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| Bobbie Curtis as Birdell Tolly |
Folks, you've been waiting for it and it's almost here. What am I talking about? I'm talking about Gary Carden's play "Birdell." This is a dramatic monologue about a defiant mountain woman forced off her land by the rising waters of Fontana Lake. This Liars Bench show will be a benefit for the show. Consequently there will be a $10.00 admission charge. Tickets will be available at City Lights Bookstore in Sylva and at the MHC door the night of the show.
Here's the press release:
Sylva November 5, 2012—Thursday
November 15 at 7:00 pm The Liars Bench presents “Birdell”
at WCUs Mountain Heritage Center auditorium. “Birdell,” a
dramatic monologue by Gary Carden starring Bobbie Curtis, is the
story of a defiant mountain woman forced off her land by the TVA
caused rising waters of Fontana Lake. Carden has announced that this
show will be a benefit for the organization. Consequently there will
be an admission charge of $10.00. Tickets will be available at City
Lights Bookstore in Sylva and at the door the night of the show.
Carden said “although “Birdell”
has plenty of pathos, its not just a dark, unrelenting tragedy. It
has humor all the way through the play. Some of the things that
Birdell does in her garden just might shock a Southern Baptist
preacher.”
Actress Bobbie Curtis portrays Birdell
Tolly's life and her battle against the federal government. Ms.
Curtis' grandparents were forced off their land by the construction
of the Bridgewater Dam which formed Lake James. Curtis says “I feel
that I am really in her shoes and that I have been there.” Some of
Carden's other plays she has performed in are “The Bright Forever”
and Ketti Frings “Look Homeward Angel.”
Member Stars Gary Carden, Paul Iarussi
will perform Southern Appalachian tales and music also.
Regular cast members include Gary
Carden, Lloyd Arneach, Paul Iarussi, William Ritter, the Boys From
Tuckaseegee, Barabra Duncan, Karen Barnes, and the show’s mascot
Bodine. The Liars Bench recognizes established regional
artists and performers and encourages new talent also.
“The Liars Bench is a unique
blend of culturally accurate mountain Americana with traditional
Southern Appalachian entertainment for everyone. We attempt to treat
Appalachian culture with integrity and authenticity and to be an
accurate reflection of the Southern Highlanders and their ways. No
matter how successful the show becomes I want people to know that The
Liars Bench is an honest rendering of Appalachian culture and
tradition” said Carden.
The Liars Bench was created in
the early summer of 2010 by Dr. Gary Carden, recipient of the 2008
Brown-Hudson Folklore Award and the 2012 North Carolina Award for
Literature to promote Southern Appalachian storytelling, music,
poetry, drama, and folk arts.
The
next presentation of The Liars Bench Show at WCUs Mountain
Heritage Center will be Thursday December 13 at 7 pm with stories and
songs of “An Old Time Appalachian Christmas.”
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We're looking forward to seeing you at this special Liars Bench Show. We think you'll like "Birdell."
As always, thank you for supporting the Liars Bench--WNCs Live Authentic, Traditional Southern Appalachian Storytelling, Music, Poetry, Drama, and Folk Arts Presentation.
