A Burlington, NC Christian acting group, Act On Ministries is the first to create and produce a screenplay for "The Last SIN Eater".
Like a piece of unhemmed fabric in the wind, lies will eventually unravel. Sometimes the lies are so tightly woven into the fabric we know as our reality, we're completely unprepared for the exposed truths as lives are changed and sometimes violent upheavals occur. All it takes is for one person to start asking a few questions... and not give up.
This unraveling of reality is the story of "The Last SIN Eater" by Francine Rivers. This is an intense story.
Act On Ministries, a local Christian acting group, created the first screenplay for "The Last SIN Eater". This 1998 novel by Francine Rivers was previously produced as a movie directed by Michael Landon, Jr., and released from Believe Pictures in 2007. Hannah Fox of Act On Ministries took on this task, with permission from Believe Pictures and Francine Rivers and adapted the novel to a screenplay; she also directed the production and played one of parts.
I sat in the audience not knowing what to expect. I've not read the book nor seen the movie. All I knew about the story was what I'd read about the production in the paper the week before. As the house lights dimmed and the spotlights pierced the darkness, the audience was transported to a 1850s Smoky Mountain village of Welsh Americans as a story of horrible hidden truths, murders, misplaced guilt, and iron-fisted control of others is meticulously woven before us.
The basic story line is that Cadi Forbes blames herself for her little sister's death. She feels her mother blames her too and no longer feels close to her. The only person she felt close to was her grandmother and now she's dead too. The play opens as the "Sin Eater" comes to the village to take on her grandmother's sins. The Sin Eater is a member of the community selected by lottery to live shunned, alone, and away from the village. He only comes into the village when someone dies, for the sole purpose of taking on their sins.
Looking at, or have any contact with, the Sin Eater, will result in being tarnished by their accumulated sin.
Cadi is so tormented and troubled by the guilt she feels over her sister's death that she looks at the Sin Eater when he's taking the sin from her grandmother. She doesn't fear him. Afterwards, she tries to find him so that he can take away her sin now, not later when she's dead. Thus begins her long journey for the truth. There are a lot of twists and turns along the way as she learns bits and pieces about the past, about Jesus (the real last sin eater), as well as the lies covering up so much of the way of life the whole village accepts as the truth, as their reality.
This was an impressive production and adaptation, with excellent acting all around. The audience was truly engaged. I laughed a lot, and had tears welling up at least twice, from Rebekah Davidson's portrayal of Cadi Forbes, and Mia Lundgren's portrayal of Cadi's mother Fia Forbes.
This is a very relevant story, both on the surface as well as beneath. Only a few people in the village knew the truth, any others who knew were long dead. The villagers took their way of life as exactly that, their way of life, they didn't ask why or question anything. They didn't know any different. What is it that we're being lied to about? What are we missing? Who are we allowing to control us? How many will not allow themselves to be forgiven for sins that have long since been paid?
Now that the screenplay has been written, perhaps other groups around the country will put on this production. In the meantime, you can purchase the book or the DVD!
Until next time,
Fred
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Posted by Fred Black on July 11, 2011
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