Analyzing Oliver's Childhood Stories

Oliver’s childhood story seemed peculiar too. Invoking a sense of a murder mystery, Oliver stated "Mother used to always say to us: ‘Savannah is a trap. It’ll try to imprison you; even if you manage to get away, it’ll find a way to drag you back” (Helen and Edgar). Vocalizing his words expressively using long drawn out syllables reminiscent of a Boris Karloff narrative, Oliver narrated the story of Helen and Edgar’s life with Mother after the death of Father under questionable circumstances. What proceeded was a reflective tale of seemingly crazy antics by “Mother,” the word “Mother” spoken with an emphasis that implies that “yes” Oliver realizes how ludicrous this tale sounds. Nevertheless, Oliver was non-judgmental as he related the strange

First, as a piece of theatre, it is unlike the usual musical or operatic theater that I am used to attending. Instead, this work is indicative of a long-standing cultural tradition of storytelling . Told from the personal experience of Edgar Oliver, one can understand the observations made by sociologist Irving Goffman that, “when a story is framed from a personal perspective, listeners are able to emphatically insert themselves into the story; vicariously re-experiencing what took place” (Miller 74). This makes the performance relatable to our present culture. The largest demographic of Canada is people born between 1950 and 1960 (Canadian Demographics), the specific demographic that the afternoon audience consisted of. With many people in the stage of life of losing loved ones and getting older, Goffman’s statement proves correct, as within that context I had silently smiled to myself while reflecting on each snapshot of Oliver’s life in comparison to my own. Secondly, Oliver is believable. Using no attempt to disguise himself in costume, or to “act” as another character, Oliver allowed the audience to empathize with his own experiences by seeing him as “himself.” Perhaps the sheer simplicity of the performance reflects a societal desire for a simpler way of life void of a multitude of electronic devices (Carter 70). On a personal note, I found it refreshing