History Events in Davenport

In a work of historical fiction based on oral histories, Mary Swander dramatizes the trials of a young Amish man from Kalona, Iowa, who thought he was headed to the Rocky Mountains for a stint of public service as a smoke jumper in lieu of combat during World War II. Instead, he was led off the train by renegade soldiers and illegally imprisoned in a chicken coop with ten other men until the war’s end. Unable to contact his family for two years, he writes imaginary letters to his mother, telling her of his bewilderment, fear, and ultimately, forgiveness. Through it all, he maintains extraordinary courage. The play, masterfully performed by Rip Russell, is a one-person performance staged on a table with everyday objects representing the characters in the show, aka object theatre. Russell pantomimes the action to a narration filled with music, sound effects and excerpts from old news reels. Come and watch traffic cones, dusters, balloons, and clothespins come to life, creating this gripping drama of the challenges German-speaking conscientious objectors endured. The play runs for one hour with a talk-back discussion following the performance. This event is free and open to the public, RSVPs strongly encouraged. This presentation is funded by Humanities Iowa and the State Historical Society, Inc.