Halloween? No A Hallowing... NAVASOTA THEATER ALLIANCE

 Working for Dr Harris, this devoted nurse became worried about transmitting deadly diseases to her own children.

"We live and die with the choices we make..."

Said nurse Tribble after a lifetime of sacrificially serving the Navasota community as a nurse. And The Navasota Theater Alliance made a great choice in this instance. Once again Lanterns and Legends at Navasota runs away with all of the awards for Best Halloween Season Production, Best Wardrobe, Best Scripts, Best Set Design, Best Organization... and Best Bang for the Buck. 

These are my awards, but why not?

After doctoring during the tragic and bloody Civil War, this doctor gave up medicine after the helplessness he felt during the 1867 Yellow Fever epidemic.

I know a little about art, music, theater... and I will place my awards against any other opinionated person and argue successfully that this may be the most moving, the most significant, the most useful art ever produced in Navasota... or anywhere nearby. There were probably fifty cars in the makeshift parking lot at the Oakland Cemetery, now hallowed ground for a new set of reasons, telling me lots of folks agree with me... They were nearly sold out at every performance.

Even the crowd will give you the creeps out there in the cemetery at night.

This years' theme was "The Brave in the Grave," and that was well illustrated by the characters who emerged from the cemetery darkness to tell their touching stories; A stoic woman who lost her brother and her child in the world wars; An army sergeant killed in action; A newspaper publisher who fought in the Texas revolution, barely escaping the Mexican holocaust, only to to see his newspaper building burned twice, and lose a daughter while quite young and have to report her death in his newspaper.

Joseph Lancaster was a southern firebrand- who often had to put out his own fires.

The courage of our forefathers makes us seem to cower in comparison.

Ranger Bob Werner comes to life as a ring tailed tooter.. and shares his experiences as police chief in Navasota.

Lanterns and Legends is a theatrical hit, on any level... and makes most other Autumn events seem trivial and a waste of time... But that's just my opinion. You will, and should see it for yourself to prove me wrong. 

But if you do... watch your step!

Lanterns and Legends runs through Sunday afternoon...

Lanterns and Legends: Art and tradition born in the Navasota cemetery

The first Lanterns and Legends living history event has been a resounding success, blessed by vigorous attendance, perfect weather and inspiration from Navasota's rich heritage.

The Navasota Theater Alliance, Co-Directed by Earlene Rainey and Mavis Anderson, shaped a poignant event around the magnificent surroundings at Oakland Cemetery, a historic Victorian era burial ground draped by great moss-laden oaks as old as the souls buried among their roots.

Earlene Rainey makes a very convincing portrayal of a southern belle who lost almost everything and everyone during the difficult era of the Civil War and the Yellow Fever epidemics afterwards.

It does not take much effort to imagine the compelling impact this backdrop offers, combined with authentically garbed characters who come out of the darkness to shed wonderful light on their lives and times.

Steve Haley does a great La Salle.

The ubiquitous Steve Haley, so often the clutch hitter for the NTA team, once again comes through with an inspired interpretation of the wandering ghost of  Robert Cavalier Sieur de La Salle, the French hero killed by his men while hiking across Texas. Legend has it he was buried in an unmarked grave, and the ghost of La Salle finds comfort among the other European adventurers buried in nearby Navasota.

Mayor Bert Miller becomes Texas' first itinerant Methodist missionary, Martin Ruter, who died on mission.

This is the best of living history as it makes a thoughtful tribute to many of Navasota's intrepid pioneers. This year the theme was travellers who ended up in Navasota, from the ill-fated explorer La Salle to the original town founder Judge Nolan, both of whom are met as they search the cemetery for their graves, never to be found. 

Teri Gerst

 

Teri Gerst delivers the heartbreaking testimony of Jane Levy, the longsuffering wife of Navasota's most prominent Jewish merchant, Meyer Levy. Her saga provokes a new found respect for what our ancestors did to establish civilization in the wilderness. 

My neighbor Steve Gochenour played the part of Judge Nolan, the man who first camped at the crossroads he called Nolanville... "I can't find my grave!"

German born emigrant Ferdinand Brosig (Gary Anderson) explains his philosophy of retail business. His family left Germany to escape the ravages of war only to end up fighting in the American Civil War.

A doctor, a mother and housewife, a Methodist missionary, a merchant, a mechanic, even a famous blues singer are found at dusk, contemplating their graves, and trying to explain or rationalize their lives and their deaths. 

Oscar Coe was a car mechanic and hotel operator. He has a mysterious story about a long cool woman in a black dress...

 

Several brought their struggles from Europe, others from other states. All died too soon. Eight souls who rest in our history reach from the grave to connect with passers by, making an extraordinary leap to remind us of their trials and accomplishments.

Bluesman Mance Lipscomb, played by his grandson Jimmy Lipscomb, tells how he changed his name to Emancipation, and played his way into the hearts of music lovers all over the world. He may have been famous but he still had to work hard to support his huge family... as a farmer and lumberman and finally as a performer.

 

Spooky? Heck yea, it was great! But the characters make their point. The struggle of life is about work, faith and relationships. 

Dr. Kilpatrick tells of horrors and heroism on the frontier during the Yellow Fever epidemics.

 

And if we are wise, our struggle includes seeking and learning from those who have gone before. Many thanks to the NTA and congratulations for the beginning of a long-awaited tradition with heart, that reminds us of who we are... or can be.