Stagebridge classes are held at the First Congregational Church of Oakland.
On Friday I was the first in my Art of Storytelling class at Stagebridge to tell a personal story. By now we have all told our fairytales a couple of times, and this is our next phase. We have heard a modern version of "Hansel and Gretel" told as "Harold and Maud," a Native American creation myth based on a story of a hawk, a crow, and a mocking bird creating people out of clay, a tall tale about three old southern boys making bets with the devil, a story about a little girl who learns how to make her own gargoyles, and another about Hercules and his fifth duty, cleaning out the Augean stables.
My story is about real estate, sleepless nights, and a vision that came to me in a dream, a vision that foretold a beneficial future. I surprised everyone by starting on the floor, rolling around exactly as I would in bed, when tossing and turning during a sleepless night. Then I got up, put my shoes back on, and told it. Encompassing our story leader Jeanne Haynes' wonderful tips given that very morning, I embraced the acting out of my characters whenever I could. I played my mother for a moment, I voiced the words of her mover, I portrayed my seductive real estate agent, and quoted my pal in his inimitable Queens, New York accent. This helped me take less time to do the telling.
I'm starting to get the hang of this. Need to learn not to go off on too many tangents....This one came in at 14 minutes, with tangents. If I get a chance to tell it again, I hope to sharpen the edges and cut it down.
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