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Overview of the Play
The play "If the Creek Don't Rise" is a celebration of the people and events that shaped the American heartland, especially along the path of western development that was marked by the National Road and the communities it served.The play is set in "modern day" (early twenty-first century). A fragmented family gathers at the strange old home of a deceased great-aunt to sort through her belongings, at the request of the estranged patriarch. They discover the family Bible and a dozen trunks of old clothing and old letters.
Still snipping at each other, the family takes turn reading the old letters in chronological sequence and trying on the old clothing. Before long, the individuals are acting out the roles of their ancestors, retelling the story of eight generations who lived and worked along the National Road. They retrace events that happened along the road, as well as the effect of global events on the lives of each generation.
The first act ends with the family realizing that a flash flood has cut them off from the road, so they can't go home until the waters recede. By the middle of the second act, the role-playing is getting "closer to home," as the family realizes that even the problems they are experiencing now were foreshadowed a generation or two ago. The experience becomes increasingly cathartic and opens the door for them to openly discuss things they'd kept hidden for years-not only their complaints, but also their underlying affection for each other.
The play ends, not with total reconciliation, but with lines of communication restored.
If you would like to see a detailed synopsis of the play, please click here.
All material, illustrations, and content of this web site is copyrighted © 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010 by Paul D. Race. All rights reserved.
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