Redbooks

[Gregory Matthews]

REDBOOKS: OUR SEARCH FOR ELLEN WHITE.

This is a 2008 production by the Pacific Union College Dramatic Arts Society. My comments relate to the 95 minute DVD of a live performance. See: www.redbooksegw.org

The play is described as an “interview-based documentary . . . that explores the Seventh-day Adventist community’s relationship with its founder. Ellen G. White.” To an audience used to the 60 minute, or longer, televised story, this play will not be easy to watch. The actors jump into and out of character. One moment Ellen is speaking and the next minute the actress is personally sharing her 21st century thoughts. I personally found that the pace picked up at about the 27minute mark.

At times the conversation is brutal and real. One actress describes how she abandoned Christianity after graduating from Andrews University with a degree on Religion. Then she tells us how lying drunk on the floor of her apartment in Paris, France she began her return to faith, the SDA church and an appreciation for Ellen White. Mei An Teo asks: “What was it that made Adventists Adventist? Can we be Adventist without her? Can we stay and grow as Adventists with her?” Then in response to her own questions she says: “Now after 30 performances, I have experienced great healing—especially for me with my church; before, it was a place of rules and restrictions, of codified God and stratified worship. Now, my church is a place where the search for truth is incessant and where faith will carry me through. I have discovered Adventism where I can belong.”

This play is going to stir the emotions of many people. Some will be favorable. Others will damn the play for its treatment of Ellen White. I say that it will challenge. It states in clear language that the denomination has lost many people due to the role that it has given to Ellen White and it asks us to consider what her role actually is. To those who are willing to honestly face issues, I think this play will be of help. To some who are disaffected, I believe that this play may help them in their spiritual journey to come to terms with and resolve issues that they have faced.

Those who wish to purchase a DVD may do so for about $20. Some of our ABCs are selling the DVD, I believe. I purchased mine at a discount at the General Conference at Atlanta.

[SivartM]

Awesome! Too bad I didn't see this at GC; I would have bought a DVD. It sounds like a really good play.

[Overaged]

I am presuming this is mostly young people doing this play - and I think it's great that they have done this kind of thinking through of their faith and of their beliefs. I will have to find a way to watch this play.

[Gregory Matthews]

Greg Schneider (Actor) is a member of the relligion faculty at the college. Laley Lippard is a Bay Area Director and Actor and foremer professor at Stanford University. Tim Wolcott, Actor, have been involved with theDramatic Art Society of PUC for 11 years. Eryck Chairez lives in Los Angelos and is an actor/direcor. One actress is a Sr. at PUC. Heather Dentor, Actor is a teacher at PUC Prep. Mei Ann Teo has been involved with the Dramatic Art Society at PUC for 11 years also.

NOTE: Chairez took The BEst of Fest award at the SONscreen Festival for his film THREE COURSES.

Are they all young? Yes, next to me. But, only one is a college student.

[Gregory Matthews]

One of the more helpful aspects of the REDBOOKS is the four TALKBACK sections that are only on the DVD disk. These sections are videos of discussions between the cast of the play and an audience that had viewed the play. These are interesting and of value.

[Gregory Matthews]

One of the more helpful aspects of the REDBOOKS is the four TALKBACK sections that are only on the DVD disk. These sections are videos of discussions between the cast of the play and an audience that had viewed the play. These are interesting and of value.