Five shows opened this past weekend in various venues. Of these, only Circa 21’s current production will run beyond next weekend. So, if your circumstances dictate that you can only choose one performance to attend next weekend you should choose The Black Box Theatre’s production of Grandma Gatewood Takes a Walk, Catherine Bush’s stage adaptation of Ben Montgomery’s New York Times best seller, Grandma Gatewood’s Walk here directed by the talented Jennifer Kingrey.
Grandma Gatewood Took a Walk is a critically acclaimed two-person play that tells the true story of 67-year-old Ohio grandmother Emma Gatewood who, in 1955, told her children she was simply "going for a walk” and became the first woman to solo thru-hike the 2,050-mile Appalachian Trail, crossing 14 states. The story is told in a series of flashbacks from her life in general interspersed with life on the trail.
Gatewood's original journey was incredibly unconventional; with only $200 in her pocket, she carried a handmade denim sack, an army blanket, a shower curtain, and wore simple Keds sneakers. She ultimately completed the Appalachian Trail three times and inspired generations of hikers and outdoorswomen. Typical of BBT’s co-founder Lora Adams’ uncanny ability to bring hidden gems to the Quad Cities this is only the third venue in the United States to perform this jewel.
As Gatewood’s trek gained notoriety, fueled by the people she encountered along the way, she became more and more annoyed with being pressed by the media to reveal why she was walking the trail, so she lied to conceal a very painful past saying that she thought it “would be a lark.”
This two-person cast consists of Quad Cities theatre icons, Jackie Skiles as Emma and James Driscoll as all the people Emma meets and they generate a stunning production. Although both Driscoll and Skiles have impressive acting resumés, I think both of their performances here are the acme of their acting careers to date.
This is another show where the actors occasionally break the fourth wall which transforms the audience from spectators into characters. It works especially well in this instance because those breaks are often the comic relief in the melancholy moments.
Reducing 2,000 miles to the BBT stage is no small task, but Lora Adams once again makes it look easy and costuming is seamlessly accomplished with breakneck speed for Driscoll’s rapid character changes.
Again, this is a show you don’t want to miss, but I should warn that it has references of domestic violence that may be a trigger for some.
Grandma Gatewood Took a Walk continues at The Black Box Theatre, 1623 5th Avenue in Moline Thursday through Saturday, July 16, 17, and 18 at 7:30 p.m.
I’m Chris Hicks break a leg.