| The Wire Story by
Edward C. Truax
The following is not an account of a dream deferred. For a poet once asked, in rhetoric
prose, what happens to a dream deferred? Does it just crust over, like a syrupy sweet, or
does it just explode? No, this is a story of energy contained. If one were to blend the
drama from the intersecting lives of aspiring actors and artists depicted in the broadway
musical "Rent", with the setting of the art school "Fame", then that
which is clinging to hope in a project called "The Wire Works" would be
encouraged. Under the guidance of the Harrisburg Opera Association and hosted at a
coffeehouse in New Cumberland known as The wire, people are trying. Trying to create art,
music, theater...a musical!
Against the backdrop of the lost Arts Magnet School, set upon a stage of youthful anger at
the unfairness of its sudden passing, the theater lights of life dim. Voices of friends
ask, the question is, or seems to be, are you ready? Did you work on your lines? Yet most
of all...is Colette here yet? Yes, they are ready and Colette Silvestri is present.
Colette is the encourager, mentor, and embracer of the aspiring young actors and actresses
who assemble at The Wire to create, rehearse, and refine a musical from their own
aspirations.
That musical is entitled "The Narrow Path." In its present stage of evolution
the work deals with a young boy caught up in the war of Northern Ireland. He is ripped and
torn apart inside as his sense of loyalty to ideology is challenged by the discovery that
his world and the struggle he perceives is not one of clearly black and white, or right
and wrong. His becomes a discovery of areas of gray and shaded truths, one of
self-discovery and sorting out.
When explaining some of the reasons for this joint project, Colette Silvestri says many
things and says them well. In measured responses, Colette first comments on the need to
discard any structured plan, and accept the spontaneous, that born of abstract rehearsals
and trial and error. One is quickly aware of the family this group has become. They
compliment her responses by revealing both the height of their dreams and the depth of
appreciation towards the Harrisburg Opera Association for sending Colette their way.
If indeed all of life is but a stage and we, mere players on it, then let us listen in to
the free-form exchange between some of those who seek refuge and refinement at The Wire.
For to visit that coffeehouse through this article and not to have heard all of that which
begs an ear, would be censorship. To report that a stop sign is painted with white would
be truth, until such time as one looks for themselves and understands that a stop sign is
also red.
Sally Bowman, actress: "I’m really more angry than surprised at the closing of
the Magnet School, people just don’t understand how important the arts are. You know
if we lose culture, we lose a lot. And I guess I’m really upset because there’s
not a lot in this area that you can do with the arts you know, the Arts Magnet School was
a dream for a lot of us students and our parents too, now it’s gone.
David Kaylor, guitarist-writer: I’m not going to do anything tonight, I’m sort
of hanging on a few words in a composition.
Eric Lesko, poet, actor: "I’ve done a little acting in community theaters,
nothing professional, but when I met Colette, she sort of captured my heart, and I
thought...let’s see what’s cooking here.
James Howey, co-owner of The Wire: People need to understand that we are not the Pied
Pipers leading children away, we’re the ones saying don’t go, stay, stay here in
this community. Before this was a coffeehouse, it was a run down carriage house, before
the folks who visit here arrived, a lot of them were really lost. By their own admission
they are coming out of their cocoons. And thank God our town welcomes this. Did I mention
the tragic killing of Officer Cole? I saw it happen, made the 911 call, and testified at
the trial. After that we did a small benefit for his wife and kids. The police stop by to
have coffee, both on duty and off. That’s cool.
Colette Silvestri, Harrisburg Opera Association member and mentor to the cast: This is a
place to make mistakes, to work out the script and see what works. The mistake is, not
allowing mistakes. In the theater world it’s a one shot, one curtain deal. Either it
is proclaimed a hit or it is called a flop. We want a place where we can laugh and grow
together. These young people need it, and they deserve it. As I see it, developing the
arts is contributing to the economy of our area. By crushing the Arts Magnet School, we
are also destroying a potential market, and that is totally wrong. I’m trying to
contact the former Magnet teachers so they can help us get the word out...Hey if you have
no home at the school, come to The Wire Works.
Patrick O’Neil, originator of The Wire: Patrick has stepped back from that which he
took years to build. Happy with the potential, available to lend a hand, he is waiting for
a new chapter in his life to open. I can’t show you his smile in print, but I can
assure you it is there. |
