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Miracle Is A Blessing For Play

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By MICHELLE BEARDEN

mbearden@tampatrib.com

Published: March 21, 2009

If you've ever had a freak accident, the death of gifted actress Natasha Richardson from a fall on a beginner's ski slope this week must have got you thinking.

There but for the grace of God go I.

A few inches, a misstep, a couple of seconds, a wrong turn. Any one of these can mean the difference between life and death.

Heather Wainscott of Pinellas Park thinks about it a lot.

In July, one wrong step sent her tumbling down a staircase. She broke her fall when she hit a handrail neck first, paralyzing her right vocal chord.

That's horrific news for anyone, but in Wainscott's case, it was particularly tragic. The mother of three and a full-time nurse is also the choir director at her church and a singer who writes and performs Christian and country songs.

Ever since her grandfather, a Baptist preacher, put her on a piano bench at age 4, music has been a priority in her life. "I can't think of a day when I haven't sung," she says.

Doctors ordered vocal rest for six months. She had no guarantee that her voice as she knew it would return. But by Christmas, with therapy and a lot of prayers, she got her miracle.

It's no wonder she's feeling blessed this Easter season. On Palm Sunday weekend, Wainscott will perform in "Through Her Eyes," a dramatic musical she wrote and directed. This will be the second year her church, First Assembly of God in Clearwater, has put on the production.

"I honestly didn't know if I would be singing, much less this soon," she says. "I am incredibly grateful and thankful."

Easter programs are a big deal for Christian congregations. Church leaders view them as a two-fold opportunity: To tell the story of Christ in a theatrical way and to draw in newcomers who normally may not attend a service. Hopefully, they will be moved by what they hear and see - and return.

Wainscott's "Through Her Eyes" presents a fresh take on the 2,000-year-old story. She focuses on Jesus' ministry through the eyes of Mary Magdalene, a prostitute who turned her life around and became one of his most devoted followers.

Like a lot of people, Wainscott became intrigued with Magdalene after the release of "The Da Vinci Code," a bestselling book and blockbuster movie that speculated on Magdalene's relationship with Jesus. She embarked on a two-year research and writing project that examined Jesus' final days through the eyes of this often-maligned and controversial biblical figure.

Last year, a cast and crew of about 45 people debuted the play. It includes nine original songs ("earthy and organic" is how she describes the music) and 15 scenes. Wainscott exercised her writer's privilege and cast herself as Magdalene.

"I told all the women at the open auditions right from the get-go - Mary was mine," she laughs. "I had become very close to her in doing this and really felt called to do that role."

The show was such a rousing success on Palm Sunday weekend that the cast was asked to make an encore presentation on Easter Sunday.

Creative and laid back, Wainscott is a "dream to work with," says Tamara Traynor, 19, who volunteers as backstage manager. "She's patient, detail-oriented and ridiculously organized," she says. "Last year we only had eight weeks to pull this together. It's an even better show this year."

Wainscott has a few rules for the cast. No cheese and no ham. No manicures or pedicures for the women on stage. No fake beards for the men; if they want facial hair, they need to grow it. And start applying that self-tanner for the olive-skinned roles a few weeks before the show opens.

"I want this to be a real, authentic experience for the cast and for the audience," she says. "This is an important story. And most important of all, we're not doing this to bring attention to ourselves. It's for God's honor and glory."

I saw a rehearsal of "Through Her Eyes" earlier this week and must give it a triple thumbs up, with five gold stars. Even if it means taking a trip across one of the Bay bridges, don't miss it. This performance stands out for its simplicity, its unique perspective and its unforgettable music. It brought tears to my eyes, even though I already knew the ending.

And when you hear Wainscott sing, you will know why she got her Easter miracle a few months early. This is one freak accident with a very happy ending.

IF YOU GO

"THROUGH HER EYES"

WHEN: 7 p.m. April 3 and April 4; 10:30 a.m. April 5.

WHERE: First Assembly of God, 1739 S. Martin Luther King Jr. Ave., Clearwater

COST: Free

INFORMATION: (727) 585-5468

See a few scenes from "Through Her Eyes" on Michelle Bearden's "Keeping the Faith" segment at 9 a.m. Sunday on WFLA-TV. She can be reached at (813) 259-7613.

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