On July 12, 2011, from 7:00-8:30 pm, I attended a performance of The Jonesborough Storytelling Guild at the Cranberry Thistle Restaurant on East Main St., Jonesborough, TN, and was treated to an evening of four exceptionally entertaining storytellers: guild members Bob Phillips, Rocky Churchwell, Larry Kelley, and guest teller Ed Stivender of Philadelphia, PA.
During a fast paced and funny re-telling of a traditional Jack Tale, Stivender interrupted his quick tempo phrasing and established repetition of character introduction at about half way into his story with the comment, “And just when the people in the audience were wondering where the strong women in the story were . . ..” Therewith, Stivender spotlighted the heretofore all-male cast of characters in the tale. The aside drew chuckles, as did the next line, “My name’s Judy, but my friends on the track team call me Runs Well.” I think that Stivender’s aside was a telling expression of a sensitive and witty teller signaling his intension to be gender inclusive. With his comment, he clarified and acknowledged both his and the audience’s more modern gender sensibilities in a way that didn’t diminish or dismiss the story, but instead allowed that we all could still romp and play with this traditional tale. Thus, Stivender transitioned a story that just happened to leave women out, into one that conspicuously brought them in.
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