When adult children return to the Valley to visit their resÂident parents, it is rarely accompanied by literal drama. That is the case with Gillian Rhodes, performance artist currently based in Dubai, and her visit these weeks with her mother, Janet, a West Custer Library co-director, and Kevin, author of the four-volume series, 12 Years in the Valley: A Modern History of Custer County Colorado as Told by the People Who Live There.
Gillian has written, and now will be producing and directÂing for two Jones Theater performances on August 16, Life Beyond Reason. The drama, a one-man show, is based on events in Kevinâs life, bringing another level of poignancy and complexity to the production.
Gillian sat down with the Tribune last week to expand on how Life Beyond Reason came into being, its local premiere, and its future.
She and her father had been collaborating on another live theater project, a deeply allegorical script, for which he had sought the assistance of the Salida Circus. The good folks there saw the potential for yet a different script which focused on Kevinâs writings, life and living.
When this conceptual conversion was kicked back to Gillian earlier this year, she gave herself a self-imposed deadline of March 31 to complete a new play that incorÂporated the former project, Not This Day, into a story line featuring her father and some of his writings. In an interÂesting comment on her creative process, Gillian noted that the second act was a dynamic of âhunting the story, going fishing for it.â
She asked a few playwrights she knew and respected to critique her work, and forwarded a near-final draft to Kevin. He was surprised and in fact, liked the results. From that interaction emerged the plan to produce the premiere of Beyond Reason at Westcliffeâs historic Jones Theater.
Not as simple as it sounds though! As Gillian noted, âWhat have I gotten myself into!â A very short rehearsal window, lighting and sound design and implementation, advertising, finding local tech and behind-the-scenes proÂduction volunteers to assist in the production, designing and building the set, putting together an accompanying music trackâall of this fell upon Gillian, in the midst of her very active professional performance life in Dubai.
That she has carried it off is no miracle, simply the tenacity of an artist and the artistsâ way. Local actor Scott Mischnik is cast in the role of Kevin Rhodes, and has been intensely engaged in rehearsals with Gillian, as well as assisting with some production matters, as have Maddie BalÂlard and Cheryl Pinnella.
This is, Gillian said, âa very personal projectâŠHow I live my life is through my fatherâs lessons, as in relation to my creative life, his noting âDo it now, or lose it forever.ââ She added that the production is meant to be âhard-hitting, emotional,â and has brought into high definition for her the difference between play writing and being responsible for everything that brings that play onto the boards. âFrom vision to the physical reality,â as Gillian put it.
Two Life Beyond Reason performances are scheduled for Saturday, August 16, at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. The $20 tickets will be available at the door. As for future productions, GilÂlian sees a 2026 performance in Dubaiâfor which, she hapÂpily notes, she will hire a designer and other members of a production team! The script will also be published and made available for production elsewhere.
When Gillian returns to Dubai after this extraordinary experience here in the Valley, she rather quickly goes into production of a German play, The Ugly One, followed by a multi-levelled play involving magic, mime and music.
In the meantime, the Valley is privileged to host not only Gillian Rhodes visit with her family, but to witness the birth of an original play script here at the Jones. Drama indeed!
â W.A. Ewing
