Everlasting Spring
A Memoir on Enchanted Forests
The project began as a story on forests. Enchanted forests. But the more I played, the more I thought it would be cool to add words. Not lyrics, but words. Everlasting Spring is a reflection on a set I designed for the Children's Theatre of Western Springs High School Rep Company. What a mouthful. Ironic is the name, for the characters drink from a spring that gives them everlasting life, but the show was actually the fall show, not the spring show.
The trees where made of 2x4s and plywood ribs wrapped in chicken wire and muslin cloth. There are two thoughts that always run through my mind when I think of chicken wire and muslin. My friend and construction chair for the show, Kristin, labored through the cutting of hands for weeks while on chicken wire. As I designed new things on the fly -- much to my tech director's dismay -- it seemed everything new we had to make involved chicken wire. Chicken wire, when not keeping chickens in a coupe, is very painful. So painful, that Kristin still has scars on her hands. As for the muslin, I am sure you quickly associate the word muslin with the word Muslim. If you don't, then you are a better person than I. Because for six years I didn't know that the unbleached cloth was indeed different from Islamic believers. However rude this may sound, it was the truth.
Photo used in the cover art is taken by: Caroline Brannen.
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