Point Park Conservatory Theater recently brought Men on Boats,
a tale of John Westly Powell's 1869 river exploration of the Grand Canyon, to
the Pittsburgh Playhouse. This play
inspired by Powell’s actual travel logs intertwines history and humor. It uses an all-female cast as
male explores. This twist celebrates the adventurous spirit in all of us.
Refection
Powell (Haley Holme), a one armed Civil War veteran and a motley crew of 10, navigate
4 boats through sharp turns, rapids, whirlpools and waterfalls to map out this unknow
territory. There are many punches of
humor such as hysteria ensuing when snakes are discovered in a boat and Powell climbing to safety with one arm.
Similar to the musical “Hamilton,” this play fueled my further investigation of the 1869 expedition. Fact cards about the original journey in the Playhouse lobby heightened the historic experience.
Powell’s trip was the first recorded passage of white men
entering the Grand Canyon. Men on Boats, gives
us the first women.
It is a fresh perspective to see someone, who looked like
me, conquer nature, even if that part is a fiction. What is not a fiction, are the
numerous adventurous women that I have met and who’s stories are yet to be
told. Men On Boats reminds us that the spirit of adventure and exploration is all inclusive.
(Pittsburgh Playhouse 22-23 season brings a variety of music, dance and drama to downtown Pittsburgh. The Point Park Conservatory 22-23 season ends with Sense and Sensibility - go to Pittsburgh Playhouse for tickets )
Spiritual Reflection
There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ. (Galatians 3:28)
https://playhouse.pointpark.edu/index
https://playhouse.pointpark.edu/shows-events/conservatoryTheatre/sense-and-sensibility
https://playhouse.pointpark.edu/shows-events/index
https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/features/canyon-john-wesley-powells-first-expedition/
