The Smoky Mountain
Posted by John Armor on Feb 11, 2007 - 10:00:00 PM
We went over the mountains last weekend to attend the Smoky Mountain Storytelling Festival. Before I describe that, what do you think it was? Do you imagine a bunch of good ol' boys in bib overalls, swapping outrageous fish tales? No such thing. It was far more interesting than that. When we drive to D.C., we go through Tennessee. Every trip, we'd pass a sign for the National Storytelling Center in Jonesboro. Finally, we took that exit, and spent an hour talking with the lady in charge of the center, in the beautifully-restored downtown of Tennessee's oldest city. We decided to attend the National Festival in the fall. Three weeks ago, we found an Internet reference to this Festival in Pigeon Forge. We chose to try a regional event to prepare for the national one to come. On the way over, we listened to a CD by Donald Davis, one of the invited, national story-tellers. He was also the first performer we saw when we got to the theater. All his tales are from his own childhood. But all of his stories had three common characteristics. Each story was perfectly told, with every word as well chosen and as well delivered as each brush stroke in a fine painting. Each of his tales was not just told, but acted out. And, in each tale was a moral, not hit-you-over-the-head-obvious like Aesop's Fables, but a moral, nonetheless. The following morning, we attended a workshop on the Art and Heart of Storytelling, by Connie Regan-Blake. Two things were highly interesting about that workshop. The first was that by example and exercises given to the audience, Ms. Blake showed us that storytelling is a separate and different skill than writing in any form, or acting in any other form. As she said, many beginners in storytellers start with classic tales or fables from many nations and going back in history. She noted that historic tales had both "stood the test of time" and had "been polished to perfection in thousands of retellings." The other fascinating aspect of Ms. Blake's workshop was her own history. She got into storytelling after college through a storytelling program at her local library. A generation later, she had become a veteran in many forms of storytelling. She travels the world as an invited guest at folk festivals in many nations. Before finishing the description of the Smoky Mountain Festival, a personal note is in order. At the end of the formal program each day in the theater, the Festival conducted "Swapping Grounds in the Theatre." This was the equivalent of open-mike night at a comedy club. The first eight adults to sign up alternated with the first eight youth participants in telling tales, not to exceed ten minutes. Yes, this Festival, like most of them anywhere, had a youth component divided into age categories. My contribution was modest, but adequate. But it was a good beginning. My taking the chance encouraged Michelle to take the chance, and do a more finished job, the following day. We noted that every participant, even the youngest, most nervous, most unpolished, was praised for what they'd done right. It was a remarkably supportive community to encourage each person to try again, and keep on truckin'. We saw a wide variety of presenters with tales ranging from what was true, to what was clearly fabulous. There was one classic fish tale, about the surprising contents of a barrel that allegedly floated down stream from the Jack Daniels distillery. It was clearly false from the first word spoken. But the teller was such an engaging character that we all engaged in what Robert Penn Warren called, "the willing suspension of disbelief." The most engaging performer at the Festival, and we saw him twice, was John McCutcheon. He is an excellent storyteller, an excellent teacher, and a master of many instruments including the bass guitar, the banjo, and the hammered dulcimer. He's now a Tar Heel. So, here are the recommendation we offer to all readers: If you hear about a storytelling festival anywhere in your vicinity, pack a picnic lunch and go on over. If you hear about a performance anywhere by John McCutcheon, postpone all other recreation and attend. During the Grammys, look for his name. His seventh and eighth nominations are up this year.
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