 Unlanch’d
Voices, an Evening With Walt Whitman, was conceived and
performed by Stephen Collins, written and directed by Micheal
Keamy. The first performances were presented in January 1998
at the Hancock Church in Lexington, MA. Since then private performances
have been booked at both High Schools and Colleges as well as
Assisted Living Communities throughout Massachusetts.
Unlanch’d
Voices strives to capture what we interpret to be the most vital
contributions of the man. This generation will never know precisely
how Whitman walked, talked, thought, or the many subtle ways
he expressed himself and lived. To avoid any misrepresentation,
we chose to keep any broad historical fiction or needless theatrical
conventions out of this play.
Instead
we rely on poetry, which surely stands on its own, and on as
much of Walt’s actual words and dialogue as possible. A portion
of the text was gathered from the priceless source, Walt Whitman
In Camden, a six-volume collection of daily conversations with
Whitman, written by his friend and neighbor, Horace Traubel.
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These
books contain records of daily visits with Whitman over a period
of five years leading up to the poet’s death. The volumes are
filled with anecdotes, stories, and memories, as well as important
historical data. Whitman’s own prose works, including Specimen
Days, were also a valuable source.
Of
what value is Walt Whitman to us in contemporary America? This
is a question we asked repeatedly during the creation of this
piece. Certainly it is in Whitman’s inestimable contribution to
the modem form of poetry and in his creation of free verse. But
more, his worth lies in his humanity, his determination to retain
his individuality, his struggle with his sexual self, his joyfully
inclusive view of life and his refreshing embrace or death.
Finally,
we hope to leave you with a greater insight not just into the
"great man" or the great poet, but with an appreciation of Walt
Whitman as an eternally free spirit.
Stephen
Collins
Michael Keamy
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