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THE SEAMSTRESS OF ST. FRANCIS STREET
A two-act play by Mario Farwell

August 11,12,16,17,18,19 2007
Directed by Jim Meady

It's 1958... summer in Saint Louis... a hot, lazy summer. The Cardinals are doing fairly well, although it doesn't look as if they'll be a contender for the National League pennant this year. One of the bright signs is Curt Flood, the team's second Negro player.

George and Helen Wilcox have lived in a quiet Black neighborhood, with their pre-teen son, Jesse, and Helen's Uncle Raymond, for a number of years. They are content with their socio-economic situation. George has a steady job and Helen runs a seamstress shop which, in spite of at least one ornery customer, is doing fairly well. They are a good Christian couple, and, aside from Jesse's penchant to act up like some of his older, "wiser" schoolmates, they live a quiet happy life.

This all changes when Camilla, Helen's younger sister, bursts on the scene after a long absence in New York City. She is the antithesis of Helen and George and immediately starts to shake things up. What happens over the next several weeks is a whirlwind of emotions for the family and some unwelcome confrontations, revelations, and soulsearching. Then, as fast as she came, Camilla is gone, leaving behind her a family who will never be the same.

CAST

HELLEN MISS SUMMERS CAMILLA GEORGE JESSE UNCLE RAYMOND MR. ENGELMEYER

Alexius Gandyloyd Natashia Griffin Jacqueline Thompson Rene Dimanche Jordon Ward Collins Lewis Mark Melone

Best full length play in the inaugural E. Desmond Lee Playwriting Competition 2007. The play was filmed in 2008 and released in 2010 under the title "Pennies for the Boatman".

Front window of Helen Wilcox's Seamstress shop. The Wilcox family George, Uncle Raymond (Collins Lewis), Helen's son Jesse (Jordan Ward), Camilla, and Helen, sit down to Sunday dinner which only brings out bad memories between Uncle Raymond and Camilla Camilla, having been rejected for any jobs discovers Helen's talent for dress design and is now determined to promote and sell them. After Uncle Raymond has admitted to the abuse he gave Camilla and that Helen did try to stop him, Camilla settles accounts by poisoning Uncle Raymond and leaves forever.

Helen Wilcox's (Alexius Gandyloyd center) long lost sister Camilla (Jacqueline Thompson) returns to St. Louis unexpectedly and runs into George Wilcox (Rene Dimanche). Camilla intends to start looking for a job. Helen coaches her on what to expect from these racist St. Louis folks. Camilla arranges for a Famous-Bar buyer Mr. Engelmeyer (Mark Melone) to view Helen's work. But Engelmeyer is only interested in Helen's designs so his niece can front for them. After all her trials Helen gets the courage to face up to the domineering Miss Summers (Natashia Griffin) and begin another chapter in her life