This year’s theme for The Moth on Martha’s Vineyard was Into the Wild. The show was dedicated to stepping outside one’s comfort zone, which in a sense every Moth show embodies. Storytellers step on stage with no props or notes and tell a 10 minute true story before a live audience. There is no net except for the audience which embraces and cheers on the participants.
The Moth has been coming to the Vineyard each summer since 2012; this year’s show was held at the Performing Arts Center for the first time. Director of the show Meg Bowles singled out the Martha’s Vineyard audiences.
“I love the fact that Martha’s Vineyard is so supportive,” she said. “Every time we come, they always rally. They just really are so welcoming and so supportive.”
The sold out show on Wednesday featured five storytellers, two of them Vineyarders. Micaela Blei started the night off as the evening’s first storyteller.
A third-grade teacher currently pursuing her PhD in educational theatre, Ms. Blei appeared unfazed while telling a humorous story about her third-grade class’s Oregon Trail project. The project morphed into a game of “life-or-death” scenarios, with each student assigned their own 1840s-specific jobs.
Dan Larsen, the owner of Edgartown Seafood Market, spoke next. His talk honored his family legacy, more specifically that of his grandfather. Seeing the outpouring of support for his family over the years, Mr. Larsen arrived at an epiphany.
“It took me 65 years to figure out I’m lucky,” Mr. Larsen said. “Thank God I figured it out.”
Stories of his grandfather ranged from fishing excursions to ice cream breaks. Seeing his father look at his own children the same way his grandfather lovingly looked at him brought Mr. Larsen to tears — as well as many in the audience. He received a standing ovation.
The evening continued with former White House speechwriter David Litt. His comedic repertoire illustrated his first encounters with President Barack Obama.
After the show’s intermission, Hollywood director and Chilmark seasonal resident Doug Liman spoke of his near-failed attempt to climb the Matterhorn in the Swiss Alps. Climbing the Matterhorn with a complete stranger from France changed his life, Mr. Liman told the crowd. It gave him the confidence to return to Los Angeles and revive his movie career, he said.
The evening concluded with its fifth speaker, Abeny Mathayo Kucha. A survivor of the South Sudan civil war, Ms. Kucha told a harrowing story of refugee camps and her arrival to America. Tired of running away from gunshots throughout eastern Africa, Ms. Kucha wanted a place to finally call home. She found that home in an apartment arranged by social services in Portland, Me. She found work as a certified nurse and her oldest daughter graduated from law school in 2012.
“Home means I would never have to run again,” she said.
Ms. Kucha’s heartfelt words ended the show on a perfect note.
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