Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, June 23, 1995 TAG: 9506230043
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-3 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: WENDY L. TURNER STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: RADFORD LENGTH: Long
She was a woman "who achieved all but the impossible," says Bobby Nicholson, chairman of the board of directors for "The Long Way Home."
Ingles witnessed the Shawnee Massacre in July 1755 on the settlement her father founded, Draper's Meadows (present day Blacksburg). She was taken prisoner and transported far from her home, becoming the first white woman to walk on the soil of present day Ohio, Indiana and Kentucky.
After several weeks as a prisoner, Ingles fled. Driven by a fierce longing for her family and native soil, a starving, exhausted, barely alive Mary Draper Ingles came home 40 days later.
Her story has made her an on-going subject of admirers, conversations, lectures, books and even a TV movie.
However, many distortions and exaggerations have emerged over the years, and Ingles' descendants have vowed to set the story straight with their own version of her story.
In 1970, the production of "The Long Way Home" began. This year marks the 25th anniversary of what the General Assembly has dubbed "Virginia's Outdoor Historic Drama" written by historical playwright Earl Hobson Smith, and sanctioned by Ingles' descendants.
Colonel Lewis I. "Bud" Jeffries, the fourth great-grandson of William and Mary Draper Ingles, believes "the mission of 'The Long Way Home' is to foster and promote frontier life, pioneer family spirit and our local heritage through the legacy of Mary Draper Ingles.
"I'm proud of it, obviously, and it is something nice for the community since this is local history. I think there is a lot of potential for the story to be done right."
The story tells what people "had to go through to develop this country, even before it was a country, just to survive, and sometimes we don't appreciate that," he said.
Certainly the 65 volunteers who comprise the cast and crew of "The Long Way Home" do. They spend their summer afternoons rehearsing, playing, staging, touring and operating the production receiving only a small stipend.
Rehearsals begin the weekend of auditions in May and continue until opening night in June. The play runs from mid-June until the beginning of September.
The cast is comprised of a variety of actors ranging from children to the elderly.
Because of the length of the production, two or more people are cast for one role. The leading role of Mary Ingles will be played by Jennifer Jeffries, Heather Massie and Kitty Grillo. The male lead of Pierre Le Valle will be shared by Stephen A'della and Jeff Hall. Bob Legg and Kristi Pomo are this year's directors. Some of the cast members have been with the play for years while others are acting for the first time.
A'della has traveled all over the world. He is a juggler and an actor who is working toward his master's degree. He has returned to "The Long Way Home" after being in the production 13 years ago. A'della is visiting his grandmother in Riner this summer and knew right away that he wanted to be a part of the play again. "I saw the play as an opportunity for my family, friends cousins and grandmother to come and see something like this."
Eloise Turner, who is playing Eleanor Draper this year, has been in the play since its first year. She is a direct descendant of Adam Harmon, the farmer who found Mary Draper Ingles after she climbed Eggleston Cliffs.
Danny Leary has been with "The Long Way Home" since he was 9. He has played various Indians, William Ingles, and is the general male understudy this year.
The production is held at the Ingles Homestead Amphitheater on the Ingleside farm. Along with the stage, the audience can view the Ingles family cemetery where Ingles is buried, along with the foundations of the original cabin where Ingles and her husband lived after her return from captivity.
Before the play begins at 8:30 p.m., historical tours are offered. At 7 p.m., the Ferry Train Tour heads along a portion of the famous Wilderness Road to the Ingles Ferry Landing. Later, there is a grounds tour of the stage, cabin and grave site.
In celebration of the silver jubilee of "The Long Way Home," ribbons have been made to signify family members of the cast, descendants of Mary Draper Ingles and official guests. Cups celebrating the 25th season are emblazoned with the official logo of "The Long Way Home," a sketch of a frightened, yet protective, Ingles, her two sons and the two Indians who surround them. On June 29, a birthday party of sorts will be held to celebrate the night the play opened on June 29, 1971. Cakes for the cast, crew and audience will be served.
Nicholson, is pleased with the family-oriented atmosphere of the production. He envisions future growth and development for the site, and sees next year as the beginning of another quarter century.
The "The Long Way Home" runs through Sept. 2, Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday at 8:30 p.m. at the Ingles Homestead Amphitheater on Virginia 232 in Radford. Tickets are $7 for adults, $3.50 for children. For details, contact the drama's box office at 639-0679.
by CNB