Health & Fitness
Simply a Nice Couple from Folly Beach
Review of "The Road Home - A Journey Through the Early Years of the Civil War" Presented by the South Carolina Historical Society and the Actors Theatre of South Carolina.
It was not long ago that I met two of the most incredible persons I have ever had the opportunity and honor to meet. Still, at the time I met them, I had no idea just how accomplished they were. This wonderful couple from Folly Beach, South Carolina was friendly, inviting, warm, caring, and very much in love. You could see their love for each other in their eyes; my wife and I both agreed that we liked them both from the minute we met them.
It was just after I had spoken at the Summerville 9-12 Project monthly meeting when Chris Weatherhead and Clarence Felder introduced themselves to my wife and me. The two of them were very excited about my speech and they both expressed interest in my book, “The Night Eagles Soared.” My wife spoke shortly with Chris as I signed the book. That is when Chris handed my wife a signed DVD packet containing their most recent work of art; a movie titled, “All For Liberty!”
Their movie, “All for Liberty” is based on the true story of Captain Henry Felder whose determination to resist tyranny led to his long bitter fight against the British Empire during America’s War for Independence. Long lost from historical record, Felder’s stand along with other militia leaders in the Back country of South Carolina during the revolutionary war was instrumental in diverting British troops and energies while George Washington’s Army lay nearly defeated far to the North. Backed by a supporting cast of hundreds, this vivid story focuses on the price that Captain Felder, his family and their community paid for their convictions.
Find out what's happening in Summervillefor free with the latest updates from Patch.
“All For Liberty” was shot on location in South Carolina and Georgia, using actual historical sites wherever possible. Unlike the prettified versions of legend, the American Revolution was no simple chess match of bluecoats versus redcoats. The reality was something closer to the Spanish Civil War, where bitter enmity between neighbors and friends destroyed communities and families. Our free nation rose from the sacrifices of those who valued liberty and were willing to fight for it. Since it’s release, the movie has inspired renewed historical interest in Captain Felder, prompting a rediscovery of his gravesite and farmstead.
The film stars, Felder’s direct descendent Mr. Clarence Felder, who also wrote the screen play. Mr. Felder has performed in over 125 leading roles in major theatres across the US and Canada. He is also a veteran Hollywood, television and Broadway leading actor who has co-starred in numerous hit films such as “The Last Boy Scout” with Bruce Willis, “Ruthless People” with Danny Devito, not to mention “The Hidden” and “After Hours.”
Find out what's happening in Summervillefor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Clarence also co-starred for two years on the ABC hit series, “Hooperman” with John Ritter, as well as “LA Law, Dallas, Designing Women, Twilight Zone” and many other prime-time series. On Broadway, Clarence co-starred in ten different shows including, “Queen and the Rebels,” with Colleen Dewhurst, “Henry V” and “Memory of Two Mondays” with Meryl Streep, “Love for Love” with Glen Close, “Macbeth” with Christopher Walken and “The Suicide” with Derek Jacobi.
Chris Weatherhead directed the movie while playing the role of Felder’s wife. Chris has been a leading lady in theater, film and television for over thirty years in New York, Hollywood, and around the US. She is from Southern California and trained with the Royal Shakespeare Company in London, the American Rep Theatre in New York City, and A.C.T. in San Francisco. She co-starred as ‘The Wife’ for two years in James Lapine’s Off Broadway hit, “Table Settings” receiving rave reviews from major U.S. media.
She also wrote and starred in the feature film, “Whatever it takes” and guest starred in many primetime television series, “Sinatra, Dallas, Equal Justice, Night Court, Our Family Honor, Moonlighting,” to name a few. For daytime television, Chris starred for two years on ABC’s “The Edge of Night” as ‘Alicia Van Dine’ and played recurring roles in five other series.
Chris is also co-founded the Actors’ Theatre of South Carolina with her husband Clarence Felder and they have created 72 productions and have performed many roles including ‘Marry Boykin Chesnut’ for C-Span’s American Writer’s Series. Most recently Chris co-starred, co-wrote and directed the feature film, “All For Liberty, which has won nine international film awards, three national historical awards along with receiving many rave reviews.
About her experience as director for the movie, Chris recently wrote; “When I began the journey of All For Liberty in 2004, like most Americans, I knew very little about the American War for Independence, much less what volcanic and indispensable fighting had occurred among the people who fought in the back country of South Carolina.
“I wanted to bring to the screen a true story that enthralled me, based on a play my husband wrote about his sixth generation great-grandfather. As a director of theater since the fourth grade, I was always a sucker for a great story and usually find the truth more compelling than fiction. I was excited by new digital technology and had been tracking it for fifteen years before buying the camera that we used to shoot this picture. I ran a theater company and for three years had been luring my staff and actors into various other digital movie and theatre productions before deciding to shoot this story.
“It was daunting to launch into an indie historical-action-adventure project of this scope, but I couldn’t stop myself. Where were we to get period clothing? How was I going to keep the 21st century out of the frame? Where would I find soldiers and cannon? But, since having the first vision, and in spite of seemingly endless difficulties, I am still in love with those wildly committed people on the colonial frontier, who were so desperate for liberty they were willing to die for it. And I continue to be captivated and inspired by what I have learned from them and those who continue to fight for it today”...
Chris has directed and produced numerous stage productions in theatres from coast to coast as well as a number of shorts and videos. Her writing credits include two produced features, “All For Liberty” and “Whatever it Takes;” which she also co-produced, four other screenplays, eight produced stage plays and “Kumakani, Against the Wind,” an historical novel set in 18th century Hawaii. While in Hollywood, she was also a story analyst for various companies including NBC and Disney. She is now the Producing Director and Co-founder of Moving Images Group; which is a digital motion picture company. She is also Co-founder of its companion organization, the award-winning Actors’ Theatre of South Carolina, where five of her productions have been chosen to perform at the International Piccolo Spoleto Festival in Charleston, SC.
For a complete listing of Ms. Weatherhead's acting credits, see "Cast/Credits" Chris Weatherhead as Catherine Felder on her IMDB Filmography site online at: www.imdb.com.
Well, you can imagine how impressed I was to find out that I had met this nice couple from Folly Beach. Then much to my surprise, I received an email from Chris inviting my wife and I to see their most recent play, “The Road Home;” which was being performed on stage at the Circular Congregational Church on Meeting Street in downtown Charleston. “Absolutely, Yes!” was my answer as I replied without consulting my wife. It didn’t matter, my wife Brig immediately agreed that it would be fun. Thank you Chris for the “At Will Call” tickets and the invitation, we enjoyed the show very much.
Presented by the South Carolina Historical Society, “The Road Home – a Journey through the Early Years of the Civil War” was adapted and Directed by Michael Easler, Clarence Felder and Chris Weatherhead. All the music was performed by Michael Easler and the cast as they performed vibrantly on stage inside the Circular Congregational Church. The church itself absolutely magnified the setting and the actors’ presence.
The cast consisted of Clarence Felder, (Editor, The Colonel), Chris Weatherhead, (Dorothy Walker, Phoebe Yates Pember), Michael Easler, (Gen. Beauregard and Dr. Holt) Tyler C. Ilgen (Henry Tisdale and the Traveling Soldier) and last but not least Abigail Kamerad (Kate and Sarah Emma Edmonds)
Michael Easler, opened the play with his acoustic guitar and the cast joined him in a rousing rendition of “By the Rivers of Babylon.” Then Clarence opened with a moving narration as the News Paper Editor quoting Fredrick Douglas and that set tone for the remainder of the play. I wanted to stand and applaud but like the rest of the audience, I didn’t know if the time was right. Let me just say that Clarence Felder demonstrated his prowess as an Actor. He transformed the moment and brought the audience into the setting with his larger than life stage presence as he stood dead center stage and gave an incredibly powerful oration.
After a few other scenes, Abigail Kimerad created the Character of ‘Kate, a Confederate Wife” and Abigail was perfectly amazing. She was that confederate wife and tears filled my eyes as she recounted the dream she had about her husband. She didn’t know it yet but he had just been killed in combat. That is when Tyler Ilgen came in with the most remarkable and amazingly beautiful rendition of the song, “Beautiful Dreamer.” It was moving to say the least; the entire scene, as the two of them captivated the audience with their wonderful performances. I must say that I was impressed! Absolutely impressed!
The most emotional part of the play for me was at the end when Chris Weatherhead recounted the story of a soldier named Fisher, who never complained. She drew me in as I sat and watched her captivating performance as Phoebe Yates the Hospital, Matron and listened to the story of “The Vacant Chair.” Her performance was so exact, her timing impeccable. She made me feel as if I were there with her. I contend that her performance in that scene was responsible in large part for the standing ovation the cast received before it departed stage after singing “Hard Times” lead by Michael Easler once again on his guitar.
Please allow me to say thank you to the South Carolina Historical Society for bring us this wonderful performance by the Actors Theatre of South Carolina. Once again you have accomplished your mission to expand, preserve and encourage interest and pride in the rich history of our great state!
And thank you Chris Weatherhead for inviting my wife and I to attend the wonderful performance of “The Road Home” by you and your acting group. Bravo! Bravo! Bravo!
You are a wonderful lady who is married to an incredible man. Thank you for all that you do to enhance the arts here in Charleston and around the world. Thank you and God bless you all!
S. B. Newman, Author “The Night Eagles Soared” and “Burnt Yellow and Red.”