The
Liars Bench
Stories
of the Southern Appalachians
“A Live, Authentic
Traditional Southern Appalachian Storytelling, Music, Poetry, Drama,
and Folk Arts Presentation”
Sylva February 21, 2012—Gary Carden
of The Liars Bench, a two-year old program featuring authentic
traditional Southern Appalachian storytelling, music, poetry, and
drama, announced an encore show Thursday February 23 at 7:00 pm at
WCUs Mountain Heritage Center to follow the successful February 16
Liars Bench performance of “Coy”. There will be an
admission charge of $10.00 per person to cover the costs of show
production.
“We have done over twenty, free
performances in Sylva and Cullowhee, and in addition, we have
traveled to other locations such as Andrews, Franklin, and
Waynesville,” said Carden, the founder and Artistic Director of The
Liars Bench. “The show has become quite popular and part of the
program's appeal is due to the fact that admission at all of the City
Lights and Mountain Heritage Center performances have been free.
Customarily, we 'pass the hat' at each performance in order to give a
token payment to the performers. However, in order to stabilize our
finances we have decided to charge admission for this special “Coy”
program.
Carden readily admits that The Liars
Bench programs took an unexpected turn, both in terms of purpose
and popularity. “At first, I simply wanted an opportunity to tell
stories. However, when local musicians and poets agreed to perform, I
realized that perhaps The Liars Bench was an opportunity to do
more than merely entertain the audience. Gradually, the show has
become a means of showcasing Appalachian culture and presenting it
with integrity and authenticity. With the assistance of the Mountain
Heritage Center, we are in the process of developing a series of
programs called “The Balsam Chronicles” which are based on the
history and folklore of the region.”
Recently, The Liars Bench, in
conjunction with the Mountain Heritage Center, developed a grant
proposal that was funded by the Jackson County Arts Council. “This
grant will give us the resources to develop programs that deal with
topics such as Dr. John R. Brinkley, the hanging of Jack Lambert, and
the historical basis for the belief that Abraham Lincoln was born
here. We plan to do this with storytelling, music, poetry and drama.”
During the past year, Carden has
designed and directed a series of shows that dealt with Cherokee
history and culture; religious music, Jack Tales, and myths and
legends. After a show from last October was recently featured on the
regional television program Life in the Carolinas, both the
performers and the staff of the Liars Bench became convinced
that the show should move toward becoming a significant voice in
defining and preserving the region's culture.
In addition to Liars Bench
regulars, such as Lloyd Arneach, the Cherokee storyteller; Paul
Iarussi, claw-hammer guitar specialist; William Ritter, vocalist and
musician; Karen Barnes, musician and Eric Young (mandolin and
guitar); the February 23 performance will feature a play, “Coy,”
written by Gary Carden and performed by Tom Dewees. Advance tickets
are $10.00 and are currently on sale at City Lights Bookstore
(828.586.9499). Encore performance starts at 7:00 pm. For additional
information, call the Mountain Heritage Center at 828.227.7129.
http://hollernotes.blogspot.com/
http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Liars-Bench/205980006131269
The Mountain Heritage Center at WCU:
828.227.7129
###
Coming in March, the first of "The Balsam Chronicles", a series of
culturally and historically significant shows about Jackson and the
surrounding counties of Western North Carolina. Whether its the short, blue-eyed men who were here when the Cherokee came to the Southern Appalachians, a Jackson County medical doctor who invigorated elderly men decades before Viagra, or the near-impossible rescue of a man who fell off Whiteside Mountain and came within a hair of plunging two thousand feet to his death by a true Jackson County hero who was married to "Kidder Cole", you will be amazed at
all the interesting things that have gone on in your back yard!
Thursday March 15's show was great start to the "Balsam Chronicles." And you, the audience, were even better. Pam Meister, Curator of the Mountain Heritage Center, thanked the Jackson County and the North Carolina Arts Councils for their help in producing these first three of the "Balsam Chronicles."We, at the Liars Bench really appreciate their help.
Gary told the compelling story of the
circumstances of Gus Baty jumping/falling off “Fool's Rock,”
sliding sixty yards down the steep mountain side and coming to rest
against a Laurel bush suspended on the very edge of Whiteside's cliff
a thousand feet above the valley floor, and his heroic rescue by his friend
Charlie Wright.
