Performer
“Without wonder and insight, acting is just a trade. With it, it becomes creation.” Bette Davis.
Ed Christman’s infectious joy was always part of his work. He drew from a gift for performance, a rich imagination, and the willingness to work hard. This trio of talents made even routine tasks come to life with humor and surprise.
Ed used performance in many ways but especially to engage students in the Wake Forest experience, including its history. Ed’s abilities also allowed him explore new experiences, such as formal acting roles in the Wake Forest University Theatre.
What’s in a Name?
At orientation, the chaplain welcomes the students. With Ed Christman, it became a performance. Ed gave a speech called “What’s in a Name?” at Wake Forest orientation for many years. In this speech, he incorporated the last name of every incoming freshman. An ambitious task — yet it showed every newcomer that he or she was already known and celebrated as a unique person even in this big, busy campus.
This speech became a beloved institution and inspired the sincerest of compliments: a take-off.
Shane Harris (’98): I did an impression of him for years for “In Search of a Corner,” our annual campus comedy show. It was one of our most popular sketches. We built it around his “What’s in a Name” speech. Everyone saw that speech as a freshman, so the parody was universally recognized. It was also endearing. People used to stop me around campus and say, “Hey! You’re the Chaplain Christman guy.”
Samuel Wait
Samuel Wait, a Baptist pastor, founded Wake Forest College in 1834. Ed took the history of that event and brought it to life for the Wake Forest community. He wrote a script for a one-man play and became Samuel Wait, telling the story of the round-about journey that created the college — perhaps predestined but not simple! Ed’s Samuel Wait made appearances at many events, and the story was always customized to fit each audience. Ed continued to perform Samuel Wait through a 2006 performance at Professor Ed Henricks’ NC History class.
EDC as Samuel Wait, 1983 Alumni Homecoming Dinner.
My Name is Samuel Wait, by Ed Christman
Wake Forest Alumni Dinner, fall 1983
“Mr. Presidents, Ladies and Gentlemen,
My name is Samuel Wait and I have been given a special dispensation to be with you tonight celebrating our Sesquicentennial. It may be the only time in Wake Forest history that three presidents will be in the same room, and I count it a distinct honor to be here with Ralph Scales and Tom Hearn. You will allow me to call you Ralph and Tom? And you can call me … Dr Wait! We might be called the Wake Forest trinity — the Father (knowing pause) — and the two of you may negotiate Son and Spirit.
Read the complete Samuel Wait performance script
Wake Forest Theatre Roles
During the 1980s, Ed became a part-time actor with roles at the Wake Forest University Theatre. His entry into stage acting came by invitation from James Dodding, visiting theater director from England. Mr. Dodding was crafting The Passion in 1981, and he thought Ed would be perfect as Noah.
Ed enjoyed The Passion so much that he went on to take roles in HMS Pinafore and Guys and Dolls, which involved not only acting but singing and dancing. He also had a walk-on role in Servant to Two Masters.
♦ The Passion (1981, 1985), directed by James Dodding — Ed played Noah in the original Passion and in later productions he also played Lazarus and performed the voice of God.
Photo by Sarah Turner, Courtesy of Wake Forest University Theatre
Kim Christman: “One of the best memories I have was when Dad was learning how to do the slight of hand trick with the dove as Noah. He was standing inside the ark ready to send off a dove to see if there was any land. He held a prop dove and was supposed to lower it below the edge of the ark out of sight of the audience, let it sit on a ledge below the edge of the ark and then lift his hands like he was sending it off into the sky. The first times he tried it, he didn’t quite let go of the dove in time, so it flopped over the side of the ark and bounced on the stage and just lay there motionless. We all started to laugh, and then Mr. Dodding said something like, ‘Ed, you need to practice.’ We all laughed even more.”
Jeff Lindquist: “In addition to playing Noah, Ed also played Lazarus. I remember the first time I heard him ‘coming back to life.’ It was amazing to me. He did this Darth Vader-type intake of breath, very slow, and then did the same as an exhale. Then he “stepped out” of the tomb. I loved listening to it every night of the run. I remember Ed in all three plays that I did with him (Passion, Pinafore, Guys and Dolls) for always being so optimistic and cheerful in rehearsal, regardless of the difficulty of the scenes, and in performance. Amazing!
♦ HMS Pinafore: The Lass That Loved a Sailor (1982), directed by James Dodding — Ed played Rumbo Rowlock. In this musical, Ed learned to sing and tap-dance on stage. He had a wonderful singing and tap-dancing teacher, Music Professor Teresa Radomski.
♦ Guys and Dolls (1983), directed by James Dodding — Ed played Arvide Abernathy, a member of the Salvation Army Band. He sang a memorable solo of “More I Cannot Wish You” to Allyson Currin’s character.
Photo by Sarah Turner, courtesy of Wake Forest University Theatre.
Don Wolfe (Theater Professor Emeritus): “I recall Ed’s performance in Guys and Doll with great fondness. There were several factors at work. Ed had become great friends with Jim Dodding and admired him enormously. I think among other things Jim had encouraged Ed’s barely submerged performance instincts. Another incentive to be in the show was the fact that daughter Kim was in the cast. Most nights Jean Christman would show up in time for Arvide Abernathy’s (Ed) song, ‘More I Cannot Wish You’.” Jean’s fascination with the wonders of Ed and Kim’s performances was tangible and visible. The Christman family is wondrous, indeed.”
Mary Lucy Bivens: “What a lovely, lovely man. I was lucky to be in three of those shows with Ed. And I remember in particular the fun we had as members of the Salvation Army Band in Guys and Dolls. They put me in a white wig. We might have joked how we looked like twins!”
♦ Servant to Two Masters (2003), directed by James Dodding — Ed played Il Capellano, a Very Special Waiter.
Thank you to the Wake Forest University Theater faculty and graduates for sharing these stories.
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