December 15-17 – HS Play: Dark of the Moon

Dark of the Moon begins on the peak of a ridge somewhere deep in the Smoky Mountains on a windy, moonless night, and ends a year later as the moon comes up on the same lonely spot.

John, a “witch boy” (played by senior Caleb Jaster), has fallen in love with a beautiful and carefree human girl (freshman Sophia Gilberto) named Barbara Allen, “jes’ like the ballad.” With the help of old Conjur Man and Woman (staff members Jonathan Powell and Mary Randall), he gets his wish to become human, too, but only on condition that they marry and that Barbara remain faithful to him for one year.

Barbara tells John “it don’t differ” what the townspeople think. But suspicions grow about the mysterious stranger who marries her until there is no doubt in anyone’s mind but hers and all the well-meaning folk of Buck’s Creek, led by Preacher Haggler (senior Andres Orr). In the end even her own loving family sets out to convince Barbara to leave her marriage, with tragic results.

The play is about how difficult it can be to leave our past behind. “Hit ain’t easy being human,” John is warned; “Thar’s something can’t be changed. Hit lies sleepin’ thar inside ‘em….And thar’s just one thing that wake him…the Lord Gawd Jesus.” But for reasons he keeps to himself, John refuses to go to church, and this act of defiance only deepens the community’s suspicions. Perhaps he is reluctant to take a last, irrevocable step away from his past.

The outside pressures against him changing are just as strong: his former witch friends from the mountain (freshmen Stefanie Schechter and Teresa Dancewicz-Helmers and junior Patricia Boegli) are always lurking nearby to taunt and tempt him on one side, and on the other the townspeople begin to turn against him from the start, when he forgets himself and uses his old ways to win a fight against Marvin Hudgens (junior Obie Dancewicz-Helmers), until now the strongest young man in town and the most likely prospect to marry Barbara.

The beauty of this play is in its authentic dialect and rich, distinctive language; in the music, full of singing and picking of old bluegrass and gospel tunes; and in the vividness of its many characters (a large cast of 24). And though it is a serious drama, there is no shortage of humor, especially in the role of idle old Uncle Smelicue (director Craig Jaster in his debut acting in a Sant Bani production), who keeps everyone entertained down at the general store playing his mandolin and telling stories. There is beauty in the play’s sadness as well; like in Romeo and Juliet, our hearts go out to the two young people loving each other against all the odds.

This production is not recommended for younger children. Parents, please use your discretion but be advised that some of the content and themes are mature.

Dark of the Moon, a drama by Howard Richardson and William Berney, directed by Craig Jaster. Performances are December 15, 16 and 17 (Thursday through Saturday) at 7:00 p.m. in the Sant Bani School Studio Theater. Admission is $5/$2.50 students and senior citizens. For reservations or more information, call the school at 934-4240.