Review: “That Book Woman” is an educational and entertaining look at Kentucky history
Released Friday, July 5, 2024 at 4 p.m.
1/5
The photo that inspired Heather Henson to write “That Book Woman”: She wanted to know why women on horseback delivered magazines and books to mountain residents. (Photo used with permission of the Kentucky State Library and Archives.)
Pictured (left to right): Cal, played by Warner Wildes (12), is initially very suspicious of Book Woman and her motives, but gradually comes to respect her strength and perseverance; Cal’s sister, Lark, played by Aaliyah Love (12), is a born reader who quickly grows attached to Book Woman; his two younger siblings are played by Oliver Wildes (8) and Leia Fray (7). Photo courtesy
Left to right: That Book Woman, Julia Mae Miller (Mari Blake), John Crownover (Lewis Wright), and Granny (Rita Height). Photo provided.
Aaron Thompson is plotting to own the Crownover family estate. (Photo by Lance Gaither)
Bookseller Julia Miller visits the Crownover family. (Photo by Lance Gaither)
lance.gaither@bluegrassnewsmedia.com
“That Book Woman” had its world premiere on stage at the Pioneer Playhouse on July 2. The play offers a glimpse from the past into the draft librarians who are part of Kentucky history.
These librarians were women who rode horseback to distribute books throughout Appalachia as part of the Works Progress Administration, an organization that provided jobs to the unemployed during the Great Depression of the 1930s.
Set in the mountains of eastern Kentucky during the height of the Great Depression, the play follows wagon-like librarian Julia Miller (Mari Blake) as she bonds with farmer John Crownover (Lewis Wright) and his four children, Cal (Warner Wildes), Lark (Aaliyah Love), Nate (Oliver Wildes), Dolly (Leah Fray) and Grandma (Rita Height).
“That Book Woman” is based on the children’s book of the same name, written by Pioneer Playhouse Managing Director Heather Henson. The stage adaptation was written by Holly Hepp Galvan as part of the Playhouse’s Kentucky Voices program. Original plays performed as part of the program frequently celebrate Kentucky history.
Miller’s role goes beyond simply delivering books: she helps Crownover obtain the funds they need for their legal battle with Aaron Thompson (played by Kevin Reames), a shady businessman who wants to seize their land for a coal mine.
Along the way, Miller teaches Cal the value of books: at first, Cal doesn’t like books and is annoyed that his sister, Lark, is teaching her brothers to read.
“That Book Woman” entertains audiences with a fascinating tale that highlights the importance of literacy and the hardships of rural America during the Great Depression, and the side plot depicting the travails of the Crownover family pays off ingeniously.
One subplot involves Miller trying to save his local library from closure – at the time, makeshift libraries were built by locals in rural towns, who often had little money to buy books, so people from all over the country donated them.
The play has a good mix of comedic elements throughout the story, with the young children causing havoc and the grandmother being the main source of laughs.
All the actors, young and old, gave fantastic performances, with clever use of blocking and lighting to create dynamic scenes throughout the show.
The theatre itself is the perfect setting for this kind of show, with the outdoors, forest backdrop and sounds of nature helping to immerse you in the world of “That Book Woman”.
“That Book Woman” at the Pioneer Playhouse runs through July 20. The play runs nightly Tuesday through Saturday, beginning at 8:30 p.m., with an optional dinner at 7:30 p.m.
