The relationships among a group of young girls portrayed by five Bromfield students are the driving force behind “The Stone Girl,” a play that will premiere at the Harvard General Store Saturday, July 18.
The play, scripted by Harvard-based playwright Bob Eiland, takes place in an ancient Native American chamber, or kiva, in Arizona. It is there that the teenage friends meet to discuss the implications of their discovery of a Hopi artifact, the titular stone girl. The mystery surrounding this artifact propels the girls on a journey of self-discovery, with each teen confronting her individual challenges along the way.
These struggles are convincingly conveyed by actresses Madeline Gamelin, Kira Houston, Colleen Makosky, Gwyneth Smedley, and Thea Eiland, the playwright’s daughter. The cast navigates the rapid, conversational dialogue with ease and believably portrays the ups and downs of teenage friendship.
Director Pamela Hill, retired dean of education at Fitchburg State University, has enjoyed working with the girls.
“They are extremely committed and talented, so from the beginning it’s been just a joy to work with them,” says Hill. “They’re extremely polite, they take direction really well, they are tremendously professional, and they never get defensive, so it’s been a pleasure.”
Eiland was inspired to write the play after hearing an idea his daughter Thea, who plays Talia, had two years ago as they were driving home.
“She just came up with it out of the blue,” says Eiland. “I fell in love with her idea and eventually I just said, ‘How about I write it as a play?’ So I got her blessing.”
Eiland says that demonstrating the drive to turn an inkling into a reality is one of the most important lessons he can teach as a father, and that has been the case with “The Stone Girl.”
“You can have what may seem like an idle notion, you can have an inspiration,” he says. “If it has some merit, and if you get the support of friends and family and your community, and you work really hard at it, it can work.”
It’s that community support and collaboration that has been the key to the success of the show to date, both Hill and Eiland say.
Many residents from Harvard and neighboring towns have donated time, talents, and materials to ensure that the show goes off without a hitch. Among the helpers are Hill’s husband, who built the set, which the cast has been working with since the first rehearsal in late May. The General Store is donating the use of its second floor for the performances, and cast member Madeline Gamelin’s older sister, Rachel, is volunteering as stage manager.
From left: Colleen Makosky, Madeline Gamelin, Kira Houston, and Thea Eiland rehearse a scene from “The Stone Girl.” The play will be performed at the General Store on July 18 and 19. (Photo by Lisa Aciukewicz)
“We have experienced so much generosity,” says Hill. “From a director’s point of view, I’ve directed many shows, and this is the strongest production team I’ve ever had.”
“The Stone Girl,” which is sponsored by the regional youth arts organization ArtsNashoba, will debut on Saturday, July 18, at 7 p.m. upstairs at the General Store. An additional performance will be held on Sunday, July 19, at 2 p.m. and will include a post-play discussion. Eiland will incorporate feedback from the Sunday performance into future revisions of the script.
Hill plans to devise a study guide to accompany the show, which she envisions being performed in a variety of venues.
“We think it’s best for grades 7 to 10,” says Hill. “We’re hoping that it’ll be something that can be picked up by middle schools, boys and girls clubs, drama camps, summer camps, and all sorts of groups.”
Tickets for “The Stone Girl” are $10 each and are available at the door. Any profits made from the performances will be donated to the town of Harvard’s Cultural Council. For additional information, call 781-956-3784.
