Also, seek the peace and prosperity of the city to which I have carried you into exile. Pray to the LORD for it, because if it prospers, you too will prosper.”

Jeremiah 29:7 (NIV)

Seen any good theater lately?

Well, here’s your chance. I’d like to formally invite folks to our production this weekend of Our Town at Franklin Performing Arts Company. You can get tickets and learn more here.

But wait a minute, isn’t this supposed to be a Pilgrim Church Blog?

Of course it is, and I promise I’ll draw the lines of relevance between what I do here and what we’ll be doing in the theater.

And another thing: it’s Black History Month! Are you really encouraging us to see another play full of white folks by another white playwright?

Well there it is. I promise to make another great recommendation below.

Here’s the thing: Our Town is timeless. It’s not just about a small town at the turn of the 20th century. Our Town is also about life, and it’s about death. It’s about love and loss. This play is about how we understand our place in history, and our place in the universe. It’s a love story, it’s a tragedy, and it’s a comedy. It’s a lot, actually.

Grover’s Corners, the fictional town in the play, is actually a composite of a number of places that Thornton Wilder knew well (Peterborough, New Hampshire among them). Within the play, Wilder questions how people live together as families, how women and men relate to one another, and how those relationships are tested over time. Our Town is certainly a product of it’s time, but it’s also proved quite timeless through its simple honesty and its unflinching look t how we live, love and die.

The play seeks to understand our place in the universe, something people of faith (and people at Pilgrim) have been doing for centuries. I believe you’ll find a lot of resonance in this production.

Who’s it for?

Our Town really is a play for most all ages, though smaller children will probably have a lot of questions by the end of it, so be prepared for those if they come! The play takes place in three acts, and there are plenty of tickets across the three performances on Friday night, Saturday night, and Sunday afternoon, February 4th through February 6th. The action is very family-friendly. It’s the themes that are big.

If you’ve been thinking about checking out live theater again, but you don’t want to head into the city, Franklin is a great option. My wife Mireille and I, as well as our kids, have all performed at The Black Box Theater, and we love the spirit and passion that people bring to their work there. Feel welcome, and again, you can follow this link for tickets.

One More Recommendation

Now if you’d like to engage in some lovely theater crafted by Black folks (not that you have to wait for Black History Month to do that), I’ve got a great option. Go and see The Bluest Eye at Huntington Theater Company. My wife and I went this week and we were thrilled. The cast is digging deep into this tragic play based on the novel of the same name by Toni Morrison. It’s not light: this show deals with heavy topics that could be triggers for a number of folks, and parental discretion is advised around the themes.

However, the essential message is to young people of color is a vital one: though your life may be challenging or broken in some ways, it’s not your fault. Things have happened to you that you didn’t or wouldn’t choose. You deserve a life of love and health and beauty in spite of all that. Kudos to Huntington Theater Company, and to author Lydia R. Diamond for a stunning production.

The Bluest Eye was Toni Morrison’s first novel, and it’s now been banned (again, happens every so often) as part of the Wentzville, MO school board controversy. In the United States, whenever books are banned, I think it’s important to read them to understand why. If you agree, you can find a copy of the book here.