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| Jeanne Dorr |
of Themselves
Jeanne Dorr is a member of the Board of Directors of Lithuanian Orphan Care, a branch of the Human Services Council of the Lithuanian-American Community, Inc. She is also a Social Studies teacher in New Jersey.
The students of Vinco Kreves Lituanistine Mokykla (Lithuanian School) performed an original play in the Lithuanian language written and directed by Julia Danta. This was a play "about children, for children".
"Zibutes Laime" (Zibute's Happiness) dealt with a young girl who tried to find happiness everywhere except where she should have been searching. She found her way to the palace of the King and Queen who lived long ago in Lithuania. Zibute expressed her problem to the royal family but, they couldnÒ´ help her.
Zibute thought by wearing the Queen's precious pearls that she would be happy. It didn't work. Maybe if she sat on the King's throne, happiness would be hers. Still no luck. She was beginning to get the idea that money and power didn't necessarily bring happiness. In fact, she was quite surprised to learn that the King and Queen had their own problems.
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Zibute (Daina Maciunas)
talks to two of the Photo: Rimas Gedeika |
Although it was a very serious topic, there were plenty of humorous moments; especially when a modern day teenager entered this medieval castle. A ringing cellular phone in the boy's pocket, a big boom box which leaves the poor king perplexed as to how an entire orchestra can fit in the apparatus, plus a general misunderstanding between the younger and older generations gave the audience ample opportunity to chuckle.
Zibute eventually meets a young girl who is thankful for her blind sister. She meets four orphans who are grateful because they are able to stay together despite the loss of their parents, and having few, if any, material goods. It was then that Zibute realized she could only find happiness by being a "giving" person. Then, happiness would come back to her.
The young actors and actresses were fantastic. The parents planned the scenery, provided the music, taught the dancing, and worked the lighting. Others designed and sewed the costumes. Parents and grandparents cooked a delicious hot lunch and served it to a sold-out audience. This was as good a performance as I have ever seen in any dinner theater. And the food was far better.
Mrs. Danta, the play's director, is the coordinator of the weekly Lithuanian radio program sponsored by the Philadelphia Chapter of the Lithuanian-American Community. With all the work the program involved every week, it's a mystery to me how she found the time to write and direct such a professional play.
What does this have to do with Lithuanian Orphan Care? All the proceeds were donated to help our forgotten children in Lithuania. As if all this wasn't enough, I have to share a very moving incident with you. As I was leaving the hall and trying to retrieve my coat, three of the young actresses came up to me and put a plastic margarine cup in hand. They proudly told me there was $9.07 in the cup. It was their tips from working in the coat room, and they wanted the forgotten children, Lithuanian orphans, to have it.
Dear readers, don't worry about the state of tomorrow's youth. With young people like this, how can we go wrong?
It makes me burst with pride to be associated with the kind and caring people of these organizations in Philadelphia. But most of my gratitude is to these children for the many hours of practice, the missed soccer games, and the social events that were put aside so that they could help the children of Lithuania.
Revised: October 29, 2002
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