In Memoriam

Jeremiah Spencer showed up to audition for a play I directed called Murder in Manzanita. He was enthusiastic and eager, openly admitting he had no acting experience and that he realized,well...he could only get better. He was given the role of knife salesman and possible murderer Dirk Blades. Jeremiah surprised me by wearing a tie and dress-shirt to the first rehearsal, saying he felt 'Dirk' would wear a tie...I loved it that he had embraced the character already and was trying very hard. He struggled through the dialog and spoke very highy of the more experienced actors, saying he wished he could be as good as they were. I asked why he had chosen to act at this time in his life and he told me that acting was on his 'bucket list'...he knew his time was short.

Jeremiah called me from a Portland Hospital 3 rehearsals into the show and told me he couldn't play the role because he was so gravely ill, apoligizing over and over, even tearing up over not being able to play 'Dirk'. I told him he could be my production assistant if he felt up to it and that made him very happy. He was able to be at a few rehearsals and came to every showing, moving chairs, furniture, helping set up the intermission area and cleaning up. He made sure any props I asked him to watch over were in place...and he seemed to love every minute of it! He commented over and over about the skills of the actors saying that he wished he could've done Plays before, that it really looked like fun and felt so creative.

The last time I saw Jeremiah was on his birthday. A small gathering, where we had cake and ice cream and sang to him. He was hurting and on a lot of medication, but he smiled a lot!

I didnt know him very long, but I am glad that Jeremiah was there to be a small part of the family that was our Play. I miss the little guy! Rest in Peace Jeremiah.

Candice Wyatt