By Cathy Veit
Onstage at the Dover Little Theatre, Kristin Ace is a swirl of glowing red hair and sparkling eyes, with swirling arms and swirling body, her mouth wide open to show her nervousness and lifelong fears.
You CAN Get There from Here, which can be seen at 8 pm tonight, June 2, was written in only a month. With two years of performances and help from Director Samantha Jones, this one-woman show has evolved into a meaningful and entertaining play. Talking, singing and acting for 90 minutes straight, Kristin fills the small theater with energy.
The Morristown resident traces her journey from a bullied high schooler to a healer. Her parents throw her out into the world so she will become independent. However, she has fears. Trembling in the face of bullies, terrified of driving, scared of getting lost, she is sure pygmies will devour her if she ventures into the woods.
She is so directionally challenged that wrong exits and backward drives on highways make every trip an ordeal. Fears of getting lost prompt her to give up driving for nine years. A dream tells her to move to Chicago, where she won’t need a car. She obeys, studying drama with fascinating people in the Windy City.
Over time, she learns to listen to her dreams and heed the very loud voices in her head telling her when to move forward and when to avoid danger.
Looking back on her life, Kristin, 49, realizes that very special people along the way, often strangers, have been her angels, guiding and assisting her in time of need. An inner divinity, she discovers, has led to joy, laughter and love, replacing fear.
Weaving these themes together, Kristin relates a triumphal story in which she transcends her worst fear. Lo and behold, it is she who wraps her family in a blanket of healing energy, follows her intuition, and leads her husband and two children to safety.
A holistic healer in the Chinese LaHo Chi tradition, Kristin gives the audience healing golden light after the show, and answers questions. The Dover Little Theater is on 69 Elliot St. in Dover. Tickets are $20, and proceeds benefit the 100-seat venue. Call 973-328-9202 for more information.
Awesome!