Ponder Anew, a Reader’s Theater play with music based Herschel Ponder’s 1989 memoir about his experiences as the pilot of a P-47 Thunderbolt in the European Theater during World War II, will be at Charles and Myrtle's Coffeehouse on Saturday at 8 p.m. The coffeehouse is inside Christ Unity Church at 105 McBrien Road. There is a $10 suggested donation at the door.
"Most of the words in the play are taken directly from the memoir, just as Dad wrote them," said Carol Ponder. "When I read it for the first time, I had a sense that he wanted me to understand why he was as he was.
"From Dad’s memoir, I finally learned about his war and the deep joys, sorrows, horrors, and delights of his experiences in it. In his writing, he didn’t pull any punches. He wrote as he remembered. Today we speak of the 'visible and invisible' wounds of war, and I believe that’s what he was trying to address."
Review for Ponder Anew:
This in-depth look into the heart and soul of a single veteran makes the piece uniquely powerful. It has been found to resonates with audiences of all ages. Veterans, their families and friends, report in talk backs after performances that this piece is a compelling catalyst for them to communicate about, understand, and heal from their combat experiences – no matter how old or how fresh these experiences. It is an effective way to mend the unseen wounds of war and help veterans of all ages with reintegration into civilian life.
Mr. Ponder wrote in his storytelling voice – droll, sincere, and sometimes cruelly straightforward. To augment the sense of time and place of the events, the script has been laced with songs from the period and traditional songs from the Southern Appalachians (the family home). Robert, Carol's husband, takes the role of Herschel Ponder and Ms. Ponder provides narration, songs, and underscoring to support his story. It is an “Everyman” story.
In the memoir, guests will find the whole, universal soldier’s journey: beginning as a callow recruit, becoming a seasoned warrior, leaving the war as a troubled veteran, and creating a life after war.