February 21,1996
Campus Extras
Adaptation of Ellen
Foster to be performed
By Dina Di Maio
Almost ten years ago, John Creagh
read a tx)ok and fell in love with the
story. In feet, he loved it so much, he
decided to prepare it for the stage.
The book was FMen Foster by Ra
leigh novelist Kaye Gibbons.
"1 read it when it first cameout and
wanted to do it then," said Creagh.
So he adapted the novel himself.
Although he wasn’t pleased with his
adaptation, he finished it. He then
asked Gibbons, who owned the rights
to fillen Foster, for permission to per
form it. She told him that Kallmark
Hall of Fame was turning the novel
into a TV movie, and that he couldn't
perform it at that time. Gibbons did
tell him that a professional company
in Philadelphia had performed it al
ready.
But Oeagh didn't shelve the idea
jiist yet. He contacted Aaron Posner,
writer and director of Men
Foster, at the Arden Theatre Com
pany in Philadelphia. Posner agreed
to let Creagh use his version of the
play.
“He has been very generoas about
changing some things," Creagh said.
Posner’s performance of the play in
1994 received rave reviews from nu
merous Philadelphia-area critics.
So after a few years. Gibbons gave
Meredith permission to perform the
novel before it became a TV movie.
"I’m asked for permission a lot,
and ] don't give it," she said in a
telephone interview. She gave
Meredith permission because "it was
local" and she "knew the script."
"I trusted [Creagh] with it, and I
don't give permission to peoplel don’t
trust," Gibbons said.
So after yearsof planning and push
ing. Creagh finally got his dream of
producing Fllen Foster, a play he de
scribes as “perfect” for a women’s
college because of its heroine, Ellen.
Ellen, a young giri from North Caro
lina, must battle poverty, abuse, and
neglea at the hands of many family
members, but she comes out trium
phant.
Creagh said Ellen Foster is a “tri
umph of the human spirit."
The play's script sticks pretty closcly
to the novel, as does the TV script, with
minor changes for performance on
stage. Some dialogue not in the book
\ras added, and the actors did a little
improvising as well.
“Ninety-five percent of the words in
thcplayarcverbatim,”Creaghsaid. "It’s
as close to the original as we could make
it." Creagh noted that the first three
pages of the script are exactly like the
novel.
Rehearsals for £//en/'tosifer are cur
rently underway. The cast of 15 has
been working extra hard, “five niglits a
week for five weeks—about 250 hours,"
said Creagh.
One woman, Phyllis CJay. was sitting
in on try-outs and considering audition
ing. Cre^{h told her to read for a part
right there. She said yes, and now she’s
playing the parts of Starletta's mom and
Mavis.
. For die-hard Fllen Foster Ians, the
wait for the TV movie is just about over.
It is scheduled for a September release.
Gibbons is pleased. "Sometimes I feel
as though I’ve lo.st control of it," she
said, "but it's been so long since I’ve
written it. ” She feels that Hallmark will
do a good job as well.
Opening night for the play is Febru
ary 27. Gibbons will be coming to a
performance with “about 13 family
members."
“If I didn’t expect it to be good, I
wouldn’t go," she said.
When asked what she hopes people
will gain from her story, Gibbons said
she doesn’t write for “social reasons or
to entertain."
She writes for herself. “I need a job
that pleases me everyday and invariably
pleases other people," she said.
Creagh, on the other hand, said. "If
people have a good cry at this play, then
1 will be satisfied."
CAREER CONNECTKmS
MercUiih Majors Fair
• Don’t miss this convtinicni, 'flicicni ami iiifonnauve way
to why Meredith students love their ma|ors.
• C)pporiuiiity lo talk with faciiHy, cumint siudems ar»tl
alumnae abom acadcniic major options, tbnr bcnefib and
career potentials.
• Wednesday^ Fd)v^21- Dtop by between 4:30^:30 p.m.
!Mk Dining Hall Stnn^eld side
• Door prizes and refreshments, ofcoursel Opportnaity to
declare yt»ur major on .site'
Career Center Orientations for Qass erf '97
• Register wub (lit- Career Center by attending tlie «>rie«ia-
lion session at Kresge Anditoriim) on Tuesday, Feb. 27,
5:30-^:i5 pjn. No pre registration.
• Resume EX|>ert di.skeites will be ilistnbirted.
SludentOnifercnce on Careers in International nusme&s
• Monday, Fcb> 26, at CJNG Charlotte
• Details in Career Center, 2nd Caie
iSpoleto Festival USA
;• Annual Apprentice Program that is a great opportunity for
stitdents to ex|>eriea.o& transition between academic and
professicmal life.
• May 24-Jwnc in Chtuiestocu SC
• Complele Details in Career Onu-r, Application deadline is
Feb. 20 :
Wanted Suitimer Interns
The Meredith College Performing Arl.s (^ainp for i;hildreii
aged 6-13^ needs college students to worlc ^camp counse
lors few three weeks v;
• S-26 M-F) from 9 to 1 p.m.
• July 25 afrerntxtn, als) July 26 evening, (performance at
7:30 p.m.)
Summer Jobs
Camp Rim Rock for Girls
Work this summer in the beauiifui mounuins of Wesi Virgmu.
Come enjoy workirtg with children as a general counsetor or
sharing your talents as ai^ instructor in:
Swimming, Drama. Riding, Canoeing, Dance, Soccer, Tennis,
Volleyball, Arts and Crafts, Environmental Education, Archery
College credit i^osslble, according lo college policy.
Information packets available in the Financial Aid Office, 208
Johnson Hall. Or, for more information, call Marie DelForge at
469*8036.