Ain't Nothing Like Being a Book Woman (Looking for Lillith Theatre Company)

Aug 11

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Dawn Campbell, Lucie McGarity, Jojo Kepler, Symone Summerall, Evie Hassler, Justice Chenault, Victor Runge, and Sydni Summerall in Looking for Lilith Theatre Company's THE BOOK WOMEN by Rachel Bublitz. Directors: Jennifer Thalman Kepler, Sara GB Canary & Ebony Jordan. Photo by Holly Stone, on location at Faewood Equestrian.

The Book Women By Rachel Bublitz Directed by Jennifer Thalman Kepler, Sara GB Canary, Ebony Jordan

A Review by Kate Barry

All summer long, Looking for Lillith Theatre Company has offered a touring production of The Book Women at various branches of Louisville Free Public Library. These touring excerpts came together for a full length production on August 10^th at the Main Branch of the library. And the story of these brave women was inspiring.

Those lucky enough to see the touring production would have experienced one of three routes, titled: Breaking Stereotypes, Bridging Generations and A Child’s Determination. The story follows Della (Soleil Merwarth), Josephine and Sissy May (Dawn Campbell and June Apple Hopkins) and Erma (Meg Caudill) as they make a treacherous journey among the Appalachian Mountains to provide books, community, and resources. While some of the deliveries are met with challenges, others are met with open arms from adults and children alike. For a production that is meant for audiences over six years old, the message of sharing knowledge and a love of books can be enjoyed by all ages.

While the summer tour divides the journeys, the scenes appear like vignettes as each ‘Book Woman’ embarks on their journey. Merwarth’s Della is a big storytelling personality with an adventurous spirit. Merwarth is a scene stealer when matched with a “big city” journalist who takes a shining to her played with an earnest sweetness by Greyson Lindblom. Merwarth’s creativity and dreams make a nice contrast with her sister, Sissy May. June Apple Hopkins plays Della’s sister with the same amount of spirit that she channels into shock and disgust at the notion of a woman wearing pants and having a job. Through her book delivering journey, Hopkins’ character experiences an endearing change of heart with each stop she makes.

On her path to deliver book marks to children, Meg Caudill brings a tenderhearted performance to Erma. Perhaps the story line that involves the most interaction with children, Caudill shows ease and playfulness with the child actors who have received training from Looking for Lillith’s outreach education programs. Due to the large performance space at the Main Branch of the library, these younger actors were difficult to hear and see due to blocking choices as well. Unfortunately some key moments were missed if you sat further away in the venue.

Taking on parental roles, teachers, fearful homeowners and other people on the trail are Looking for Lillith’s familiar favorites Shannon Woolley Allison and Karole Spangler. These company mainstays bring fully realized performances with accents and physicality that brings a realistic perspective. Allison and Spangler’s supporting characters help complete the picture of the Appalachian community inspired by books and the need for knowledge.

The Book Women played to a packed house at their culminating performance on Sunday. The touching stories of community and reading should be heard by everyone in these times of social media and algorithms. This work is an important reminder of the power of reading and the joy we share from it.

The Book Women Looking for Lillith Theatre Company All Routes Performance played at Main Public Library 301 York Street Louisville, KY 40203 Sunday August 10 at 2pm Library Tour throughout Louisville Free Public Library Branches: June 3-July 29 https://lookingforlilith.org/