GraceGlorieReview

This is a story about two women, one old and one young. It is also a story about
dying, insightfully written by Tom Ziegler. This drama was first produced, under
the title Apple Dreams, in October, 1990, by the Jacksonville State University
Drama Department in Jacksonville, Alabama. It has since enjoyed productions in
many venues across the country with its present title.

It is a modern story set in the past: a one-room cottage in the Blue Ridge
Mountains of Virginia. As the play opens, we see an old woman in an antique
brass bed covered in a wedding-ring quilt. There is torn wallpaper on the walls,
clothes, hats, shoes lying on the furniture and on the floor, an old wood stove, a
sink with hand- pump and a washboard.   We hear the quacking of chickens in the
background and the noise of an earth-moving machine. A young woman knocks
and comes in and introduces herself as Gloria, (played by Kathleen Healy-
Schmieder), a Hospice Volunteer. Grace ( played by Carol Kauppert) does not
hear the knock because she is singing along with her walkman to the sounds of a
Gospel choir. The young woman, dressed in a business suit and heels with
manicured nails, introduces herself again and tries to explain to the old woman
that she is there to help her. Grace has just been discharged from the hospital as a
terminally ill patient with just three weeks to live. She is all alone in the very
remote cabin in the mountains. Glorie, as Grace calls her, is there to help her
through the pain of her final weeks. Grace is not at all receptive and Gloria
obviously feels totally out of place.

This is a story about dealing with death but also about living. The strength of both
women in their own way forms the crux of the story since we find out that it is
Glorie who most needs the help in dealing with loss.   There is an apple orchard
on Grace’s land which she loves but will soon be mowed down by the “northern
sleaze” developer to whom Grace has sold her land. Thus, the original title and
the name of the planned development “Apple Glade”. There is much humor and
banter about these “Yankees” and what “they” say and do. The irony here,
however, is that both actors have definite northern accents. This banter and the
lively one-liners are delivered with humor and good-will and both women finally
learn more from each other and their differences than either would have dreamed.
The hostility and anger which the stubborn and proud Grace shows in the
beginning turn to real love and sympathy for Glorie as they begin to know each
other.

This is a very moving, but difficult play to watch. The ideas of the modern
woman pitted against those of the old bring about a climax which is full of
sadness and comedy as well.   Glorie at times seemed to be “reciting” her lines
which were many, but when strong emotion was expressed in the dialogue, she
felt her character. The same was true of the old woman. Each had a
tremendously long script to memorize and that made sometimes for a slow pace
because of a little uncertainty in their lines. But, in the end, both delivered strong
performances which left very few dry eyes in the audience.

Al Edick is a fine director, as we saw in his production of The Fantasticks last
season. He has a knowledge and feeling for Hospice, as he explains in his notes,
and all who have faced this situation will truly appreciate this play.   The set was
especially pleasing as it showed through its screen door a view of the mountains
and even the scratches near the doorknob. The costumes were in keeping with the
setting, even to the old woman’s bobby socks and housecoats.   The music and
sound effects were also effective.