Excerpts from The Family of EWE
Borrowing Time
An eclectic group of volunteers called The Friends of the Stamwick Public Library hold one disastrous fundraiser after another trying to save their beloved town library. They almost throw inthe towel if not for Lillian Harris, their spirited leader. She rallies her fellow members to stick together no matter what, as they all endeavor to save more than just the library. Loaded with laughs, a ton a heart and sea shanty or two.
Photo Gallery - Credit: Lindsay Raymondjack Photography
Cast Size
Lillian Harris (60s), Geraldine Corrieri (60s-70s), Abby Woodhull (60s), Jeanine Ross (60s), Joey Gage (60s), Gabe Rankin (40s), Helen Ginsberg (50s-60s), Marion Warren (60s), David Perkins (60-70s), Alex Harris (30s, 1 cameo walk-on
Inspiration
Borrowing Time was written, workshopped and performed in 2020 during the pandemic. The goal was, despite the dire circumstances, to continue to create new material and work with fellow actors during an incredibly isolating time. Rehearsals began on Zoom and later, when it was finally safe to do so, masks were worn during in-person rehearsals. Even the production faced many challenges, less hands on board, smaller capacity for audiences due to safe spaces, and a cast that needed to stay well throughout a two week run. Thus, it’s understandable Borrowing Time is really an ode to togetherness, belonging and the power of the collective. And with Carole’s trademark overlapping, and sometime raucous, dialogue, Borrowing Time celebrates the beautiful euphony of people being together.
In addition, 2020 was the 100th Anniversary of Women’s Suffrage. In honor of the many women who have blazed trail after trail, all the character last names in Borrowing Time named in honor of powerful women. It was the production’s homage to these women and their determination, commitment, valor, integrity, and persistence. Without them, we would not be here.
Characters Named in Honor of:
Lillian Harris/ Alex Harris: Kamala Harris: First female Vice-President of the United States, elected in 2020.
Geraldine Corrieri: Geraldine Ferraro: First female Vice-Presidential nominee representing a major American political party,1984. (Corrieri is Ferraro’s mother’s maiden name.)
Abby Woodhull: Victoria Woodhull: First woman U.S. Presidential candidate, 1872.
Jeanine Ross: Nellie Taylor Ross: First woman state governor, Wyoming, 1924, and first woman to direct the U.S. Mint.
Joey Gage: Matilda Joslyn Gage: Women’s suffragist, Native American rights activist, abolitionist, freethinker, and author.
Marion Warren: Elizabeth Warren: Senior U.S. Senator from Massachusetts, serving since 2013.
Helen Ginsburg: Ruth Bader Ginsburg: Supreme Court Justice. Advocate for gender equality and women's rights. Feminist icon.
David Perkins: Frances Perkins: First woman appointed to Cabinet, as Secretary of Labor, 1933.
Gabe Rankin: Jeanette Rankin: First woman member of congress, Montana, 1917-1919 & 1941-1943.
Unseen characters named after these prestigious women:
Theresa West Elmendorf: First woman president of the American Library Association, 1911.
Ruth E. Capello: First known female fire chief in the United States, 1973.
Dr. Jane C. Wright: Pioneer chemotherapy researcher, 1967.
Estelle Lawton Lindsey: First woman city councilor in Los Angeles, CA, 1915-1917.
Ada Harriet Miser Kepley: First American woman to graduate from law school, 1870. An advocate for women’s suffrage.