Bible Stories

So I'm taking a Group Storytelling Class this semester. I took it last year, too. Last year, we made a little "story theatre" piece out of a bunch of Jack Tales and "youngest daughter tales." This time, we're working on stories from Genesis. We're trying to focus on them as stories, but dogma seems to be getting in the way for a lot of people. When I told my version of Joseph and the coat and the pit, and named his brothers Bobby, Peter, Greg, Cindy, Jan, Marsha, Keith, Laurie, Danny, and Rueben, there were a few looks of consternation. Anyway, my prof wanted me to co-direct this year. And I was up for it. I was expecting to really CO-direct the show. And I had expected my part would be to focus mainly on the visuals, staging, and imagery, since that's what I'm best at (and most interested in).

It hasn't turned out that way. We perform this thing in three weeks. And I'm just now figuring out that when he said "co-direct," my prof apparently meant he'd work in an advisory status. He's a forceful guy. I'd expected to be the advisor, the right hand, the second. Seems he was thinking that was his position.

So I've spent the past few days trying to bang out a script, using what the rest of the class have written. Combining them into something. But there are a number of stories we're working with that the class didn't write down- they extemporized. So I did what I could. And now I'm exhausted. I ended up not just compiling, but actually writing about a third of it, which is really not what the class is about. And the script that I turned in has a few holes in it. Things that no one wrote. I don't think any more of it should be my words. That's not what this class is about. I've had a few ideas beyond the stories I was originally assigned- my favorite of these is Noah's sons as the Three Stooges- but I can't conceptualize new versions of half of Genesis in a week. And though the class lends itself well to my own Pop sensibilities, well, I'm not the whole class.

Anyway, tomorrow morning- in 6 and three-quarter hours, actually- we'll be reading through what I put together from what people provided to me, and what I added. I don't think it illustrates the themes we're work with: scattering and reconciliation. But I think once I hear it read I'll be able to take that and re-write to draw out the themes. And then there will be a scant few hours of class time and a few extra rehearsals to actually stage it. So that's all I'm going to be able to think about for the next few weeks. Of course, I have another, very intensive class on educational research methods that is absolutely KICKING MY ASS. Luckily, most of that work is done now... I hope. We'll see how that professor responds to my rough draft. If it's positive, then I can devote my time to the Bible Show. If not, well, I'm fucked.

In other news, my mortgage goes adjustable in the middle of June. Time to find out how to refinance with mediocre credit and no cash on hand. And Friday (if she's free) or Saturday, I'm taking another Mental Health Day and taking my friend Marjorie to Dollywood, dammit! Eric's not coming- so we'll get to see the shows. I've been trying to see the shows for two years, but Eric won't see them. So we're going without him. HAHAHAH!