COVER STORY
Robin Voiers Brings Her Special Touch to
A Chris tmas Memory
By Judie Holcomb-Pack
Like The Little Train that Could, you never
know what can happen when you speak these
four little words: “I think I can.”
Robin Voiers has been performing in “A Christmas
Memory,” based on a short story by Truman Capote, for
over 30 years. It all started when she was asked if she
could come up with a new Christmas play for Reynolda
House and she answered, “I think I can.”
For several years Robin had performed in plays at Reynolda
House. In 1986 Marjorie Northup, who coordinated programs
at Reynolda House Museum of American Art, asked
her, “What can you do for Christmas?” and Robin mentioned
a short story by Truman Capote that she thought
would make a beautiful production. Marjorie asked, “Do
you think you could adapt it into a play?” and Robin answered,
“I think I can.” The story is based on the years
that Capote lived in Alabama with three elderly relatives,
including his distant cousin. His special friendship with
“Miss Sook” forever impacted his life.
The first two years Robin performed “A Christmas
Memory” at Reynolda House with a young man who
played the part of Buddy. By the third year, the young
man was no longer available and Marjorie asked Robin if
she could re-write the play to be a one-woman show.
Again, Robin answered, “I think I can.”
And she did ... and has been performing “A Christmas
Memory” as a one-woman play for 29 years. It has become
a much anticipated Christmas tradition with the only performance
usually a sell-out. The popularity of the play, as
well as the short story it was based on, has endured through
the years. The story takes place during the Depression
and is about the special relationship between distant
cousin Miss Sook and Buddy. Miss Sook and Buddy
worked year ’round to save up a little change to be able
to make fruit cakes, which they gave away to many
people, from the local knife-grinder to President
Roosevelt. The play is built on simple things they could
do together, such as flying a kite or making each other a
small Christmas gift. At the end of the play, Buddy is
sent away to military school and Miss Sook states simply,
but with a sense of premonition, “This is our last
Christmas together.”
As Robin began working on this play, she applied for and
received a grant to present it to ten schools. She loved
the affect the play had on students, from their initial “ho,
hum” response to a play set in the Depression, to the end
where students would come up to her to tell her about
how it reminded them of their own relationships with
grandparents and others.
Robin accumulated the props she uses in the play and
has kept them year after year. Each November when she
pulls out her script and props, she starts getting excited.
Every time she performs “A Christmas Memory,” there is
always something that makes it different for her. It could
be a different way of saying a line, or a slight change in a
movement, or the way she looks directly to the audience.
Even though she has been performing this part for over
30 years, each year she feels freshness about it.
Acting wasn’t Robin”s first love. She graduated from
Florida State University with degrees in English and Dance.
She studied with Martha Graham, among others, and danced
with the 13th American Dance Festival at Conn College.
She taught dance at the University of Georgia and the
University of Maryland. When her first husband was stationed
at Fort Bragg, she loved to watch rehearsals at the
Fort Bragg Playhouse. She “eased into acting,” performing at
the Playhouse in such productions as Music Man and
Damn Yankees. Her acting career has grown over the years
and she has performed in many regional theatres and travelled
with her one-woman shows: “Belle of Amherst,”
“Zelda,” “Isadora,” as well as “A Christmas Memory.”
But “A Christmas Memory” will always have a special
place in her heart. “It makes you appreciate those around
you and the Christmas memories they have made for you.”
A Christmas Memory will be presented on
December 17 at 4 p.m. at Reynolda House. Call
336-758-5150 for ticket information.
December 2017 www.ForSeniorsOnlyWS.com 5