Jason Johnson A&E Editor
Author Richard Glaubman was in Troy last week to see the production of "Life Is So Good," a play based off of his book by the same title that tells the story of 103-year-old Texas Native George Dawson.
The book and the play tell the story of Dawson's remarkable life, showing the changing times of past century through his eyes.
Glaubman met with Dawson after he read an article about him learning to read after 98 years of being illiterate.
After meeting him they formed a friendship.
"I realized pretty early on that Dawson had a remarkable memory," said Glaubman. "The stories didn't come out for a good while though. Not until we became friends and I had been staying with him at his house."
Glaubman was here in Troy to give a series of lectures on the writing of his book and to give some tips on creative writing in general.
Before the play, which happened to be the first Glaubman has seen the performance, he gave a short introduction and discussed his time spent with George Dawson.
"George had never spoken to a white man in normal conversation before," said Glaubman. "After I opened up to him he began to trust me and invited me to live in his home for a while. "
Actors David zum Brunnen and Mike Wiley conceived and wrote the stage production and they took the stage once Glaubman had finished his introduction.
"Life Is So Good," is a two-man show that is based around narration.
One character would narrate and when the time in the story called for it the two men would use minimal stage props and exceptional acting to paint a picture for the audience.
Mike Wiley played George Dawson and a host of other characters through the show.
He is a graduate of Catawba College in Salisbury North Carolina and has over ten years of credits in theatre for young audiences.
David zum Brunnen who played Richard Glaubman has served as General Manager for Hedgerow Theatre, The Philadelphia Area Repertory Theatre and PlayMakers Repertory Theatre.
The two men were very talented and professional both on and off the stage.
The opening act was the two men meeting for the first time.
Wiley and Brunnen used scenes from Glaubman's second book titled "More Than a Book; A Story of Friendship," which is about the process of meeting George Dawson and writing "Life Is So Good."
The opening chapter of the book is George Dawson's personal account of seeing his childhood friend being hanged for something he did not do.
It's a really strong image that brings the readers emotions out very early.
The stage play of "Life Is So Good" was centered on the same thing.
Throughout the course of the play the actors would unexpectedly jump back to this gruesome scene until it climaxed with at intermission with Dawson's friend Pete finally being killed.
The rest of the play consisted of the more memorable scenes from the book.
This is where Wiley really showed his talents.
He was more than convincing as an elderly gentleman, from his choice in dialogue right down to his body language and eye movements he sold me.
He was as good as George Dawson.
Brunnen really did a good job of character acting.
His roll seemed quite difficult because he had to jump back and forth from the compassionate and uncomfortable Richard Glaubman to the hateful white men of the early 1900's with no time in between.
The play's conclusion was the end of George Dawson's life and the battle that
Glaubman went through trying to get Dawson to sign the rights of his story over to a white stranger from far away.
"I really enjoy the stage production," said Glaubman. "It really painted a very accurate account of 'Life Is So Good.'"
The book and the play are both well written and both based on quite a remarkable story.
The overall feel of the stage production is uplifting but it really hits hard.
The racy scenes aren't sugar coated, which helps for the message to sink in.
When I asked Richard Glaubman how meeting and befriending George Dawson had changed his life he had this to say.
"I try to be a better listener and to not judge but truly listen. I try to be grateful for what I have and be helpful to others when I can."
The moral of the play is simply George Dawson's mantra throughout his life--that is, despite all the hardships, Life Is So Good, and I do believe it's getting better.
