A CHAPTER IN LOCAL HISTORY
Orlando’s forgotten past inspires playwright’s celebration
Joseph Reed Hayes doesn’t remember where or when he heard it but he was aware that thousands of Italian prisoners of war had been held throughout Central Florida — and used as laborers — during World War II.
“I don’t know how I knew that since I didn’t grow up here,” the New York native recalls in a telephone chat. “The people here at the time certainly didn’t know about this.”
This footnote in Central Florida history sparked something in the Orlando playwright.
“I started imagining what life was like in 1945 Central Florida, where you had these people being held — one way or another,” he says.
The result is “If I Had My Way,” the centerpiece of an extended celebration of Hayes’ 20 years as a playwright. Called “The Hayes Project,” the series of events involves a look at the creative evolution of a piece of writing and involves not one but three new plays.
The Hayes Project already has garnered attention: The Florida Department of State’s Division of Arts and Culture awarded Hayes an $18,500 grant. Most of the 153 cultural-project grants announced in June went to organizations; Hayes was one of only 29 individuals — and one of just two playwrights — statewide to receive funding.
The money will be used to pay the more than 20 artists who will part of the project’s events through the next seven months.
“I never would have been able to do it on my own,” Hayes says.
The project starts up with a reading and discussion of “If I Had My Way,” which is something of a departure for Hayes. He generally writes for a small cast, maybe two or three. This is a “big play,” he says, with seven characters.
In the story, an Italian prisoner is sent to a Central Florida ranch to work in early 1945. There, he meets a young Black woman
who grew up in the ranch’s kitchen — her mother worked there, her grandmother worked there. The woman had vowed to break free of the ranch — but finds herself working in the kitchen while she cares for her ailing mother. Bitter at her situation, she makes a surprising connection with the Italian stranger — over food.
“Now’s the time for this type of story,” says Hayes, explaining how it looks at individuality and personal freedom. You don’t have to be a literal prisoner, like his Italian soldier — you can be held back by circumstances, like the evils of sharecropping, or by unhealthy relationships.
There’s hope and humor found in the play, he says, which emphasizes finding ways to connect with others, rather than looking for what divides us.
“If I Had My Way” is likely to be tweaked after the reading. At a January event with jazz ensemble La Lucha, music will be used to explore the rhythm of Hayes’ writing.
“Although I don’t do musicals, I like to include music as a character,”
Hayes says. “Word placement and word rhythm are very important to me.”
Then, a new play titled “Mockingbird News” will explore the complexities of personality with “moments that will echo the words” of “If I Had My Way,” Hayes says.
Finally, “If I Had My Way” will get a full-on production next June — but not until after Hayes debuts another new play at May’s Orlando Fringe Festival, site of his first production 20 years ago.
“I was told ‘you have to write plays’,” recalls Hayes
of his start.
That directive came from author Douglas Coupland (“Generation X”), who was mentoring Hayes in a program at the Atlantic Center for the Arts in New Smyrna Beach.
“Six months later I had my first Fringe show in
front of a paying audience,” Hayes says. “And I’ve never looked back.”
With 17 plays completed, 49 productions and readings staged, Hayes can see that Coupland’s advice was sound: “This has all proven that he was right,” he says.
The Hayes Project
‘If I Had My Way’ reading and discussion: 7 p.m. Dec. 5 at Timucua Arts Foundation, 2000 S. Summerlin Ave. in Orlando. Donations welcome, livestream also available. Info: Timucua. com
‘Jazz Spoken Here,’ with La Lucha: 7 p.m. Jan. 30 at Timucua Arts Foundation. Ticket info TBA at Timucua.com.
‘Mockingbird News’: A full production of the play will be presented in the spring.
Orlando Fringe Festival: Hayes will present a new play at the annual fest, May 17-30 in Loch Haven Park, north of downtown Orlando.
‘If I Had My Way,’ full production: June 16-20 at the Orlando Science Center Digital Adventure Theater in Loch Haven Park. Ticket information will be at Thehayesproject.com when available.
Find me on Twitter @matt_ on_arts, facebook.com/ matthew.j.palm or email me at mpalm@orlandosentinel. com. Want more theater and arts news and reviews? Go to orlandosentinel.com/ arts