The Final Act
By Eileen M. Carlton
Sweitzer’s ‘Tootleoo’ examines the process of dying: Welsh poet Dylan Thomas told his father to rage against the dying of the light. Jacobean poet John Donne addressed Death itself, telling it to be not proud. Swiss psychiatrist Elizabeth Kubler-Ross divided everyone’s final confrontation into five stages. Those who work with the dying on a daily basis, however, know death comes sometimes in broad daylight, sometimes humbly, and rarely in a clearly defined progression.
Playwright Tom Sweitzer, of Middleburg, learned all of these lessons as a child watching his mother die of cancer.
Television personality Willard Scott, of Delaplane, learned this three years ago as his wife, Mary, died.
Blue Ridge Hospice CEO Ernie Carnevale, of Purcellville, became educated 13 years ago as brain cancer took the life of his mother, Hilda.
The teacher for all three men was hospice, an organization dedicated to helping the dying and their families and friends move through the last six weeks of life.
All three men are committed, each in his own way, to spreading the word about the medical care and seemingly limitless constructive compassion this agency has to offer.
Sweitzer, Scott and Carnevale have come together in this effort through Sweitzer’s latest play, “Tootleloo,” which opens this weekend at the Franklin Park Arts Center in Purcellville.
Scott has taped the narrative of the play and, depending on his schedule, hopes to be in attendance.
Sweitzer has rewritten his play and its music, “Sky,” paring down the original two and a half hours to 75 minutes.
Carnevale not only is heading the regional hospice, he performed in Sweitzer’s original production, “Sky.” Since his role was eliminated in “Tootleloo,” he is devoting himself to promoting this play and its message.
The first performances of “Tootleloo” were in Altoona, Pa., and Huntington, Pa. Altoona was Sweitzer’s hometown and the setting for the play.
In an interview prior to the Altoona performance, Sweitzer talked about the evolution of the play, hospice care and, of course, his mother, Kathy.
“['Tootleloo'] is done with a narrator, so this is very much done in storybook form,” Sweitzer said. “There are no subplots. You follow this one boy’s story and the hospice nurse that comes into this boy’s life.”
The nurse is Connie Shatzer, of Altoona. Sweitzer said plans called for her being honored for her 30 years as a hospice nurse.
“Altoona has made a big deal of all of this, and she has never had this kind of recognition,” he said. But that was scheduled to change Oct. 3 at the opening performance in Altoona, when more than 200 hospice nurses, including Shatzer, were to be honored -- “an honor for those people who have put their hearts out there and what they do for people who are passing on,” Sweitzer said.
“Porches” is another of Sweitzer’s plays. This one also deals with his mother.
“The first show, 'Porches' -- that was memorializing my mother. This show ['Tootleloo'] is much more about helping people deal with bereavement and grief. ... I really have a connection to those who are in bereavement, a connection to those people who have lost a loved one. I have a fascination with what is beyond this world, and I think a lot of people do,” Sweitzer said.
Sweitzer said he had met Scott on several occasions, and when he saw Scott in a television appearance, it occurred to him to ask Scott if he would be willing to be part of the project.
“I took a risk and wrote him a letter, because I knew he had dealt with hospice and with the death of his wife,” Sweitzer said. “When I sat down with Willard to talk about this project, he couldn't say enough about what hospice care does.”
Sweitzer indicated that Blue Cross Blue Shield as well as several other large health-care organizations also are supporting or seriously considering supporting his work.
“I’ve been waiting to see what niche my writing was going to hit, and I think I've found my niche,” Sweitzer said.
Carnevale spoke of his own experience with hospice.
“My mom was living in Rhode Island, and the best gift I was given was being called home by hospice,” Carnevale said. “Mother died surrounded by good care, surrounded by family.”
Carnevale met Sweitzer through The Hill School in Middleburg, where Sweitzer teaches, and through his own love of community theater. It was at Sweitzer’s request that Carnevale was in the production of “Sky.”
“I guess the best part of it is that ['Tootleloo'] gives a great message about hospice, and if you haven’t lived it, you will share the experience onstage,” Carnevale said. “... [Sweitzer] has big plans, and I hope to be on his coattails.”
Contact the writer at ecarlton@timespapers.com