DragonFly Arts presents "Handler"

January 11, 4:18 AMSpiritual Living ExaminerMarlena Rich

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“Handler [by Robert Schenkkan] is a fascinating play. It causes us to examine our faith by searching the depths of our psyche…it isn’t about snake handlers per se. Rather it uses them as a metaphor for the human condition…The fresh ideas presented in Handler are chilling, provocative and open to vast interpretation. (Ashland Review, OR 2002)

In the present day rural south there are Christian fundamentalist sects which handle poisonous snakes as a test of faith. I play a dual role in Handler, both as a congregant who sings, speaks in tongues and dances ecstatically as moved by Spirit, and a reporter who shows up from the big city to cover the sensational story of death and rebirth as it evolves the lives of the entire community.

I am in the role because Christa Ray, a dear and talented friend who is producer and lead actress, asked me to audition. Honored and thrilled to be able spend time with her in this arena, I could not have known what I was about to experience, and the saga continues. Two weeks and counting until opening night, we will be together nightly until we can work no more, simply play.

My last time in a play was before the birth of most of the cast and I don’t remember ever being so fully transformed by acting. However, this material calls for thorough involvement as we express from the depth of soul to portray people who would risk their lives in the weekly service, trusting the literal word of the bible.

While this is not my flavor of faith, I am no stranger to the practice of allowing Spirit to move my body and voice. However, creating with a group of artists preparing to present ecstatic experiences within the context of a story to an audience takes me to a whole new level of creativity. Exhilarating, humbling, strengthening and liberating has been the gentle unfolding of deepened authentic expression in development of characters and ensemble.

"Action, although necessary, is only a secondary factor in manifesting our external reality. The primary factor in creation is consciousness. No matter how active we are, how much effort we make, our state of consciousness creates our world, and if there is no change on that inner level, no amount of action will make a difference. We would only re-create modified versions of the same world again and again, a world that is an external reflection of the ego.” -Eckhart Tolle

And so, we have worked to step inside the consciousness which creates the world of this small congregation that is committed to expressing from the place of Spirit as a transformational process of liberation. Indeed the action is connected to the consciousness, each affecting the other with the intention to do so. Having just started a new day job I am blown away by the amount of energy I have, in spite of literally no down time. -Proof positive that creativity produces nourishing energy.