The Acorn-Planter A California Forest Play (1916)

In a primeval forest clearing, the Nishinam camp gathers around flickering fires as the tribe’s elders and shaman invoke the ancient myth of Red Cloud, the first man and the original acorn‑planter. Through chant‑like dialogue, the play sets up a timeless debate: the war chief insists that conflict is the engine of survival, while the shaman and Red Cloud argue for a gentler, life‑sustaining path grounded in planting and sharing. Their voices echo across the ages, framing the central question of how humanity chooses to nurture or destroy the world it inherits.

The drama unfolds as these archetypal figures reappear through successive generations, each time confronting new arrivals and the looming threat of outsiders. Listeners will hear the tension between the drum of war and the quiet rhythm of sowing, as the characters wrestle with prophecy, duty, and the promise of a future built on cooperation. The play’s lyrical structure and vivid forest imagery invite reflection on the cycles of violence and renewal that still shape our lives.