Hardy Koenig, artistic director and assistant professor with NDSU Theatre, starred in the one-person play, “Blessed Assurance,” adapted for the stage by Steve Willis and based on a novella by Allan Gurganus. The performance was March 31 at The Stage at Island Park in Fargo.
“Blessed Assurance” tells the story of Jerry who, now in his 60s, is having trouble sleeping as he considers his past. Jerry put himself through college by selling funeral insurance to “black people” in North Carolina. He is now “well off” and has feelings of guilt as he tries to purge his feelings of shame by recounting and confessing this time of his life.
The play engages the audience as Jerry tells stories of his past from the present comfort of his beach home. Jerry travels back in time to when he was a young man, and shows the sometime joyful and painful interaction between him and his parents, his boss who enticed him into insurance and the people he served and cheated, feared and grew to love.
It is a story of growth and understanding, redemption and acceptance. Although serious in its focus, there are many laughs as Jerry shares his story.
Koenig will bring the production to The Dakota Stage in Bismarck, N.D., May 19-20 and he previously performed it at Valley City State University on March 24.
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