A 'Journey Home' for Breeda Miller
Mary Kelly, Breeda's mother, with her three older sons in Ireland.
Breeda Miller has held a lot of titles over the years. Daughter. Wife. Mother. Instructor. Caregiver. Speaker. Author.
Now she can add a couple of new ones: Actor and Playwright.
"This (idea) has been in my head for 10 years," she says, then almost unconsciously lapsing into a soft Irish brogue, adding, "My mom always said, 'you should write a book'."
Well, she did. She's written two of them, but not the book her mother had in mind. Her first two books have been about the art and the challenges of caregiving — a topic with which she's well familiar after shepherding her mother, Mary Kelly, through her final years.
Although innately she agreed with her mom's assessment: "I had all these great stories," she says. "But then I wondered, is it too personal? Who would care? Would it be of interest to others?"
Six months of internal struggles turned into a time of getting feedback and encouragement from others, including friend and mentor, fellow writer/actor/playwright Brian Cox. He finally told her, "Just write the script."
And (almost) like that, it became not a book, but a play: "Mrs. Kelly's Journey Home."
A one-woman play, with Breeda playing the roles of herself, her mother, her father, and their neighbor.
"I hope it's good enough that people want to see it," she says. "The pieces are coming together. I'm planning a staged reading for July and then, I hope to take my show on the road — literally!"
In addition to the stories that she shares throughout the course of the play, Breeda has also had to figure out how to easily transfer herself from one character to another; how to create a simple set that helps to convey the story without detracting from it; and what type of musical background might be appropriate.
On that "score," Breeda has lucked out. She has a cousin in Ireland who is an internationally-noted composer and musician, and she's been working with him to come up with original music to accompany the script.
Throughout the play, Breeda will portray each of the characters in short vignettes, telling their stories in her — and their — own unique way.
"The stories are funny, poignant, raw and real," she says. "They deal with immigration, raising a family, caregiving, and so much more. It's not about just one thing. There are even a few 'salty' bits, including the time when our neighbor takes my mom on a surprise trip to see the Chippendales. And I couldn't portray my dad without getting a bit salty! All of it is real ... I could never have made these stories up."
The play ends on a sweet, uplifting note, and Breeda is confident that everyone who attends will feel as though they have "met" Mrs. Kelly.
She emphasizes that this is not a vanity project — she's not doing this for her own sake, but because she was encouraged so often by her mom to share the stories. And while she does not yet have any advance bookings for future performances, she knows the engagements will come. She is willing to work with fund-raising groups and non profits, to perform it by invitation. She also has contemplated renting a theater and selling her own tickets for performances. And, hopefully, she will also be invited by theaters that have an opening in their schedule for a unique show that resonates with a wide variety of audiences.
"I know people will gravitate to this show," she says. "Right now, especially, we have all struggled with loss of one kind or another and coming to terms with those losses. We all need a sense of connection at this time, and I hope that Mrs. Kelly's Journey Home will bring that connection back to us."
With a particular emphasis on the Journey Home, Breeda's intention is to take us all on a journey through similar stories of our own lives. And in the end, she hopes, we'll all find our way home. This play may be just the "ticket" that so many of us are looking for.
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