The cast and directors of a Reader’s Theatre of Sarah Orne Jewett’s short story, “A White Heron,” from left are Sally Jones, director, Alison Whitney as Mrs. Tilley, Kathy Davis as narrator, Matt Delamater as the ornithologist, Erin Hamlin as Sylvy and Brenda Melhus, technical director.

Norway library hosted Readers Theatre

NORWAY – A Readers Theatre of Sarah Orne Jewett’s short story, “A White Heron,” was performed at Norway Memorial Library on Dec. 7 preceding the library’s annual holiday open house.

Under the direction of Sally Jones, who also adapted the story for Reader’s Theatre, Kathy Davis, Erin Hamlin, Alison Whitney and Matt Delameter read and performed.

Brenda Melhus, as technical director, provided photographs, music and sound effects to evoke the setting of rural coastal Maine in the late 1800s. More than 30 audience members participated in a facilitated discussion after the performance.

The program is one in an ongoing Celebration of the Short Story at Norway Memorial Library. It began in October with a talk by author Lewis Robinson titled “The Spell of the Short Story” and was the first of five short story discussions led by writer and teacher Jeanette Baldridge of West Paris. The series of discussions, called “The Importance of Storytelling,” concluded on Dec. 4.

Lisa Moore of Harrison, freelance writer and poet, is instructor of a workshop called “Writing an Original Short Story.”

The participants have met twice to work on prewriting and drafting and will conclude with revising and publishing as the final two session topics.

The culmination of the Celebration of the Short Story will be on Saturday, May 3, 2008 when the library will host a live reading of selected stories from the entrants to a short story contest.

The writing contest is open to high school students and adults from the Oxford Hills area. Submissions of original short works of fiction of up to 3,500 words will be accepted between Jan. 2 and Feb. 15.

Entrants may submit one short story that will be considered by a panel of readers and judged on originality, character development, compelling plot, use of language and appropriateness to audience.

For submission guides and rules or for more information, visit the library’s Web site at [email protected] or call the library at 743-5309. The Celebration of the Short Story is funded by a grant from the Stephen and Tabitha King Foundation.