John Thacher, grandson of Morgan Hill socialite Ramone Etchebarne, came home from his first year at New York University to attend an epic event put on by his alma mater, Mount Madonna School, last weekend: the Indian fairytale “Ramayana.”
After an invitation from Gilroy resident Alice Saavedra, parent of an elementary student at Mount Madonna, arrived via e-mail, and I was off to the World Theater on the campus of California State University, Monterey Bay. Mount Madonna School’s “Ramayana” is the largest and longest-running production in North America, playing to decades of awed audiences.
It started with a pre-play gathering of alumni in the lounge adjacent to the theater lobby. Pictures of alumni on display boards, colorful saris, past productions’ costumes hanging from the walls and a scrumptious Indian-inspired food offering for the grazing awaited the arrival of school staff and alumni.
Mount Madonna School is well-known for sending its graduates off to mostly four-year colleges and often Ivy League institutions. Jivanti Rutansky, director of the middle and high school campuses, explained that the impetus is to place the students where they will be happy and more likely to continue their education. Harvard, Yale and Stanford must produce much happiness.
Thacher reconnected with Mount Madonna instructors but especially with favored teacher Ward Mailliard, who teaches the Values in American Thought course. Mailliard remembers Thacher as a star student, especially while on the school’s annual trip to Washington, D.C.
“Our students go on the D.C. trip after months of preparation. They not only meet members of congress and other government officials, but they prepare extensive interviews. We teach the students how to ask a question with a respectful and open attitude. They are also required to dress professionally,” Mailliard said.
Mailliard said he wants the students to see a part of the process of government he saw as a son of U.S. Congressman William S. Mailliard. As the nephew of former Secretary of State George Shultz, Mailliard said he “hung out” in the congressional halls as a youth. The Mount Madonna School Government in Action program began in 1989 interviewing such leaders as Justice Sandra Day O’Conner, Leon Panetta, Press Secretary Gary Walters, Former Speaker of the House, Congressman Tom Foley and more. Added to the list this year was Lehrer News House correspondent Ray Suarez, Washington Post columnist David Ignatius, Congressman Dennis Kucinich and Deputy Secretary of State Robert Zoellick, all of whom Mailliard said he was excited to have the opportunity to introduce the students to. All this and play practice to boot.
Mount Madonna mom and Gilroy resident Beth Blosser worked behind the scenes in support of her three children’s involvement in the school production, maintaining a cool persona through the epic weekend of three-hour performance times. “Three-hour performance!” I was warned.
It’s a morality play, with deep meanings. “You may not understand it,” I was warned again. But I did – I did understand it.
Princess Sita is captured by an evil underworld god, gets rescued by her truelove (the guy who could pick up a heavy weapon – shades of a curried Arthurian myth) and each character succeeds only by living up to high, high standards. Moral of the play: The demons are out there, you just have to know how to slay them.
Of course, this is an incomplete synopsis of a spectacular production that everyone should experience. The costumes are amazing, the music is lively and foot-tapping, and the acting and singing is superb. It’s a Cirque du Soleil meets Vishnu production with a cast of thousands.
While I was congratulating assistant music director Gitanjali Lori Rivera on her wonderful vocal and percussive talents she asked me, “Have you seen it before?” I said, “No, this is my first time.” Rivera smiled and said, “Ah, you’re a ‘Ramayana’ virgin! Well, it’s a lot like ‘Rocky Horror Picture Show.’ You’ll know when to yell out after a few more years.” Thank you, kind lady, I will be back.
More to add … I submit to you a short, true story. You decide, coincidence or not. After a birthday lunch on Monday at Giancarlos with my two friends Nancy Rhoads and Rebecca Santos, we decided to stroll downtown Morgan Hill. We stopped at the Skeels building to check out the new construction on an upcoming restaurant called “Ragoots.” A handsome man working outside greeted us, and my friends quickly explained we were celebrating my 4-0 today (they were not quick to mention they will experience the same fate next month).
He looked at us, smiled and said it was his 40th birthday also. Already anticipating disbelief, he was quick to draw out his proof of age. Tom Blakeslee of TB Electric shares my birthday. Coincidence or not that we meet on our shared 40th year on earth? Happy birthday, Tom. Hope the day mellowed out for you.
Even more to add … Continuing our stroll in downtown Morgan Hill, we checked out the recently opened “Karma Couture Boutique” next to “Glazed Creations.” Proprietor Natalie Ricketts has opened a “Hip at Heart” boutique featuring the only doggie boutique in South County. Very cool, very fun, and there’s something for everyone in the family. We especially liked the bling, bling binkeys (chi-chi pacifiers). Ricketts is an Orange County native who’s bringing some fun to South County. Stop by. You might find something epic to wear to next year’s “Ramayana”!
Ciao for now.
