Oddballs, Idiots, Nincompoops and Scallywags: The Unofficial History of Jacksonville
2012 · Centenary Methodist, Faith Lutheran, and Grace Methodist churches, Jacksonville, Illinois
"It's like a hot fudge sundae. If you dig deeply enough you get to the really good stuff." That was Ken Bradbury's take on the history of his hometown, and it became the guiding spirit of Oddballs, Idiots, Nincompoops and Scallywags: The Unofficial History of Jacksonville. The script was drawn word-for-word from the back files of the Jacksonville Journal Courier, housed at the Morgan County Genealogical and Historical Society, and woven together with new poems from Bradbury's forthcoming book with illustrator Steven Varble, The Place Where I Live.
What the Lincoln Land class gleaned from those old newspaper columns is a parade of small-town wonders: horses that drop dead on the square and then get up and trot off, bawdy houses closed down and reopened the next day, crocodiles rumored in the waters of the state hospital, a one-armed beggar who rediscovers his missing arm when chased by the police, city council meetings cancelled when the circus comes to town, the "cow problem" that plagued the town for years, and the legend of "Jacksonville's Most Arrested Man." The result is part history lesson, part vaudeville, and entirely affectionate, a celebration of the oddballs and scallywags who make a town worth remembering.
The sixteen-member troupe of the Lincoln Land Traveling Theatre carried the show across three church sanctuaries, accompanying themselves on guitar, banjo, accordion, and a stand-up bass one cast member learned to play just for the occasion. Freewill donations at each performance benefited Camp Courage and the Lincoln Land scholarship fund.
Production Notes
- Written and directed by Ken Bradbury, presented by the Traveling Theatre of Lincoln Land Community College.
- Performances: May 11 at Centenary Methodist, May 12 at Faith Lutheran, and a May 13 matinee at Grace Methodist, all in Jacksonville, Illinois (2012).
- The script was taken verbatim from the Jacksonville Journal Courier files at the Morgan County Genealogical and Historical Society; the poetry was excerpted from The Place Where I Live by Ken Bradbury and Steven Varble.
- To benefit Camp Courage and the Lincoln Land scholarship fund. Special thanks to the Jacksonville Journal Courier, the three host congregations, Maryjane Million, Jan Terry, and LLCC.
- The Traveling Theatre is composed of full-time and part-time Lincoln Land students plus high school students earning dual credit. The same troupe had recently toured 18 area elementary schools with the anti-bullying play Bully Beware and played the Beardstown Grand Opera House in Workin' it Out... Beardstown!
Cast
- Performer — Brooke Batterson
- Performer — Cathy Colburn
- Performer — Brittany Davis
- Performer — Jackie Harris
- Performer — Ryan Harris
- Performer — Andrew Holtschlag
- Performer — John Love
- Performer — Cydney Musch
- Performer — Tim Phillips
- Performer — Kendi Sayre
- Performer — Billie Smith
- Performer — Alex Stanberry
- Performer — Cody Springer
- Performer — Erin Washington
- Performer — Elisabeth Werries
Photos
