Musings
Syrhea Conaway and Rosemary Newcott
Jenise Sheppard and Alicia Revé Like
Colin McLaughlin
Camille Sharp and Jenise Sheppard
Musings from Rosemary Newcott, Director of In My Granny’s Garden
Theatre for the Very Young, although specifically conceived for the youngest members of our audience, actually proves to be embraced by caregivers of all ages who come to see it. This is especially true of In My Granny’s Garden because the core relationship in the piece is that of a grandchild and grandmother, beautifully portrayed by Jenise Sheppard and Alicia Revé Like.
I remember my 95 year old father attending a Theatre for the Very Young performance and both laughing and tearing up because it recalled for him the many times in his life that he had witnessed the joy of children, grandchildren and great grandchildren in that special time of early “life awareness.”
In My Granny’s Garden holds a special place in my heart because the picture book it is based on, was co-written by my dear friend, Pearl Cleage and her husband, Zaron W. Burnett Jr. It centers on Zaron’s early years on his great grandmother’s farm and is imbued with sweet nostalgia and the poetic language of one of our greatest living writers. The character of Rozzi is actually named after Zaron’s sister.
A note about the music… although the lyrics are the same, except for You Are My Sunshine, the music in the Metro Theater Company show is completely composed by the company, most notably Syrhea Conaway and Colin McLaughlin. The music perfectly enhances the language and story with elements of blues, gospel and folk… simply delightful!
AND those attending will be blessed by talented musicians and vocalists.
What enchants me most about this piece is how very inclusive it is! Children are invited into the experience of “growing vegetables” in such artful and delightful ways… I find myself smiling throughout.
It seems that whatever our experience has been in this strange time of COVID, gardens and gardening have proved to be a refuge for many. In My Granny’s Garden supplies us all with that remembrance of warmth and security.
This work does my heart good!
Photography by Jennifer A. Lin