Commentary by Mary Colussi: THE SASSY IMP TREE or THEATER PIE SUMMER PLAYHOUSE
Do you know where the imp tree grows? Do you even know what one is? Don’t feel bad- before this morning, I had never heard of such a thing. Then, when I arrived at the Summer Pie Playhouse, I learned that our play this week is called “Orfeo and the Imp-Trees”. Still, the meaning of the phrase eluded me. Dona, the head director, charged my fellow cheerleader (a kind of counselor and Dona veteran, to those not in the know) and I with the intimidating task of acting out the story of unfortunate King Orfeo, never having rehearsed or even read the old Celtic legend.
This was to enthuse the heat-battered, tired Players; to embolden them in the face of summer, if you will. And after perhaps the most terrible waltz ever performed- no offense to my partner, whose feet are probably still smarting from the ordeal of dancing with me- we came to the imp trees. By the end of that, the Players were ready to do what they do best: play, which is much more strenuous than you might expect.
After our ‘rough draft’ performance, we split up into groups, and I worked with a Player who had taken on the role of imp tree. For the record, they are normal, noble trees, who when overtaken by mischievous spirits known as imps, become insufferable troublemakers. My young friend then came up with what may be the sassiest tree I have ever had the chance to act with.
In case you have not noticed, this playhouse is a long ways from any theater group organized before. It’s small and weird and we don’t have scripts so much as guidelines, and even those guidelines are squiggly and easily crossed. It is the kind of thing that would and does inspire teenagers to come out of the lull of beaches and endless warm days to take part in. We dance with glittery bits of fabric (I being bestowed with the noble title of “Scarf Minister”) sing a modified, magic-themed rendition of “Don’t Stop Believing”, and teach each other not only to be loud, but to be heard. Best of all, we come up with some great stuff to show the world. Or at least the Cape Ann area. So, what are you waiting for? The imp trees don’t like to be ignored, and trust me, you wouldn’t like to annoy an imp tree. There’s a mistake you only make once.
Good Morning Gloucester 