By: Lydia Crawley
The Parsons Advocate
The play, Moonshine Memories, written by Tom Rodd, was based on the life and legal woes of Tucker County native Albert “Ab” Crossland and was a project of the Friends of the Blackwater, a non-profit organization based in Tucker County.
The play starred Tom Yokum as Ab Crossland. Crossland became world famous in the early 1970s for his lawsuit to establish his squatter rights to a cabin located in land that was being acquired by the state for what is now Canaan Valley State Park and Resort. Crossland was also known throughout the area as a colorful character and moonshiner who lived with several cats and skunks.
Throughout the performance, Musicians Gerry Milnes and Michael Miller performed period pieces with the subject of Moonshining. The duo opened the play with a song entitled “The Booze Fighters.” The musicians also performed instrumentals prior to the performance.
According to Rodd, the performance was recorded on video with the intention to produce a YouTube video in the near future. Jacob Shockley was in charge of the video recording during the event.
The remaining cast included: Mitchell Beall as his grandfather and Crossland neighbor Ronnie Beall; Casey Rucker as Larry Starcher, Legal Aid attorney for Crossland; Susan Callahan as Larry Starcher’s Wife, Barbara Starcher; Carl Harr as Joe Heitz, Crossland’s moonshine partner; Susan Moore and Diana Vera as the Revenuers; Tom Rodd and Jake Kopec as the Jailer; Rafe Pomerance as Ronald Brown, one of Crossland’s attorneys; Susan Moore as the Newspaper Reporter; Tucker County Commissioner Mike Rosenau as Circuit Court Judge David Cuppett; Diana Vera as the Bailiff; Tucker County Sheriff Jake Kopec as J. Patrick Nichols, lawyer for the State; Barb Alford, as Ruby Raines, the daughter of Joe Heitz; and David Roberts as swing. But perhaps the characters who stole the show were the skunks that popped up at the most unexpected times throughout the performance.
The production team for the performance included: Silas Bright, Director; David Roberts, Stage Manager; Tom and Priscilla Rodd, Authors; Elaine George, Casting; Jacob Sheckley, Videography; Gerry Milnes and Michael Miller, Musicians and Cheyenne Elswick, Graphics.
Director Silas Bright wrote in his Director’s Statement about the project, “My goal in this production is to show that there is value in fighting from the grassroots, and that even lawful rulings can sometimes be unjust and carry drastic communal consequences. This is a story where our little guy did make it out on top, but there are situations every day that beckon this same kind of judgment. Even if it seems hopeless, always fight on the right side of history, even if justice and law are not direct equivalents.”
The Friends of the Blackwater also collaborated with the Tucker County Historical Society, ArtSpring, the Tucker County Highlands History and Educational Project, Cottrill’s Opera House and the Aurora Project on the project with support from the Tucker County Foundation and the West Virginia Humanities Council. Assistance was also provided by the Tucker County Commission and the Circuit Clerk’s Office.
The performance was followed by a reception with the cast and crew at the Parsons Depot. The reception was catered by Big Belly Deli.