Local finds inspiration during COVID-19 pandemic, writes play
With the COVID-19 pandemic causing people to stay hunkered down in their homes, Highlands local Craig Eister used that anxiety to write a new play, The Great Pandemic.
Eister began the project one year ago, during the pandemic.
“People are so anxious to get out and experience live theatre again,” Eister said. “This all started because I was going through COVID, like everyone else, and experiencing all the things we all experienced, and I just wanted to figure out a way to reflect on how the pandemic changed our lives and how we all have an opportunity to take care of one another. We can share stories and share the human experience. I have always been very interested in diversity and inclusion. So, for me it was a message of, how do we take this horrible time and make something positive and the good that came. For me, there were some examples of people helping people.”
Eister said he didn’t intend to write a play, but before he knew it, he was presenting the play to the Highlands-Cashiers Players Board.
“It started off with me writing training materials that I could use during diversity training,” Eister said. “It evolved into a play, and it took off from there. When I presented it to the board of the Highlands-Cashiers Players, they were wonderful and absolutely endorsed doing it.”
For the past six years, Eister has lived on Scaly Mountain and jumped into community theater right away.
“I have always really loved drama,” Eister said. “They welcomed me in with open arms. I have acted in a few things before, and I really had an amazing time.”
The play, that Eister describes as a musical, mystery and love story, starts off with a local community drama group that is trying to figure out which play to perform after the COVID restrictions are lifted.
“Basically, it starts with people fighting over which type of play the group should put on after COVID has ended,” Eister said. “One fights for a mystery, while the other two fight for a musical and a love story. They end up deciding to do them all that way they could make everyone happy. The second half of the act is the group actually putting on the play.”
Eister said people have described the show to him as a social commentary, a farce and a comedy.
“The people that have experienced it so far have all reacted to it very differently,” Eister said. “I’m just excited for people to really enjoy it. My big goal is to get everyone to laugh and be glad to be back in the theater.”
Most of the actors in the cast are locals, and all of the actors are volunteers.
“This is amateur theater, so we are all volunteers,” Eister said. “We are all doing this solely based on our love for the stage. Everybody has been incredible. They have been so supportive of me sharing an original work. All of them have been really enthused an excited. They have put their own unique spin on their characters and help me think of things that I haven’t even thought of. To me, this has been an amazingly collaborative effort.”
Eister said he hopes the audience walks away having a good time.
“I want them to feel great about being back in the theater,” Eister said. “I want them to have laughed, and hopefully they will get really into the show. I encourage laughter, applause and singing along. More deeply, I hope people walk away with a sense that every individual brings something different to the table and I hope they share their experiences and stories as well as listen to others.”
The Great Pandemic is showing now at the Highlands Performing Arts Center. Dates for the show are Thursday through Saturday, Oct. 21-23, beginning at 7:30 p.m. On Sunday, Oct. 24, there will be one show at 2:30 p.m. For more information, visit highlandsperformingarts.com.
- By Christopher Smith