Buffalo Tales

By Hobie Vannoy

September 22, 2014

 

Storytelling professionals took the stage last Friday night in front of a full crowd at the McGlothlin-Street Theatre.  Eight members from the Jonesborough Storytelling Guild delighted listeners with their stories here on Milligan’s campus. Among these eight professionals were Milligan professor Bruce Montgomery and Milligan alumna Rebecca Alexander.

 

“I think [the event] went very well,” says Montgomery. “We had a variety of tellers doing different genres, so there wasn’t just one thing.”

 

Montgomery retold the biblical story of Jonah, adding a personal touch of humor to engage the crowd.

 

“I would definitely tell the story differently from behind the pulpit,” explains Montgomery, who is also a preacher. “The message remains the same though. Here, the audience is half secular, so you have to be able to engage them in the story while still having them understand the message.”

 

A variety of genres were presented, including stories with metaphorical lessons, stories of rejoicing in the midst of tragedy, stories of how the world could be a better place and a story of training for the Olympics with four-legged chickens.

 

Leon Overbay, from Boones Creek, specifically had a unique genre as he told stories with a guitarist accompaniment.

 

“I’ve been telling stories for 25 years, and I’ve found the ones I enjoy telling the most are stories with role models and funny stories from church… because, let’s face it, everyone has funny church stories.”

 

While the crowd was ecstatic for each storyteller, none got the level of applause that Milligan alumna Rebecca Alexander received.

 

Alexander’s Halloween story was “hilarious” according to some of the guests in attendance and based off multiple standing ovations, was one of the most enjoyable.

 

“I chose the Halloween story simply because it’s almost that season,” Alexander mentions.  “I think it works so well because it’s 100% true.”

 

The story consisted of a young Alexander and her friend frightened so badly in a haunted house that her friend hit Frankenstein with her purse while Alexander peed all over herself in a corner.

 

More stories will be ready to be heard December 4 as Milligan’s Storytelling class presents their tales in two separate showings.  Half of the students will share at 4:00 p.m., followed by the second half at 7:00 in the Gregory Center.