By Ruth Nerhaugen, Republican Eagle
Jim Stowell’s passion for stories has taken a new turn. Instead of writing his own story to tell on stage, the Red Wing actor decided to try his hand at adapting someone else’s story for another actor to perform.
Red Wing actor/storyteller Jim Stowell adapted Tim O’Brien’s award-winning novel “The Things They Carried” into a one-man stage show. (Photo from Republican Eagle)
The result, a one-man play based on the award-winning book “The Things They Carried,” is everything he hoped it would be.
During early performances last March at the History Theatre in St. Paul, Stowell said, “I sat and watched the audience several times. They were riveted. They were leaning forward in their seats” in absolute silence, so as not to miss a word.
The play, currently on tour, will be performed at 7 p.m. Nov. 8 at the Sheldon Theatre.
“The Things They Carried” is a Minnesota story about author Tim O’Brien’s personal journey from his innocent years in a small western Minnesota town, to the jungles of Vietnam as a young American soldier, and back again.
“I loved this book from the very first time I came upon it” in 1990, said Stowell, who is an Air Force veteran from the pre-Vietnam era. “It moved me. I thought it would be perfect material for a one-man show. …
“Tim O’Brien is a great American novelist and ‘The Things They Carried’ is an extraordinary work of art, with compelling stories and characters.”
A couple of years ago, Stowell was appearing in a play with Twin Cities actor Stephen D’Ambrose while re-reading the book.
“I told Stephen ‘I’d love to adapt this to a one-man play. Would you like to do it?’”
Stowell asked his agent in New York to look into getting the rights to the story. Someone else already had acquired them, so his name went on a list. Two years later, when the other party did not follow through, the rights were offered to Stowell.
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