'Tales Told in Ten'

Rachel Benton

What an honor to be a writer for Olympia Family Theatre’s (OFT) 6th annual “Tales Told in Ten” (TTnT) event on  April 12. For people unfamiliar with this Olympia tradition, here is how it works.

OFT gathers local talent and assigns them to a group, each with one writer, one director, and three to five actors. The day before, the groups meet and greet, and then at 7:30 p.m., writers are released to go home and write their scripts to turn in by 7:30 a.m. the next day (The show must be 10 minutes or less).

OFT reviews the scripts that morning, and directors and actors return at 9  a.m. with less than 10 hours to prepare the show for that night’s performance. 

Before I walk you through my journey, I have a note:  

The other day, I was wearing a long dress with spaghetti at a performance. A (sober) stranger came up to me and said in undesirable tone, “Aren’t you freezing in that dress?” I said, “Nope.” They went away squealing, and the whole thing was weird. Suffice it to say, the only time it is appropriate to comment on someone else’s attire at a performance is when you compliment it.  

Now, let the journey begin!  

Meet and greet 

Upon arrival, I asked each of my actors two questions. Their answers allowed me to formulate characters that would excite them. 

1). What are your favorite types of characters to play?                                                                      

2). What are some silly talents or special skills you possess?  

My cast consisted of one man and three minors, all over the age of 12, and our director was Gary Zinter. Speaking with them, I began to form a basis for what I wanted to write.  

This year, the theme was: “Hope is the oxygen of rebellion,”  and each team was assigned a prop: ours was an old-fashioned telephone. I discussed my idea with my team and gave them a couple of instructions before leaving.  

Script synopsis 

“True Colors” takes place in a dystopian society where the king rules that youths are no longer allowed to be educated, children 5 years old and up must enter the workforce, fresh air is a privilege, and the only color allowed is gray.   

 My script begins in an office with two agents answering the phones. One caller mentions they are crocheting at home using colorful yarn (a potentially dangerous act). This caller reflects that, “tomorrow I will return to my gray job, but right now it feels good to add a little color into the world and let me true colors shine.”

The caller’s comment impacts the phone agent and leads to a domino effect of true colors coming out of everyone in the office. This is shown by the gray clothes being removed (revealing colorful and campy outfits to the audience), and the characters juggling, dancing and twirling colorful stringers.  

 The play ends with a colorful stranger entering the office and saying no matter what the consequences will be, they must let their true colors shine.

Our play ends with the stranger breaking the fourth wall and telling the audience, “We need our colors to keep our hope alive. Hope is like oxygen, and hope is the oxygen of rebellion.”  

'True Colors' on stage 

From the moment I submitted my script to the end of the event, my stomach was full of butterflies. I was overwhelmed by thoughts of, “Did OFT and my troupe like the script?” “What changes will be made?” “Will my family and the whole audience enjoy this?” The answers to all these questions were positive. 

 Watching the show was entirely surreal and had a dreamlike quality. I have never witnessed an actualization of my work in this way.

The director of our troupe made wise decisions that improved the story and reminded me that art is best when it is collaborative. The actors portrayed the story with extraordinary talent and dedication.

The audience responded with claps, “awws” and exclamations  of “down with the king” at the appropriate moments. After the show, I was given multiple compliments by strangers and family alike. 

 Epilogue 

Days later, I am still exhausted, but my heart remains full of awe and gratitude. I keep reflecting on the versatility of “True Colors” message, and wonder if hope and freedom of self-expression is the key to solving polarization?

Hope and tolerance comes to people with open hearts and open minds, and is available to all who sit in the audience.   

Rachel Benton is a columnist, freelance writer, performing arts enthusiast and a Thurston County local. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree with a double major in History and Political Science and minor in Music. When not writing or enjoying the arts, Rachel can be found spending time with her family, friends and two golden retriever puppies (Elliot and Ernie).