On Oct. 27 and 28, D2 Stageworks put on the play “And They Dance Real Slow in Jackson.” In the small town of Jackson, IN., Elizabeth Ann Willow, played by Mattison Reynolds, was left paralyzed by the disease polio as an infant. Her parents Ben and Beth Willow, played by Wyatt Coker and Maddie Martin, struggled raising a crippled girl and maintaining their finances.

In a time of poorly educated people, Elizabeth Ann was an outcast and treated very poorly. She was constantly looked at as a monster, rather than as a person.

“And They Dance Real Slow in Jackson” is a tear-jerking story delivered very well by the cast. D2 Stageworks also added another interesting effect to the play; they used a technique called Black Box Theater. Instead of sitting in the regular chairs of the auditorium, they brought chairs up onto the stage so audience members are up close with the actors. With this effect, you feel like a fly on a wall.

Most of the actors had to play several roles and did a fantastic job at separating their characters and showing their emotions. D2 Stageworks’ next production is “Midsummer Night’s Dream” in December.