You know that old expression that says “one day you’ll look back on this and laugh?” Leslie Scatchard hardly thought she’d be saying that after a trip to a tropical paradise turned into a real life version of Tom Hanks’ “Cast Away,” - let alone that her vacation gone bad would give wings to her one-woman show, “Leap.”
“At its core, ‘Leap’ is a story of a vacation gone hilariously wrong - I mean epically wrong,” said Scatchard. “But, even though that story runs through the whole thing, it’s also more of a personal journey where I find myself along the way. I think a lot of people will relate to either all of or parts of the story in some way or another.”
The title “Leap” refers to stepping out and taking chances in life, and how the outcome can be a mixed bag.
“Sometimes you leap and it’s great and sometimes you leap and it’s a disaster,” she said. “But you can’t get to the great stuff until you risk and give it a try. That’s what this story is about - going for it.”
Reception to “Leap” has already been positive according to Scatchard, who performed it for a couple audiences already to gauge their reaction.
“It’s funny. Some people really related to the story of the vacation gone bad and others related to the story of taking more risks in life.”
The storyline for “Leap” comes the true story of a vacation Scatchard took to a tiny island off the coast of Ensenada, Mexico. Thinking the island was worth taking a trip to, Scatchard and her husband at the time learned that the one and only plane heading there that day was canceled. But when a man ran up to them offering to fly them over, they “leaped” at the opportunity.
“We should’ve known right then,” said Scatchard. “He flew us in this tiny plane, landed on the island and he left us. There was nothing on the island. No motels. No places to stay. Nothing. It was obviously not a tourist destination.”
Scatchard’s adventure was not funny at the time, but it was a classically tragic real tale that was too good not to tell to others. But more than just funny, she also felt there was an important message to be conveyed about not being afraid to take chances despite what the outcome may be. Your journey, good or bad, may encourage someone else along the way.
“I knew I wanted to use this story somehow, but then I had this other story that was so key to me,” said Scatchard. “I made a leap that was a really bad choice and it floored me for a long time. I was really a mess, but I figured out how to come back. I felt when I was going through it that looking back, if I had heard some stories about people that I could relate to like me who had gone through stuff like that, I could have seen how they got out of it. It would’ve been helpful to me. I just felt that I had this story and I wanted to put it out there for people and that someone out there needs to hear this.”
Showtimes for “Leap” are at 7:30 p.m. March 13-14 and March 21; and at 2 p.m. March 15 at Clear Heart, 90 Jessie Lane.
Tickets are $12 per person and available in advance at brownpapertickets.com. For more information, visit clear heartgallery.com
(Contact Yovanna.Bieberich at yovanna.bie berich@arguscourier.com)
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