Review Fix chats with playwright Thomasine F. Crawford, who discusses the inspiration and goals behind her new production at this year’s Midtown International Theatre Festival.
About Inside Himself:
INSIDE HIMSELF by Thomasine F. Crawford, directed by Paul Navarra*; starring Holly O’Brien,* Ron Barba, John Fennessy,* Amber Crawford,* and Jimmy Cintron. In his anguish, David cries out for someone to see him, hear him, but his illness leaves him trapped inside himself. (Drama) *AEA Performance Schedule: Mon 3/7, 7:15pm; Wed 3/9, 6:00pm; Thurs 3/10, 8:15pm
Review Fix: What was the inspiration for this project?
Thomasine F. Crawford: The inspiration for “Inside Himself” came in a flash. I visited my elderly uncle shortly after he had a stroke. I heard he was fine physically, but no one could understand what he was saying. As my uncle spoke to me in gibberish, I just looked into his eyes and tried to find him somewhere in there. Where did he go? At that moment I thought of two characters coming out on stage, each illuminated with their own spotlight. One would speak gibberish and the other, what he really meant. It went on from there.
Review Fix: What’s your creative process like
Crawford: I don’t ever sit down and hammer out stories, they come to me. I let them come and I let them take their time. So for me, the creative process is always occurring.
Review Fix: What makes this different or special?
Crawford: “Inside Himself” is a very current, very relatable story. So many of us find ourselves in gut-wrenching positions of being caretakers for our parents. We tend to think of how horrible we feel about trying to find the right care, but we neglect to think about how our aging parents feel. Their spirits are still carrying that 20 or 30-year-old person they were. They feel that young and have a hard time watching their bodies fall apart. Our aging population experience loss on a daily basis – loss of their friends, loss of their family members, loss of their mind power, loss of their bodies, and worst of all, loss of their independence. They remember the loving, the dancing, the celebrating and want it all back.
Review Fix: What did you learn about yourself through this process?
Crawford: As I journeyed through this process, I have reflected on my own aging. Granted, I am (only) 56, but I can relate to everything my main character, David, is feeling. I see my body slowly change but I still feel like I was am about 20 years old. The day my son was born seems like just yesterday. Everything seems like it was just yesterday.
Review Fix: How does it feel to be a part of something like this?
Crawford: “Inside Himself” actually came to life as part of my graduate thesis. I worked with a wonderful director from the Westchester area, Mara Mills, who mentored me through the original project. After I graduated, Mara asked if she could direct the production in my home town – Olean, New York. I was teaching as a communications adjunct at our local community college at the time. I brought her in as an artistic director where, together, we combined the play with my communications curriculum. At that time, we both knew that this play had legs. We knew it would be a wonderful resource for seniors, their families and the healthcare professionals who take care of the aging.
With that idea in mind, I am using this wonderful opportunity at MITF to combine with a community workshop back in my hometown of Olean, New York. I am using the videotape of the production as a learning resource in a sensitivity training workshop at a local senior organization and a community college nursing program. I have obtained a grant from the Cattaraugus Region Community Foundation to make the production at MITF possible, as well as organizing the workshops in Olean. The video of the play will initiate some welcome discussion about stroke victims, the aging, their families, and their healthcare professionals. I hope to bring awareness of the plight of the aging to all of those who interact with them.
Review Fix: How does it feel to be a part of something like this?
Crawford: I am elated to be a part of the Midtown International Theatre Festival. When I received the good news via email, I had to read it several times before I was convinced that my play was selected to participate. I am still dazed. I practically jump out of my seat every time I tell someone the good news.
It was my goal to bring awareness to the human side of aging. Whether we mean to or not, all of us at some point think of the aging as “the other.”  We say they are cute, or they are grumpy, or they are just old – with old being a dirty word. I want the audience to see my main character, David, and see themselves, or see their parents, or their neighbors and emphasize with him.
I see so much value in creating awareness of troubling situations through theater. This process has taught me a lot. I am currently working on a story that will bring the plight of women in the Catholic Church to light. It is a long process, but I am letting it take me to where it needs to go.
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