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ARTS
Our Town--Perfect
in its Imperfections
A Review by Flavia Potenza
If, like me, you thought Our Town,
Thornton Wilder's Pulitzer Prize-winning play about Everytown,
USA, was merely a convenient vehicle for high school drama departments,
divest yourself of that bias and see it for what it is: an unparalleled
celebration of the ordinary--growing up, marrying, living and
dying--which the playwright simply describes as "an attempt
to find a value above all price for the smallest events in our
daily life."
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ILLUSTRATION
BY NOEL PUGH
"I think Our Town speaks to what
people want today, what we're crying out for," says Theatricum
artistic director Ellen Geer, who also plays the Stage Manager.
"The people of Grover's Corners, New Hampshire, 100 years
ago are so specific as to time and place, but who they were then
is who we are now. We all have the same basic need for humanity,
and life truly does go too fast. . ."
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. . .Anyone who sees Our Town will
indeed be rewarded beyond expectation by the flawless performance
of this truly ensemble cast. Kudos to the supporting cast who
were the citizens of Grover's Corners and to codirectors Heidi
Helen Davis and Ellen Geer for letting this remarkable play be
what it was meant to be.
Our Town plays Saturday evenings at 8 p.m. through September
30; Saturday matinees at 4 p.m. on August 26 and September 7,
then Saturdays at 3 p.m. October 7 through October 21.
For the
full story, see the current newsstand edition of the Messenger.
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PHOTO BY KELLY LINVILLE
Getting married in Our
Town: Willow Geer-Alsop and Jerimiah James, with Ellen Geer
(center) officiating.
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Sunday
in Topanga With Peter
Want
an easy, relaxing way to spend a Sunday morning?
Come to the Theatricum Botanicum. . .
The best of children's artists have been hand-selected by producer
and child psychologist, Dr. Peter Alsop, who draws from his years
of experience in the world of children's education and entertainment.
Peter's own show is a wonderful blend of children's songs and family
issues brought forward in a way that invites discussion. . .
All shows start at 11:00 a.m. and admission is $7 each or $30 for
any five shows.
UPCOMING SHOWS:
August 27: Nathan Stein, expert circus and variety performer,
juggler, wire-walker, and teller of classic fables. . .
September 3: Topanga's own Melora Marshall, singer and guitarist
of a wide range of folk songs . .
September 10: Diane Ferlatte with African-American, Southern
and African folklore. . .
September 17: Dave Kinnoin, the Bruce Springsteen of kids' performers.
. .
September 24: Hap Palmer, morning songs, animal antics, creative
movement and rhythmic exploration. . .
For the full
story, see the current newsstand edition of the Messenger.
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Coming Soon to A Canyon Near Your
. . .The walls are up
in the new Pine Tree Circle, the work crews are forming, and
with luck, the new, expanded and improved Topanga Canyon gallery
will open there in early September.
. . .A wide diversity of fine arts and crafts will be represented,
including drawing, painting, sculpture, ceramics, art glass,
jewelry, collage, dolls, fiber, mixed media, furniture, and gourds.
. . .The cooperative anticipates an eventual membership of 50
exhibiting artists. There's still room, so if interested, call
Linda Bolhuis at (310) 455-1689 for application information. |
Celebrating the imminent opening
of a new Topanga Canyon Gallery are (left to right), artists
Craig Houx, Linda Bolhuis, Rebecca Catteral, Barbara Anahita
King, Hadea Finley and Penny Chavez.
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For the
full story, see the current newsstand edition of the Messenger.
[top]
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