Hard Times: Appalachian Stories by Ron Rash
Word for Word Exquisitely Performs Three Regional Short Stories Without Alteration
By: Victor Cordell - Oct 17, 2025
The United States consists of many regions, some quite distinct. Louisiana retains its longline French character. South Florida possesses a modern Latin flair. New York City is a melting pot of immigration. One of the oldest regions in the country is Appalachia, not officially defined, but most narrowly and distinctively, the rural lands along the Appalachian Mountains in the country’s south and border states.
Although even the most restrictive boundaries would include small cities like Asheville, North Carolina, the dominant socio-economic thread in the region is hard scrapple rural life of subsistence agriculture and the services that support it. Settled by a predominantly Anglo-Celtic, Protestant population, it is stereotyped as an area of backwoods people with strong religious and family values, fierce independence, fonts of folk and country music, grudges of historic proportions, and moonshine whiskey.
Author Ron Rash writes prolifically and eloquently of his beloved Appalachia. The unique theater company Word for Word takes three of his short stories that reveal different time periods and aspects of this community. The result of the performed but literal “reading” of the stories proves a captivating, riveting evening of entertainment, revealing various facets of life among Appalachia denizens.
If there is a common thread to the three stories it would probably be that “We live in a fallen world,” meaning in religious terms that humanity suffers depravation of all sorts because of its separation from God. As a result, we must strive to avoid temptation and fight against evil and suffering.
Chronologically, the first story “Hard Times” takes place well into the Great Depression. The brief tale is power-packed with morals and social commentary, that is sensitively, effectively, and sometimes chillingly portrayed.
Jacob and Edna live day-to-day, relying on each egg that their hens produce for their sustenance. When one expected egg goes missing without a trace each day, suspicions settle on the Hartley family and animals. They represent the notion that as badly as you may suffer, there is always someone worse off. Hartley also represents excessive pride, and he vividly demonstrates the ill consequences when unchecked dignity and self-esteem become destructive, which strikes fear into Jacob and Edna. Paradoxically, in such a religious environment, this trait is explicitly censored in the Bible, centering on the verse “Pride cometh before the fall.”
The vignette represents the apotheosis of the outside world’s perception of Appalachian life - isolated and provincial. But it is delivered with great sympathy and conviction. One scene between Jacob and one of the Hartleys having very little dialog is particularly touching in its humanity.
“Hard Times” also surfaces the differing perspectives and sad conflicts that arise in life. In one instance related that was prior to the time of the story, a daughter permanently abandoned the family because of the humiliation that Edna had caused her, while Edna felt that she was being a responsible parent by preparing the daughter for life outside the cocoon of childhood.
“Sad Man” addresses a single incident involving two men. A shabby, homeless-looking stranger, with a visible tattoo that suggests he was imprisoned, appears. With almost all of his cash, he purchases a flight from a puzzled helicopter pilot who sells scenic rides. The passenger’s fall from grace as a result of drugs and his quest for connection and redemption unfold. But can the pilot trust the passenger and will he help him? Each man in very different ways reveals that there is good within all of us.
The time period of the story is not revealed. However, toys such as Cabbage Patch Dolls and a telling commentary by the pilot places it in general terms. He notes that it is a pleasure to see children running toward a helicopter rather than away from it. Clearly, he was a chopper pilot in Viet Nam.
“The Night the New Jesus Fell to Earth” is the longest, most complex, and the only humorous story of the three. Against a backdrop of the arrival of a new pastor and the usual cast of church characters, Tracy acts as the narrator.
Her flamboyant, self-centered, self-aggrandizing, used-car salesman ex, Larry, has made a proposal to the church. He will pay to build a live diorama of the crucifixion for the holidays, and he will depict Jesus on the cross. Needless to say, there is some self-promotion going on here. And though Tracy is the only carpenter in the congregation, Larry thinks he knows better ways of building the scenery. Of course, disaster strikes, but the by-product is that the display becomes a tourist attraction.
Since Word for Word is not “real theater,” one might suspect that its productions are below standard. Nothing could be further from the truth. Acting is solid throughout this largely ensemble production, and Delia MacDougall’s dialect coaching results in a good mix of authentic yet understandable regional tongue.
However, it’s hard to ignore John Flanagan as the strutting, overconfident Larry in “The Night…..” with the wide-open shirt and tons of gold around his neck. Molly Rebekka Benson gleams as the incredulous Tracy who lets Larry fall into his own trap. Joel Mullennix excels as the (ironically) heartless Hartley in “Hard Times” and as the caring, recovering passenger in “Sad Man” as does Ryan Tasker as Jacob in “Hard Times” and the Pastor in “The Night New Jesus Fell to Earth.”
Creative contributions, orchestrated by Directors Amy Kossow and Jim Cave are exemplary throughout and deserve recognition. Jacqueline Scott and Amy Benjamin’s scenic work is versatile enough to work for each of the stories. Drew Yerys’ sound covers a wide range of demands. Jim Cave’s lighting creates drama. Callie Floor deals with a wide range of costume needs to reflect the right look for each story.
Overall, Hard Times: Appalachian Stories by Ron Rash has much to offer with interesting insights into Appalachian culture. This staging of Rash’s stories is well worth viewing.
Hard Times: Appalachian Stories by Ron Rash is produced by Word for Word and Z Space and appears at Z Space Below, 450 Florida Street, San Francisco, CA through November 2, 2025.