place he was outen the field a-plowin’. So I set out over the rows a taters, maters and melons ‘til I reach him a-turnin’ up the sile for next season. I commenced with the small talk and then got right to the pint of it all.

He tole me no, flat out.

Ol’ Marvin Hudgens, arguably the manliest man in the whole county, standin’ right thar in the field, has done tried to escape wedlock and with offerin’ me his good mule, Sally! Now, I reckon hit could be on account a that new feller that showed up to the dance on Saturday night. I never seen Marvin as flustered as he were that night. Somethin’ about that new feller I don’t like. Got a quare look in his eyes. After sayin’ no, Marvin say he like Barbara a whole lot, but marrying her just ain’t worth the trouble, he says. I tole him she won’t be no trouble to him iffen he married her, I’d see to it myself. I tole him he make a fine son-in-law to me an’ Maw. Asides, Marvin Hudgens shouldn’t be skeered a that stranger anyhow, bein’ as how stout a feller he is. But, he still say no. Iffen I didn’t know any better, I say he still a bit shook up after the truck he had with that stranger at the dance. He’d rather go without his mule than to marry up with Barbara.  Well, I tole him I said my peace an’ hope he change his mind afore hit too late. He say he reckon he ain’t fer to change his mind about nothin’ once he set his mind on hit.

Maw will shore be put out when she find out Marvin Hudgens won’t wed her daughter.  I ain’t seed nary a critter worth a-killin’ for cook pot, neither. I should probly stop over to the general store in Buck Creek afore I head straight fer home.

Mr. Allen

Tim Overcash, a member of the 2009/2010 Ensemble and REP’s Board of Directors, portrays Mr. Allen in DARK OF THE MOON.  Additional REP credits include LILIES, POONA…, and the 2001 and 2008 productions of BENT.  Look for Tim in REP’s production of Steven Dietz’s GOD’S COUNTRY in 2010.

Letters from Buck Creek: Cawn Shucks Soft, Cawn Shucks Warm

Dear Edna,

Furst, you are the most purty girl I have ever seen.  I know you think Barbara Allen gets all the attintion but not from me.  You git all my looks and all my thoughts.  I wants to talk to ya about when we was in the barn.  I must say I had a hoot of a time.  I feel like we was sposed to do the things we did.  I don’t feel bad about any of it but I know most people won’t like it.  You are beautiful all over and I think we should do what we did agin as soon as we can.  I am a bit skeerd though.  What if yer parints find out?  Will yer Pa kill me?  I don’t want to be killed cause then I would not see you agin.  I think we should keep what we did tween us.  Nobody else needs to know.  Tell me what you thinkin’.  Caint wait to see ya agin.

Love,
Hank

P.S. You shore is purty.

2009/2010 Ensemble member Shawn Stoner portrays Hank Gudger in REP’s production of DARK OF THE MOON.  Shawn made his REP debut during the company’s recent August of Adventure playing Student 1/Romeo in SHAKESPEARE’S R & J adapted by Joe Calarco.

Letters from Buck Creek: Walkin’ in Darkness

Dear Floyd,

I take pen in hand to write you about how you fight with your maw.  The good book say honor your father and your mother.  You ain’t honoring them when you hide in the general store and fuss when your maw say do your chores.  The general store ain’t no place for a young boy to waste his days.  An I seen you take them apples when Mr. Summey ain’t looking.

Your maw and paw works hard to put meat on the table.  I never see them without they are working for the good of the family.  The family got to stick together.  Your maw and paw knows what best for you, and you got to listen to them.  The farm be yours someday.  Iffen you walk after your own way you never learn how to work it.

Your maw and paw needs all the help they can get, sinst your sister such a worry.  God don’t like a young boy fuss with his folks, nor take what they put in front of you without pitching in and helping with the farm.

You been coming to the revival, and it make my heart glad to see you.  But you been coming in surly and then you sits where you wants.  Your place be next your maw and paw.

You been sinning against the word of God.  Tomorrow the last day a the revival.  I prays to Jesus you has sorrow the way you fuss at your maw.  I prays I see you on the mourners bench and confess your shame cause you ain’t honoring your maw and paw.  Listen for the voice of the Lord, boy.  He give you strength, iffen you ask for it.  Your maw and paw wants you to grow up a fine man.

God go with you.
Preacher Haggler

2009/2010 Ensemble member John Honeycutt portrays Preacher Haggler in REP’s production of DARK OF THE MOON.  John most recently played Midas and others in REP’s production of Mary Zimmerman’s METAMORPHOSES; other REP credits include HANDLER and A NUMBER.  John will be seen in REP’s 2010 production of GOD’S COUNTRY by Steven Dietz.

 

Letters from Buck Creek: Things That Go Bump in the Night

Preacher Haggler,

Praise be unto th’ Lawd on high! I don’t want to botha you none, but I needs some talkin’ to from a holy man a Gawd such as you.

I been havin’ some bad dreams a the Devil temptin’ me in ways I is shamed to write.  I allus prayed it to go away, but ain’t workin’. I needs your holy tetch to gets that spirit outten my house. The Bible say seek a holy man and that what I’m a doin’.

I will be at the general store round half pas’ 5 pickin’ up sum mo’ polks and calico, if’n you want to meet me there before we go to the house of Gawd–to pray, a course.

Gawd Bless,
Sister Edee Metcalf

2009/2010 Ensemble member LeDawna Akins portrays Miss Metcalf in DARK OF THE MOON.  Having worked with numerous companies in the area, this production marks LeDawna’s debut with REP.

Letters from Buck Creek: One Death, One Life?

Dear Husband,

Hits bin nary a fortnight since you been over to Marion to hep yore sister aftur the untimely passin’ of her husband. Hit a plumb shame that his axe slipped and cut his foot off like thet. And then to have the gangrene take over his body, I declar, it’s like the devil hisself had a hand innit.  Remembur the time he wus makin’ eyes at Willie Mae Young over a’th revival?

Well he won’t see no mor Chrissmas, thets fer shore.

Inyways, I know you are a rushin to git home fer our dauter Ella’s weddin but I jes had to write and tell you about the strange goings on here in Buck Creek.  At the square dance a stranger showd up and had him a fight with Marvin Hudgens over dancin’ with Barbara Allen. And the stranger wopped him down—hit the Gawd’s truth, husband—and you know Marvin’s the strongest man in this here county!  And then Marvin don took off runnin’ like a skeert little girl.  And that war after Barbara and Edna Summy rassled on account a Edna sayin’ Barbara wer gonna bed a bastard.  She a loudmouthed chile, jes like her mother, if you ast me.

Mr. Bergen, I do declar ther are som’thin bad gonna happen.  I kin jez tell. Like a storm’s a-comin’ shore. So the good Lord willin’ and the crick don’t rise, I hope you are home soon.

Yore wife,
Gabby Bergen

Past member of REP’s Board of Directors and 2009/2010 Ensemble member Kyle Szulik plays Mrs. Gabby Bergen in DARK OF THE MOON.  Kyle was last seen on stage in REP’s crowd-pleasing production of THE BEST LITTLE WHOREHOUSE IN TEXAS.

Letters from Buck Creek: The Weather’s a-Changin’…

To my Cousin Abraham:

The weather been purdy good here as of late, I hope it the same whar you are.  We done got strange weather ahead, though, looks like.  Big thunder claps tiday and late yestiday.  Lotsa lightnin’.

I guess we comin’ up on the fifth year since yore Agnes Riddle was kilt; I hope yer doin’ well with the loss, still.  Least we can rest knowin’ ole Jed Higgins done been put away for good.  Amen.

Dunno if’n you remember Barbara Allen much at all, but she done gone and got herself pregnant.  Not sure who the diddy is.  She ‘n Edna Summey always a-fightin’ lately.  And you know how I feel ‘bout them Summeys in the first place.  That Mrs. Summey cain’t parent her child nohow.  Edna got a mouth on her like no other and I don’t stand fer it.  Ella Bergen done got pregnant, too, but at least she’s got a man on her arm to marry her.  Barbara Allen been strollin’ with Marvin Hudgins, but don’t thank that’s right a’tall.  Marvin can do better than Barbara Allen and you know I like the Allens.  ‘Course, in Buck Crick, ain’t much a choice.

I done heard a rumor Preacher Haggler was comin’ this way to stay a spell.  He been to visit you lately?  I been wantin’ a proper revival and looks like we may just get one. Amen.

Lawd, the weather done turn strange in just the last little while.  I done heard an eagle screechin’.  I’ma end this letter here and go outside for a spell, see what I cain’t figger out.

Hope to see you soon, Cousin.

Sincerely,
Cousin Matthew Atkins

2009/2010 Ensemble member Jesse Gephart portrays Mr. Atkins in DARK OF THE MOON.  Jesse recently played the roles of Silenus, Phaeton and others in REP’s production of Mary Zimmerman’s METAMORPHOSES.  Other REP credits include BEAUTIFUL THING, COLUMBINUS, and THE SKRIKER.  He will direct the Pulitzer Prize-winning THE EFFECT OF GAMMA RAYS ON MAN-IN-THE-MOON MARIGOLDS by Paul Zindel for REP in 2010.

Letters from Buck Creek: Dark of the Moon

Deep within Appalachia,

Nestled somewhere between Hangin’ Dawg and Chunky Gal mountains,

Well below Old Baldy and not far from Hog Back Holler,

Rests the tiny community of Buck Creek.

Here, folks shop at the same general store, worship at the same church, and gather at the same square for a night of dancin’.

Here, everybody knows everybody else.

Or do they?

 

Read the private letters of the inhabitants of Buck Creek. 

See if you can make heads or tails of all the crazy goings-on of late.

And make your plans now to experience Buck Creek firsthand

when the Raleigh Ensemble Players theatre company presents

Howard Richardson and William Berney’s

DARK OF THE MOON

November 19^th through 22^nd.