What makes a story come to life?

Whether it's traditional or a real life adventure, Patti Christensen enjoys bringing stories to life. She and her partner, James Nelson-Lucas, are The Patchwork Players.

Along with storyteller Olga Loya, they will be a part of the storytelling team at the Lodi Public Library's celebration of the Art of Storytelling fundraising event.

Q: How did you get started doing this?

A: For myself, I had a background in acting. I was part of a Girl Scout event to research history. I chose to tell the story of Louisa May Alcott from "Little Women." Someone from the historical society contacted me and said she wanted to hire me to tell stories. I said, "Oh, tell stories for money!" Then eight years ago, I met James. He had a background of art and improvisation. I told him he would be a great storyteller. He said, "Oh, tell stories for money!" We decided then that we were a great match.

Q: What's the difference in storytelling and story theater?

A: When you talk about traditional storytelling, you think about one storyteller sitting on a porch. Theater allows the story to be brought to life. There's more acting, costumes and props. It is a melding of the story with a theatrical aspect. Also, there is not a script. We learn how the story goes but tell it by heart and can adapt to different audiences.

Q: What are some of the stories you tell?

A: We tell everything from very traditional stories that have been around such as Aesop's Fables. A lot are traditional folk tales from Scandinavian stories such as Grimm's Fairy Tales to more modern stories. For children, we go from children's literature, and for adults, there are many different literary stories. Sometimes we tell stories out of our own adventures. Once, we told of a whale we helped rescue in California that was beached.

Q: How else do you get the ideas for the stories you write?

A: More than anything else, being storytellers is a great way to walk around the world and keep eyes open and see what would be a great story. Sometimes it's something we hear on the radio or a blurb we see in the paper.

Library fund-raiser at a glance

The Lodi Public Library is hosting "An Evening at the Library: A Celebration of the Art of Storytelling" on Sept. 29 to benefit the library's renovation project.
The event will include a three-course dinner catered by Scooters, and wine on the tables will be provided by Mondavi Winery. The Patchwork Players, along with storyteller Olga Loya, will provide entertainment.
Library Services Director Nancy Martinez said the fund-raiser will provide funds for new carpet, wall treatments, and to design a teen space, a cafe seating area, a seating area in the children's room, small study rooms for the literacy tutors and a small group study room.
Hors d'oeuvres will be served at 6 p.m. and dinner and entertainment will follow at 7 p.m. Tickets are $75 and may be purchased by calling the Library Foundation at 333-5536. Deadline to purchase tickets is Monday.

Q: Where have you performed?

A: We have performed up and down California. Our major area is San Diego, Los Angeles County, Riverside County. Pretty much from Santa Barbara on down. Sometimes we get to come up north.

Q: What has been your most interesting show?

A: This past summer was a tour that went with a library summer reading series called "Get a clue at the library." It had music, riddles and stories from around the world. The children had to find answers to the stories. That was so much fun.

Q: Can you share a little about what you will be performing at the Lodi Public Library?

A: There's going to be a couple of our adult stories. One of them is called "Middle Woman." It shows glimpses of what it's like to be in midlife.

Q: What kind of reactions do you get from your audiences?

A: We adore when we have the chance to have interested adults. often, we will have adults come up to us and say they came to bring their child but ended up enjoying it just as much. A lot of adults don't realize that it's OK for them to listen to stories. Afterwards, we will sometimes have adults come up and tell us a story from when they were growing up. Sometimes when we do reflective stories, some will be in what we call a story trance. They're off there wondering what's going to happen. And sometimes at the end the audience doesn't burst into applause because they're trying to come back from the journey. Then they'll say, "Ah, that was really satisyfing."

Reader Feedback

Charles wrote on Sep 14, 2007 3:43 PM:

" So sad...nobody comments on the library story because no one cares. Face it, libraries are no longer used as they once were...Time to close them up... "

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