The Miraculous Journey from Dirt to Edward Tulane

It began with a half asleep Daphne Hill (9): Christmas pajama bottoms, blue baggy sweatshirt, and glasses that had never seen the light of day. In other words, it was seven in the morning on a Saturday. Yet here was the cast of The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane, preparing groggily for redemption.

Our loyal readers, (unlikely), may have read the exploits of our previous year's competition one act, Dirt. The story revolved around a family in the Texas panhandle as they desperately cling to life, a story which received dead last at the competition. That was last year, bitter defeat at the hands of elderly judges, all of which were practically as sleepy as Daphne. But this year? Our Theater was ready for revenge.

Arriving back to a different rude awakening, we began our early morning with a groan and a rub of the eyes. As Jay Pelane (9) put it, “[REDACTED], I was ready to reach for the candle on my bedside table and hit my head with it.” 

Regardless, we all rolled over without any candle mutilation, and found ourselves leaving school at around 7:30. The bus to Jefferson Forest High was a recharge, allowing everyone to sleep in curled balls; Sailor Long (10) burrowed one of the Edward Tulane bunnies down her hoodie for safe keeping, a stuffed companion for the hour and a half long trip. We arrived with a jolt, and the game faces appeared as miraculously as Edward Tulane.

We were led past their auditorium, which was adorned in several framed photos of their past exploits; Clue, Shrek, The Show That Goes Wrong, picture by picture was revealed to us. Jefferson Forest would bring their A game, but so would we. Finally, we arrived in our ‘common room’, which would serve as the BHS dressing room and hype zone from that point on. After curling hair, adding wrinkles, and altogether snacking throughout, we were one step closer to dominating our competitors.

As we walked into their auditorium, tensions were high. Sitting down, we were introduced to the four judges, a group of middle aged theater teachers whose decision would make or break our hopes at regionals. Then suddenly, it was time.

Jefferson Forest set to the stage first, performing a unique and vaudevillian twist on A Midsummer Night's Dream. The acting was phenomenal and the characterization left a lasting impact. 

As quickly as they appeared, Salem came to replace them with People In The Wind. Vaguely Sam Shepard-esque, hinting on Edward Hopper, the play was lovely despite the lack of projection.

Time for a lunch break! The various actors and actresses of the five schools converged and began to mingle! Common rooms became complimentary suites, filled with exclamations of, “you did amazing,” to, “I love that outfit!” 

“Meeting the people from different competing schools was such a great experience, because while we were all rivals in a sense, we still could talk to one another,” said Mariposa Marshall (11), “we complemented each other on shows, acting skills, and more. It's safe to say I was able to leave that competition with more friends than I entered with.”

Then suddenly, act two! Halifax emerged grandiose from the curtains to perform All I Really Need To Know I Learned In Kindergarten. Respectfully, I applaud the students, but disapprove of the play. It was ill executed, as if the director gave no real direction towards his amazing thespians. When they finished, I found myself hoping they knew how extraordinary they had tried. 

Now, we’ve finally come to our moment in the spotlight. Nerves ablaze, birds of butterflies flapping in our stomachs, we were up. At the first words of Wesley Jarrett (12), and the viola melody of Salma Seyam (11), our story began. 

  The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane is an incredible tale, revolving around a china rabbit and his journey to find love. Comprised of enigmatic set movements and a cast of thought-provoking characters, BHS made our debut with passionate vehemence. We left it all out on the stage.

Following us, Amherst performed Romeo and Juliet: Six Very Busy Days. They were fantastic, breathtaking even. Having gone up against them the year before, I had already known this would come. Their department treats theater in the same way an overachiever treats the SAT’s. 

But when all was said and done, the judges retreated to deliberate. For the next hour and a half as we waited to hear the news, we danced, chatted with the other schools, and altogether prayed that we were the winners. 

Then the music stopped, and everyone went back to their seats. The judges announced the best actor and actress awards first. For BHS, we had not only one, but two thespians be awarded for their performances! Arthur Bond (12) and Jordan Cramer (10) collected their smaller medals, returning with wide smiles and teary eyes. 

And now, the moment you’ve all been waiting for. In second place, Jefferson Forest. At this, we all sank in our seats. How could we beat Amherst? 

Then they announced it, loud and proud. In first place, Blacksburg!

To say we were overjoyed would be an understatement! Blood curdling screams in defiance of the universe burst through the auditorium, out to the halls, out to the streets, out to the kids who had only last year lost by a landslide!

We took to the stage, grabbing our trophy like we’d known it was ours to begin with. Everyone was crying, Sailor Long no longer could see through her happy tears, and Mrs. Gruver took it all in with a look of pure pride. 

Getting back on that bus to go home felt like a new world, as if last year was a fever dream. The sun faded, darkness set in, but the cast of Edward Tulane would not be dimmed. We were happier than we’d ever been, thanks to Mrs. Gruver, our techies, our own dedicated actors, and all the lovely people who had helped us get here. 

But that’s not the end of the story! As first place champions, we now advance to regionals on November 23rd, traveling to Charlottesville in an attempt to win again. And who knows? On this miraculous journey from Dirt to Edward Tulane, we might just win it all!

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Written by Thomas Repass

Photography by Thomas Repass