By Evelyn C. McDonald
Arts & Culture Reporter
November 2, 2017 1:00 a.m.
Thanks to Sinda Nichols and her LiveInk Theatre group, storytelling is becoming a popular event on our island. Last Friday we were treated to “No Scaredy Cats Allowed, 8 Creepy Stories for Halloween.” Upstairs at the Book Loft, about 30 of us listened to stories told by Nancy Dickson, Buffy Wells, Cynthia Riegler, Doug McDowell, Joe-Annis Iodice, Marsha Phelts, Rachel Tyler, and Cass Willford.
These were stories written and performed by all storytellers except one, at least according to the program. That happened to be the wildest and funniest story of the evening, performed by the incomparable Marsha Phelts. In it, she told the story of “Aunt Elvira’s Golden Arm.” In the process, she rendered the most realistic ghost moan I’ve heard in a long time. Aunt Elvira insisted on being buried with her golden arm intact. Her husband thought otherwise hence, her moaning about “Whooooo took my golden arm.”
Nancy Dickson told us about the ghost upstairs who paced the floor and rearranged the drawers in an old house. Doug McDowell described his stint as an investigator of haunted houses and swore he was not a believer. Buffy Wells’ story was about costume envy but she arrived that night in the greatest costume – a fingertip length black cape that had a spider web drawn on it in pale grey. Cass Willford also talked about her costumes through the ages, representing whatever her passion was at that time. We won’t go into the story of the finger lost that Rachel Tyler shared. . Joe-Annis Iodice gave us a lesson in ESP. Cynthia Riegler spoke of braving a ghost with a group of her friends.
I had seen a couple of the storytellers perform before, most recently at the Friends of the Library Story Slam where Nancy, Cynthia and Marsha were presenters. The poise and audience engagement they all showed was great. LiveInk Theatre has offered would be speakers and storytellers an opportunity to hone their craft. And offered us a chance to be entertained – and even maybe a little scared.
Hats off to Sue Nelson whose Book Loft houses so many lectures, book signings, workshops, and now performances during the year. It’s a nice venue to listen in and be entertained.
Coming up December 8 at 7 pm at the Book Loft, LiveInk Theatre will share Solstice Stories – Holiday Celebrations. Two performances coming up next year are “The Prisoner of Second Avenue” by Neil Simon on January 27 and 28, and “Looking for Normal” by Jane Anderson on March 24 and 25 at the Amelia Musical Playhouse.
Evelyn McDonald moved to Fernandina Beach from the Maryland suburbs of Washington, D.C. in 2006. Evelyn is vice-chair on the Amelia Center for Lifelong Learning and is on the Dean’s Council for the Carpenter Library at the UNF. Ms. McDonald has MS in Technology Management from the University of Maryland’s University College and a BA in Spanish from the University of Michigan.