The Iron Mountain Review Vol. XXXII

Robert Gipe and Higher Ground Company

Higher Ground: 10th Anniversary Review

The final script for the tenth anniversary performance of Higher Ground contains the following notation under the title: “Version 8 [Ben & Betty both] / RG Edit, 15 September 2015.” The “Ben & Betty both” note refers to those scenes featuring the characters Betty and My Boy Ben. In earlier performances of those scenes, either Betty or Ben would speak those parts, but Robert Gipe wanted to feature both characters on this special occasion, so he split the lines between them. This performance includes scenes from earlier Higher Ground productions.

Song: “Find a Way” In that valley where I sowed my very soul I remembered how that wind blew cold I felt the darkness oozing in my veins The willow whispered low my name Try to find a way to hold on tight. But you can’t see the light for the dark Ain’t no need for fussin’ ain’t no need to fight ‘Cause I know all you want is to go home I never cared at all. I never wanted more. There’s a fear you told me Lived deep in your bones, And how that vine Took hold of your soul There’s only one choice to survive these days You gotta find your own way Try to find a way to hold on tight. But you can’t see the light for the dark Ain’t no need for fussin’ ain’t no need to fight ‘Cause I know all you want is to go home I never cared at all. I never wanted more. Took fifteen years to feel free from that hole. You know I searched for you high and low. Journeyed through the desert, peered into the sea But nothing’s like that cold mountain breeze Try to find a way to hold on tight. But you can’t see the light for the dark Ain’t no need for fussin’ ain’t no need to fight ‘Cause I know all you want is to go home I never cared at all. I never wanted more. ***

SARAH: We live in a rainforest. And if you live in a rainforest, you are going to have some rain. The ground’ll soak up some of it, plants use some, but it is going to start the trip back to the sea it came from. Runoff. Runoff that comes into confluence. There is a flash of lightning, and a crash of thunder on a visible thunder sheet. Together the cast makes sounds of rain, slapping their hands on their thighs. SARAH: Tonight is also a confluence, a coming together of stories. There are all kinds of rivers, rivers of water, rivers of money, rivers of laughter, rivers of tears. There are all kind of stories flowing too. CAST: Older folks knew when the weather really turned to rain. This one is gotten in my bones, we’d best watch the river. SARAH: Can’t tell you how much of my life has been spent watching this river. Played in it. Worked up the courage to marry sitting there on the bank. River bottom land grows the best gardens. People fish the river. In the dry time we even gathered coal from seams along the river bottom. The river fed us in the summer and warmed us in the winter. I carried my troubles to this river . . . . CAST: My bones are telling me that river’s gonna rise. Just watch how fast. And move your car to higher ground. Move your children to higher ground. *** Scene Two: Need BRETTA is trying to study at the kitchen table, the music is very loud. She has her book and notebook spread out on a table and a glass of something, soda or the like, half empty. She’s been here awhile. She finishes the glass of soda and sits with her head in her hands. Her pre teen son MATTHEW enters and drops a well-used heavy book bag by the door that leads to the rest of the house.

Scene One: Gentle Rain

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