Gerard Lester

 One thing I always hold on to when I think of Revels memories is the way that Robert would breathe life into the music by taking time during rehearsals to impart the history of the music and composition. His mini lectures in between songs had a deep impact on me. I ate it up and it was clear to me that Robert had immersed himself in the musical selections in ways that I could only imagine. Thank you for the deep love of the music we shared.

Now I’m thinking of a wonderful Betsy memory. I was pretty new to the Revels chorus in the 2017 Nordic show and the 2018 Scottish show, and wasn’t even sure that Betsy knew who I was. But I remember that during one of the ensemble numbers, the direction was to greet each other silently as we sang/played through the song. As we rehearsed and performed, it became clear that Betsy’s big smiling eyes were no act. She was smiling right back at me with a genuine affection between performers. Now there’s one Reveler who knows the true meaning of Take Joy!

Robert offered me a doorway into the music. Betsy offered me a hand and pulled me through that opening. Revels is the deep magic through music and movement that I was always longing for. Revels made it clear to me that my part in all the ongoing wonderful madness of creation is to sing, dance, and play through the darkness.