Lime Kiln Hosts A New Reading Of SAVAGE NATION

On Thursday, February 11th at 6:30pm, Theater at Lime Kiln will conduct a reading of Savage Nation, a new play about Colonial Augusta County, Virginia at 2017 Wilson Hall at Washington and Lee University. The reading is open to the public. Those interested should call the Lime Kiln Office at 540-463-7088 for details.

On one side Savage Nation tells the story of Cornstalk, the Shawnee chief who most credit with leading the raids on Kerr's Creek and Big Spring in the mid-1700's. The play presents those raids and the effects of Pontiac's War on Colonial settlers and Native Americans. In 1777 Cornstalk was assassinated by Virginia militia while on a peace mission.

"Cornstalk was a great leader of his people, a multilingual orator, a fierce warrior and skillful negotiator," said Lime Kiln Executive Director Kim Renz. "According to legend, even as he and his son were being shot and killed by relatives of the victims of the Greenbrier and Augusta County raids, he swore that he was always a friend to the colonists. His curse on the land in what is now West Virginia was the source of the Mothman Prophecies."

Birmingham, Alabama resident Jeanmarie Collins is writing Savage Nation. She and director Tom Conway from Chattanooga, Tennessee will conduct the reading of the play, scheduled for performances in September. Conway has performEd Stonewall Country many seasons at Lime Kiln and recently directed the comedy, Dracula. Lime Kiln engaged Actor's Equity member, director and playwright Collins to tell the story from two perspectives. "Jeanmarie is an ideal choice to explore this material," said Renz. "She writes as an actor, is part Cherokee and has an old soul."

"We thought it crucial to be even-handed. It is so easy to take a side here, and I think one can make a case for either the Native Americans or for the frontier colonists. The bottom line is that, as in any armed conflict, everyone lost. What had these poor immigrant farmers done but try to make a better life for themselves and for their families? And, conversely, what right did Europeans have to drive the Eastern Native Americans tribes to near-extinction?"

Renz contacted Cornstalk re-enactor Dan Cutler from West Virginia, to consult on Cornstalk and on of the events in the play. Cutler, who performs as Cornstalk at many historic functions through West Virginia and Southeastern Ohio each year, is coming to Lexington to hear the reading as well.

"In 2007 we started looking at ideas to help us recapture the days when Lime Kiln produced new plays on a regular basis and was a significant source of tourism in Rockbridge County. We created a revue in 2008 called The Ghosts of Music City, USA, and then last year we resurrectEd Stonewall Country, our Signature Theatre piece," said Renz. "Ghosts was important, because it established us as a producing organization again. And I think bringing back Stonewall Country was the smartest thing we have done since I arrived. I hope this new play has a life beyond this production as well."

Renz says he sees Savage Nation becoming another signature presentation. "The French and Indian War was a springboard to our Revolution, which spurred the French Revolution, which ultimately changed the face of Western Civilization. This story of raid and capture, of captor and captive, of grief and retribution, is timeless. If this play develops into the next Stonewall Country, it will bring more visitors to Rockbridge County and will educate young people about their history. Many of the descendants of the McKees, the Dudleys, the Cunninghams and the other Borden Grant families still live here. I am excited to tell their story."

Stonewall Country ran for 20 years before it closed in 2004. Renz says most viable outdoor theatres have productions that the general public associates as theirs. In a way those productions define who they are. "Stonewall is like Trail of the Lonesome Pine or Lost Colony. Without it we are a beautiful concert venue where one occasionally sees a Shakespeare play or maybe Sleepy Hollow. With it we contribute to the historic and cultural life of Virginia. I can't tell you how many times I was asked ‘When is Stonewall Country coming back?' before last summer when we remounted it," said Renz.

This year Theater at Lime Kiln will produce Stonewall Country with performances featuring Composer/Lyricists Robin and Linda Williams on July 1-3 and 8-11. Savage Nation runs September 23-26.

 

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