Friday, December 21, 2018
Monday, December 10, 2018
Thursday, November 29, 2018
review - Come From Away
Come From Away
Book, Lyrics and Music by Irene Sankoff and David Hein
directed by Christopher Ashley
musical staging by Kelly Devine
music supervison by Ian Eisendrath
Ahmanson Theatre
through January 6
It's hardly ordinary for a musical to have it all. Come From Away is one of these extraordinary musical ventures that has a heartpounding score, dynamic true story, brilliant direction by Christopher Ashley and an incredible 12 member ensemble who give new meaning to ensemble playing. Now onstage at the Ahmanson through January 6, 2019, Come From Away should be at the very top of your must see list.
Book writers Irene Sankoff and David Hein show what happened when 38 planes were diverted to Gander, Newfoundland on September 11, 2001. Because of the New York and Washington bombings, no one could enter the US. 7000 passengers from across the globe who were aboard the 38 planes were put into shelters for 5 days while the leaders of Gander supervised and literally fed, cleaned and tried to comfort them. Sankoff aznd Hein have also written the passionately surging music and lyrics. I have never seen such an even and steady flow of dialogue to song and back in a show. Lyrics and words blend together as if in one continuously smooth monologue/ It is so well coordinated by both writers/composers that you are pulled in, held onto and never allowed to let go.
Director Ashley wondrously moves at ultra fast pace, along with Kelly Divine's musical staging, the 12 actors around the stage with 12 chairs - all completely different from one another - being set up in different configurations to show the interior of one of the planes, the airfield, a local school, shelter, mayoral offices or a local bar. It's amazing to watch the actors one second be the inhabitants of Gander and the next the strangers on a plane who have not slept in over 24 hours and are worried to death about what will happen in their immediate future
All of the ensemble are triple threat performers: Andrew Samonky, Nick Duckart, Julie Johnson, Danielle K. Thomas, Megan McGinnis, Chamblee Ferguson, James Earl Jones II, Kevin Carolan, Harter Clingman, Becky Gulsvig, Christine Toy Johnson and Emily Walton, all of whom play various roles. Each has his or her turn in the spotlight but it is hard to forget especially Gulsvig "Me and the Sky" with her ode to women pilots and to all female role models. Nor is it easy to forget Samonsky as Kevin T and Duckart as Kevin J when they find out that other gays exist in this forsaken place and exclaim one of the funniest passages in the script, "We somehow ended up in the gayest town in Newfoundland...there must be something in the water." And one of the homophobic rednecks replies, "That's why I only drink the beer." Another sad but memorable character is Hannah and Thomas is defintely a standout as she tries to hunt down her firefighter son in NYC. And...as animal rescuer Bonnie McGinnis adds so much care and support.
Let's pay homage to the great creative team: set designer Beowulf Boritt, costume designer Toni-Leslie James, lighting design by Howell Binkley and sound by Gareth Owen, all of whom create a wondrous spectacle through artistic simplicity.
If I had only one show to see, it would be Come From Away. Everyone remembers where they were and what they were doing on that fateful day in 2001, but to visualize and feel the impact on 7000 different people in Gander with a real sense of community involvement adds special appreciation. Why Come From Away did not win the Tony for Best Musical boggles my mind!
5 out of 5 stars
www.centertheatregroup.org
(photo credit: Matthew Murphy)
Wednesday, November 28, 2018
Monday, November 26, 2018
Wednesday, November 21, 2018
seniors
Seniors often get a bad rap. Once you
have passed the age of youth and beauty, you are put out to pasture
as useless and unappealing. I beg to differ. Seniors have great value
and continue to plant seeds for future generations.
There are many seniors in the public
eye who have kept themselves abreast of the latest fads and styles
and still appeal to all age groups. Let's talk Betty White, in her
nineties and still looking and acting like a pretty fifty year-old.
She's funny, loves animals and is absolutely charming. Remember
George Burns? He was a great comedian and won an Oscar well into his
eighties.
It does not matter if you are not a
celebrity. I read in this morning's paper that a seventy-five
year-old man saved a kitten from a tree and returned it to its owner.
Obviously, in great physical condition, he climbed up and down the
tree. And then had the intelligence and stamina to seek out the owner
by knocking on every door of every house on the street until he found
where little Scottie belonged. He, of course, refused any monetary
reward. He believes it is the duty of every citizen to keep up with
the concerns of the community and to give of one's self with pride
and honor
If you want further proof that seniors
are a valuable part of our society, look to your ancestors and see
how they had it tough, but through a cautious plan of survival made
it through and paved the way for others to follow.
Monday, November 19, 2018
Friday, October 19, 2018
Sunday, October 14, 2018
Friday, October 12, 2018
Tuesday, October 9, 2018
Friday, October 5, 2018
Thursday, August 16, 2018
Sunday, July 1, 2018
Monday, June 25, 2018
Monday, May 14, 2018
Thursday, April 19, 2018
Thursday, March 29, 2018
theme song from Maude
Lady Godiva was a freedom rider,
She didn't care if the whole world looked,
Joan of Arc with the Lord to guide her,
She was a sister who really cooked,
Isadora was the first bra-burner,
Ain't ya glad she showed up? (Oh yeah!)
And when the country was fallin' apart,
Betsy Ross got it all sewed up.
(CHORUS):
(And then there's Maude),
And then there's Maude,
(And then there's Maude),
And then there's Maude,
(And then there's Maude),
And then there's Maude,
(And then there's.....),
That uncompromisin', enterprisin', anything but tranquilizin',
Right on Maude!
source: http://www.lyricsondemand.com/tvthemes/maudelyrics.html
She didn't care if the whole world looked,
Joan of Arc with the Lord to guide her,
She was a sister who really cooked,
Isadora was the first bra-burner,
Ain't ya glad she showed up? (Oh yeah!)
And when the country was fallin' apart,
Betsy Ross got it all sewed up.
(CHORUS):
(And then there's Maude),
And then there's Maude,
(And then there's Maude),
And then there's Maude,
(And then there's Maude),
And then there's Maude,
(And then there's.....),
That uncompromisin', enterprisin', anything but tranquilizin',
Right on Maude!
source: http://www.lyricsondemand.com/tvthemes/maudelyrics.html
Saturday, January 6, 2018
gerry ducharme's address
Gerald Ducharme, 34 Birchwood Way, East Greenwich, RI 02818
Gerry,
(This was meant to get to you on New Year's via email, but I could not get an email address for you.)
I was feeling nostalgic this past week remembering old acquaintances. One of my favorites was your mom. I googled and found her obit from 2012. Sorry she's left us ... but she did live into her 90s, a full life. What a gal! She held court at the switchboard of the Holyoke Gas and Electric every day she worked. When I worked there summers while attending UMass, she chatted and gossiped with me every day and always lifted my spirits. Marge was a genuinely friendly Irish lady with lots of spunk ... and she really cared about people!! She possessed a character with an exemplary style of living that belongs in a play. Maybe I'll write it. I'll let you know.
In the obit I saw that you live in Rhode Island and thought I'd just drop a line to say hello. Fondly remember our walks home from JJ Lynch and those hikes we took - if I had only continued, I'd be thinner now, dammit! I think you also helped me iceskate better. I so appreciated your kind and easy-going manner. On FB I saw pix of you and your lovely family. And you run your own business. You're blessed. Happy for you.
I'm still in LA - 40 years in 2018 - teaching privately, writing and doing some acting. Have a children's novel that I'm proud of, hoping to convert it into an animated screenplay, but who knows, it's tough in this business of show. It takes place in the land of the Holy Oak. If you read it, you might very well see yourself in one of the creatures. Catch my facebook page. Also take a peek at my website: www.grigwaretalkstheatre.com ; that I've had for 10 years now. It's not making me a lot of money but sure does make me happy. My dad always wanted to live in California. He didn't make it, poor guy, but I did. I'm happy and grateful for every day I'm alive.
So many from our '64 class at HHS have died...among many others, Paul Grudis, Mary Donohue, Jackie LaBonte, Bob Ezold and his wife Ellen Moriarty... I was shocked that they died within a year of each other. I was in their wedding party. The years are slipping away from us. I'd rather reconnect with those I cared about than just let recollections slide into oblivion...so,
Stay youthful, healthy and happy,
I wish you and your family the best of everything.
Happy 2018!
your old friend,
don
818-7661457
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
Don..... Just got your letter
yesterday as it was rerouted to our seasonal Florida address. My
daughter collects our house mail every 4 days and mails it to us
here in Naples.
First, thank you for the very kind words about my late mother.
She lasted about a year longer than my dad. They both had a great life
until they hit their late 80’s.
Don, presently semi retired after running an ad agency for over
40 yrs in RI and at one time had nearly 20 clients,basically in
and around East Coast. Still have 2 clients that I produce tv spots for
and purchase media.
To keep out of trouble, I drive Lexus vehicles 3 days a week back in RI
and down here work for Naples Mercedes 2 days a week as a valet.
Sadly, have lost a few good friends from the Holyoke days within
recent times. Was saddened by your news of Bob Ezold and his wife
Ellen
Hopefullu, you are not near any of those fires or mudslides in California.
Got a chuckle about the play title of Holy Oak. Will have to read it on
FB soon and your new website.
Went to the 50th reunion in Holyoke and saw a lot of old friends.
Cynthia Karugan(sp?) was chief organizer with help from others.
Pat Hobert did fly oin from California and sad to see the old funeral home closed and in disrepair. His older brother Jim had run it, but died from Dementia.
Time to go to work. Keep up your creativity/teaching and acting and
pls stay in touch
Gerry
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