Violet From Ten Thousand Things Is a Bus Trip Worth Taking

Violet is another tribute to the inventiveness and creativity of the artists that gravitate to Ten Thousand Things (TTT). This is the company whose modus operandi is that their entire set, props, and costumes have to fit in a U-haul trailer. They do this so they can travel with the shows making theater available to all. They travel all over from senior living homes to recovery centers and correctional facilities. They perform in the round with all the lights up and they rely on the actors to create most of the world in which the shows take place. It takes creativity to direct and skilled actors to help paint the world of the story on the canvas of the audiences minds. While they eschew the use of lighting they do, as you may suspect, utilize music, which is very handy when performing a musical. And here is where I issue the words of caution I have shared before, but failed to heed myself this time. Don’t sit next to Music Director Sanford Moore. I’m sure he’s a lovely man, it’s not that, it’s just that being right next to the music at a show performed in the round with no mics, some of the lyrics get drowned out. It’s my own fault, I know better, I just forgot, but I encourage you to sit on the opposite side of the room for a more balanced sound.

The story follows a young woman named Violet who is taking a Greyhound bus from Spruce Pine, NC to Tulsa, OK in 1964. She is going to see a healing televangelist in hopes that he will use the power of God to remove the large scar she has on her face that was caused by an axe head. On the bus she meets two soldiers one black and one white named Flick and Monty, they are dealing indirectly with their own issues concerning race and the Vietnam war. Those are not the focus of the show, they are just part of setting the place and time of the story. She befriends the soldiers and they form bonds and find solace in each other. The story is intercut with scenes of young Violet and her father, which help to inform the 1964 scenes. Violet feels like an outsider because of the disfigurement, but one of the things I liked about the show is it doesn’t paint her as a victim. There are scenes that could have been told in a way that would make her appear that she was taken advantage of, but the musical doesn’t go there. She gets what she needs from interactions and she knows how to take care of herself.

Annika Isbell plays Violet in her TTT debut, she has a nice voice and I was particularly captivated by her song “Lay Down Your Head“, which to my mind was much to short, as it’s a very beautiful bit of music. I’m not sure if other productions create a scar on Violet and if TTT doesn’t in keeping with their lean approach, but I don’t think seeing the scar would add anything to the production. Mitchell Douglas and Ryan London Levin play flick and Monty and both get moments to take the spotlight. Douglas’s big song is “Let it Sing” and boy does he, I also liked the movement that Director Kelli Foster Warder designed for that song having Douglas up on the seats of the bus in his uniform had a classic feel to it. Levin’s character seems like he’s going to be the typical jerk just out for a good time, but a turn to sincerity, when it comes, feels very authentic. Tom Reed who plays the Preacher, brought me right back to the one of the first times I saw him on stage in what I still consider one of the best musicals I’ve ever seen Interstate: The Musical by Melissa Li and Kit Yan. He’s so good at playing Preachers, and bus drivers, and… oh who am I kidding, he’s always great in everything and this is no exception. The cast is rounded out by very talented cast playing multiple roles including the divine Lynnea Doublette fantastic as a Gospel Singer. Sophina Saggau who plays Young Violet, Kate Beahen as an older woman who befriends Violet on the bus, and Charlie Clark as violet’s father.

Violet is creatively staged by Director Kelli Foster Warder with Music Direction by Sanford Moore, whom I will remind you again not to sit next to. The costumes by Samantha Fromm Haddow have a great period feel to them and the sets and props by Sarah Bahr while simple are extremely versatile and perfect for a TTT production. Violet runs through June 1st at various locations. To learn more and to purchase tickets go to https://tenthousandthings.org/violet/

Now more than ever in the wake of the most recent election and the hailstorm of stupidity and hate it has unleashed, theater companies need you and we need them. Buy tickets to shows, go out and support work that reflects diversity and inclusiveness. Donate to your favorite theater companies, don’t wait until they are on the brink of shutting down. We all need to stand up and fight for our theaters whose funding is under attack for promoting inclusion, equality and diversity. In short, theaters are being threatened for sharing stories that reflect our countries cultural and racial diversity.

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