To Be Frank is the drama of a small group of young adults who boldly initiate an environmental and humanitarian movement in central Italy and experience the heights and depths of other-worldly mysteries, leaving their own realities forever altered.
Calling Clare is an extraction of 55 pages from To Be Frank that I revised to limit the cast to six actors. It begins with the Court scene and ends with the Christmas Crèche scene.
Both plays are based on the lives of real people from the 1200's and recorded events in history.
Francesco Bernadone's and Chiara Offreducio's nicknames in this play are "Frank" and "Clara". We know them from history as Saint Francis of Assisi and Saint Clare. Records and documents reveal they were a dynamic duo and did indeed start a movement centered around peace and simplicity and nature and service to the poor from their little town in the Apennines in Italy. Their families were not pleased with their radical lifestyle and departure from traditions. Neither initially were the clergy. History does not tell us what kind of relationship Frank and Clara had though, so certainly a lot of the drama in this play is conjecture. Throughout the ages there has been much discussion about their relationship, but does anyone truly know what happened between them? And does anyone know for sure how much Clara contributed to Franciscanism? The contributions of women to the life of the church have been downplayed throughout the centuries.
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Regardless, this power couple certainly made an impact on humanity which continues to this day. The hope is that the story about their lives will inspire similar service and radical care for Mother Earth, and more acceptance of spidey-senses.
The Court Scene FACTS: This is indeed how FRANK began his movement BY STRIPPING NAKED IN COURT WHEN HIS FATHER SUED HIM
Taming the dog legend: FRANK tamed a hungry wolf in gubbio. the villagers there SWEAR IT IS TRUE TO THIS DAY.
THE RUNAWAY FACTS: CLARA DID RUN AWAY FROM HER WEALTHY HOME TO JOIN FRANK'S MOVEMENT IN THE NIGHT.
the haircut FACTS: IN A SIGNIFICANT CEREMONY, FRANK CUT CLARA'S HAIR SHORT WHEN SHE JOINED THE MOVEMENT. Her sister katerina joined also.
THE HEALERS: FRANK AND CLARA healed MANY PEOPLE AND CLARA USED HERBS TO HELP. CLARA WAS ABLE TO BI-LOCATE, AS CONFIRMED BY THE VATICAN.
The first
crèche FACTS: frank did bring animals AND A BABY together for the first RECORDED PUBLIC nativity scene REENACTMENT.
The POPE FACTS AND LEGEND: BAREFOOT, FRANK WENT TO ROME TO ASK THE POPE FOR BLESSINGS for his "fratelli minor," which he received. CLARE GOT HER OWN MOVEMENT LATER.
The alien: FRANK was the first person recorded to suffer the "stigmata" wounds after AN alien creature appeared to him on a mountaintop.
