Silas House's Notes to LONG TIME TRAVELLING/Hayley Williams' blog

PLAYWRIGHT SILAS HOUSE'S NOTES ON LONG TIME TRAVELLING

I wrote this play during a time of great personal and national change. My own change was realizing--in my mid-thirties--whom I really am, and then embracing that realization. Finally, after years of struggle (including seventeen childhood years as a member of the Holiness church) I figured out what I believed in, and then stood up for it, sometimes to the chagrin of my own family and community. At the same time, Barack Obama was campaigning for president, and making the word "change" a part of our everyday conversation. During his campaign, it became increasingly clear to me how divisive the idea of change is--for some it is synonymous with hope while others think of it as a dangerous and disruptive thing.

No matter what I am writing, whether it be a novel, short story, poem, essay, or play, I am doing so to answer a question for myself, to understand something better. While writing LONG TIME TRAVELLING I was trying to figure out why many of the believers I know (most, but not all) have gotten so far away from the Golden Rule, a philosophy taught in every major religion. I was trying to understand why that sometimes the people we love the thickest are also sometimes the ones we damage the most.

I think the characters in this play are much like all of us--they're trying to figure out who they are and to get through life while doing the least amount of harm to others as possible. We stumble along the way, but eventually we figure out that this life is a journey, and that we're travelling through with a mission to find more clarity and kindness. I hope that LONG TIME TRAVELLING can be a reminder that we are only here a short time and that we ought to use that time to understand one another and to help each other along the way instead of hindering others in their paths.

HAYLEY WILLIAMS' REHEARSAL BLOG

APRIL 9

Tonight was our first run-thru of the entire show! It was so exciting!! It is so cool the see how all the pieces fit together, to see the flow of the entire play. It helps me to develop my character even more to see how she changes as the play moves. Run-thru's also help me see where I still need work-but that is good. I know what to focus on now. The run-thru also made me very aware that I need to get lots of rest to conserve my energy!! I am onstage for the majority of the show and it takes a lot out of you!

I am very excited about this show. I think it is going to be really great. Now to work on lines so I can get the script out of my hands and really act the part!!