The purpose of this particular blog post is three-fold: Theatre, Hurricane Camille, and the Tate/LaBianca Murders. Here’s how they are connected (for me anyway).
I am an actress in local theatre here in Virginia (and in Tennessee when I was younger). Calling it amateur, community, or regional theatre makes no difference to me. I love participating, but every day I thank God I never made a real career of it like I wanted to when I was younger. I’ve done a few commercials, a music video, and LOTS of (my first love) stage work. I’ve known plenty of people who’ve moved on and moved up in the acting scene (probably no names anyone would recognize, but a few with their names in the credits and playbills). Anyway, while most of what I perform is for self gratification (building my ego and self image), occasionally I get involved in something that I feel really contributes to society (at least as it exists in rural Virginia).
I’ve come to realize that as much as I love theatre, I think making it my job would (unfortunately) diminish that love. I’ve played so many great roles and I realize that if I had to compete with THOUSANDS of others for those roles, I’d never triumph. I think I’m a good actress and have the potential to be better; It is a little depressing to realize I may never reach my full potential as an actress, but when I do walk on stage (usually to pretty good crowds even in rural Virginia) I am still performing the same words that are performed on Broadway or were performed at the Globe. I think community theatre gets a bad rap from other outlets as amateur and second-rate, but there is GOOD theatre everywhere. So what if I don’t get paid the big bucks? I bet I could’ve portrayed Roxane better than Jennifer Garner did recently. (See? Even without the big bucks my ego is intact.) (Anyone see Cyrano by the way? The show was very good, but I thought she was AWFUL! I am sure she is crushed to know that.)
So, recently I’ve been performing in an original show called The Bluest Water: A Hurricane Camille Story. If anyone is interested you can find out more here http://www.endstationtheatre.org. I returned to the show (after sold out performances last year) for the 40th anniversary of Hurricane Camille. This storm devastated the east coast in August 1969 and Nelson County, VA was one of the hardest hit places. Many were killed, several people were never found, and some bodies never identified after the storm battered Central Virginia on the night of August 19, 1969. The show is beautiful and the cast is talented and a pleasure to work with. I will probably get as emotional at the end of the run as I did last year. We’ve heard from so many that were touched by this piece. It has become a kind of closure for those who survived.
Having been born 10 ½ years after this event, It really brought home how crazy the world was in 1969 (I’ve been immersed in this time period for what feels like a year now). It occurred to me the other day that another 40th anniversary occurs in August of this year. Sharon Tate, Paul Polanski, Jay Sebring, Abigail Folger, Voytek Frykowski, Steven Parent, Leno LaBianca, and Rosemary LaBianca were murdered by members of the Manson Family. Sharon was 8 months pregnant with Paul when she was killed. I always include Paul as a victim (though there was no statute at the time to prosecute for his death. Re: Laci and Conner’s Law). The fact is: he could have survived had help arrived in time after Sharon was killed. Here are some thoughts I have on the Manson/Tate/LaBianca case.
First and foremost, I think Charles Manson is exactly where he needs to be. The only apprehensions I have with his life sentence are: a) he really should be dead by now (but his death sentence was reduced) and b) prison is where Charles Manson wants to be. He has often said that the clink is the only home he’s ever known. I get so angry when I hear people use the “he never murdered anyone” argument. I always retaliate with, “Neither did Hitler, but millions of deaths are attributed to him anyway.” I’m sure someone can find a way around that argument as well, but I maintain that Charles Manson is in the best place for him and society. The only pity I have for him at all is what he could have contributed to society had he not had the evil intentions he thrust upon his followers.
I do not use the term followers lightly. I honestly believe that those in his “family” were brainwashed. Manson is not a brainless personality by any stretch of the word. I feel he would have made a damn fine psychologist had he not needed attention so badly. Brainwashed or not, though, I do feel those that actually committed the murders are exactly where they need to be as well. There comes a time where you have to start taking responsibility for your actions. Being weak willed and easily impressed (not to mention drugged out their minds), is no excuse not to serve the time that was handed down to them by the People of California. As a matter of fact, they have already been granted leniency, because their death sentences were reduced to life when California repealed the Death Penalty in 1972. I feel even Susan Atkins (aka Sadie Mae Glutz) (who supposedly is on death’s door with brain cancer) needs to stay in prison. Personally I feel compassionate release is one of the dumbest things I’ve ever heard of. The idea is that a person who brutally murders another (and in this case 8 others) should be shown any compassion is ridiculous to me. I don’t buy the “I could serve society better out of prison by telling my story” fairy-tale either. Everyone seems to be doing pretty well talking to the press as it is, so why do you have to be out of prison to warn others or do good works? I appreciate that someone is genuinely remorseful for things they have done in their past, but does that mean they stop being dealing with the situations and consequences they created? In my opinion? No.
It has been 40 years since 1969. The golden dreams and visions may have been shattered for many (on two different coasts) in August of that year, but the survivors are still dealing with the aftermath. Can anyone be blamed for a natural disaster? No, but the people move on. How can we move on from Tate/LaBianca if stories are constantly changed and one is always trying the newest thing to get out of doing time earned?
0 Responses to “August 1969: Golden Living Dreams of Visions”