The evening
The Repast is the meal after the funeral: the casseroles, the sweet tea and the long tables in the fellowship hall, for a man who lived to ninety-one and left behind a town that cannot agree on who he was. Keep an eye on the door. A stranger is about to arrive claiming to be his best friend from a life nobody knew he had, and he brought something with him.
How your guests take part
This is a very interactive show. Upon arrival, every guest is assigned a part: They will interact with the cast as one of the mourners, with a card that gives them a memory of the man that doesn’t square with somebody else’s, and a task to complete before the night is over, like signing the book with a story, finding someone who shared the same experience, or taking a turn with the eulogy when the preacher loses his place. Your guests may want to come to more than one performance, as their interactions with the cast and the story itself will be different every time.
Larger speaking parts that are integral to the flow and plot of the show are filled by people in your organization or by finding actors from your local community theater.
We also know every guest has their own comfort level. Any guest roles that require speaking or otherwise draw attention to themselves are filled before the show by volunteers, who are also given a brief orientation. Any guest can trade a card with someone else or hand it to the actor hosting their table. Anyone can simply sit back and enjoy the show. Nobody is ever put on the spot.
The details
| Venue | Anywhere you would hold a banquet, set up as the meal after a funeral, with long tables and a guest book. A church fellowship hall is a natural fit. The eulogy needs a microphone. While not required, the primary cast members can also wear a performance microphone (we can help you find a local company to provide this service). |
| The meal | Buffet only. If your local health department allows it, your organization’s people can bring the dishes potluck-style. Casseroles and sweet tea fit the story. |
| Your cast | Local actors for the roles we don’t bring, plus the ten to twenty guests who will volunteer for the smaller speaking parts. |
| Guests wear | Sunday best. Dark colors or black are preferred. |
| Music | Hymns, chosen by your organization. The show needs no specific songs, and the hymns are a small part: probably one at the start, one in the middle and one at the end. We walk you through any music licenses your venue needs. |