By NICOLE S. COLSON
Sentinel Staff
Published in The Keene Sentinel: Saturday, May 01, 2010

It’s going to be a witty, premier-filled, star-studded season in 2010 at Peterborough Players.

Comedy dominates this year’s lineup, which features seven plays that highlight topics from cheating husbands to fortune-stealing schemes.

What do they all have in common?

“A play needs to engage the audience,” said Players artistic director Gus Kaikkonen. “If a play doesn’t have a lot of wit about it, I’m not interested.”

Things start off with two new plays — first is “The Blonde, the Brunette and the Vengeful Redhead,” a new play running June 23 through July 4 that features a cast of characters that combines to disrupt a woman’s quiet life.

All the characters are played by one woman — actress Lisa Bostnar.

“Freud’s Last Session,” (July 7-18) will have its New Hampshire premier in Peterborough. It explores the possibilities of the nature of God, told through a fictitious conversation between Sigmund Freud and “The Chronicles of Narnia” author C.S. Lewis.

Actor George Morfogen, a recurring character on the HBO series, “Oz,” plays Freud.

Gordon Clapp, who played Detective Greg Medavoy on the television program, “NYPD Blue,” is another recognizable face in Peterborough this season.

He plays Robert Frost in the world premier of “This Verse Business,” (Sept. 15-26) about the bard’s travels around the country. The playwright, Andrew Dolan, sent a copy of his script to Kaikkonen.

“I was very charmed by it,” he said.

“2 Pianos, 4 Hands” (Sept. 1-12) will also be shown for the first time in the state on the Players stage this year. It follows two rival classical concert pianists working toward their dream.

Kaikkonen said the two lead actors play piano, and will perform the score, which includes the music of Bach, Beethoven and Jerry Lee Lewis.

“It’s very important to do plays by living playwrights and keep the library of theater growing,” Kaikkonen said.

Three more comedies round things out — “The Foreigner,” (July 21-Aug. 1) tells the story of a scheme involving an English-speaking man pretending to be from another country; “The Torch-Bearers,” (Aug. 18-29) is a 1920s farce about amateur actors attempting to put on a new play (written by George Kelly, the uncle of Princess Grace of Monaco); and “Tartuffe,” written by 17th-century French playwright Moliere about a man who attempts to trick a family out of its fortune — and their daughter.

Kaikkonen spent two months translating what he calls Moliere’s elegant writing into English. “It’s more down-and-dirty,” he said of his version of “Tartuffe.”

Kaikkonen spends the nine months of the year he’s not in Peterborough traveling the country seeing plays.

In considering each one for inclusion, he decides if it’s right for the Monadnock Region theater.

“There’s a very smart audience in Peterborough,” he said.

For ticket information for the 2010 Peterborough Players season, call 924-7585.

On the Net:

www.peterboroughplayers.org

written by Sherry Hughes for Sentinelsource.com

I came out of the womb with an intense dislike for cartoons, comics, animation. As a kid, I never read comic books or cartoons. For me, there were no Saturday mornings watching the cartoons lined up on television. I remember watching “The Jetsons” occasionally, but not often.

So, as an adult, I’m not much of a fan of animated movies, “The Simpsons” or even the comics in our paper.

Over the years, people have tried to convince me to read or watch various animated stuff. But I just don’t care for it. “The Lion King?” I wasn’t included in the circle of life; I nodded off during “Shrek.”

So, it’s kind of a big thing, for me, that I even went to see “Avatar.” And it’s an even bigger thing — in fact, a huge surprise — that I loved it. I not only loved it, I want to live there, on Pandora, the imaginary land James Cameron created in the movie.

In case you’ve been living in a cave for the last year, “Avatar” is the first big flick for Cameron since “Titanic.” He was ridiculed for the excess of that film — the time it took to produce, the ever-expanding budget. But the film was a blockbuster, a phenomenal movie that won awards, accolades and critical acclaim while making enough money to fill a cruise ship.

Critics hadn’t been so quick to judge Cameron about “Avatar.” I still didn’t care about seeing it.

But things have a way of working themselves out the way they are supposed to, if we let them.

Enter Isiah, my 14-year old grand-nephew. He lives in New Jersey and visits a few times a year for the holidays and to attend summer camp. He wanted to see “Avatar.” He didn’t want to see anything else. I thought maybe we could stay at home, rent a movie and make some cookies. But it was the last night of his visit and I figured he should get to see the movie he wanted to see. I wanted to see “It’s Complicated.” Not really a teenage boy kind of film.

So we off we went on Saturday night. We sat close to the front, hunkered down with treats (popcorn, M&Ms, a blue slushy drink and Sno-caps) and waited for the 2 hour and 40 minute extravaganza to begin.

It was magical, wondrous, lovely, interesting, inspiring, funny, sad and oh so entertaining. I haven’t been captivated like that by a film for a long time. It was a joy. Isiah loved it. We both got glassy eyed at the end. We held hands and did the prayer-dance-meditation-healing ritual that the Na’vi people on Pandora do in the movie.

The film isn’t offered in 3-D in Keene (it’s showing at the IMAX theater in Hooksett and in many theaters in Massachusetts and in 3-D in other theaters around the state) and although I think it would have been cool to see it in those formats, it stands on its own. It’s a magical experience. IMAX would have probably made my head explode.

Michael Phillips, film critic for the Chicago Tribune and co-host of “At the Movies” along with A.O. Scott, told me “I had a weird reaction to ‘Avatar’: Loved the first 90 minutes (up through the mini-blackout-intermission, after the Big Date), and once the bulldozers came in, I started checking out. Still, I recommended it (three stars) and whatever my problems with the script, and the scrambled nature of the parallels to the war in Iraq and every other colonialist misadventure throughout human history, it’s a hell of a good-looking movie.”

Phillips chided me for my general dislike for animation. His favorite movie picks for last year included “Coraline” and “Up” and he was a big fan of “Where the Wild Things Are.”

At some point this winter, I’ll have to crack open my brain and see all three of those films. Change is good.

There are lots of movies that should really be seen in a theater and this is one of them — I don’t care how big your flat screen is at home. It’s about the quiet of the theater, the community experience and ... the popcorn.

This is a film that we’ll be talking about for years to come.

The bonus for me is that I got to see it with one of my favorite people, who is way younger (in most ways) than I am but enjoyed it as much as I did.

On the Net:

www.avatarthemovie.com

It is pretty silly. A news elf handing out candy canes and dancing....I think....in metallic gold leggings and the WORST Christmas sweater you've ever seen.

Check it out: silly silly silly

Send us some of your holiday footage, or video-respond on YouTube! I hope everyone has a very happy, and silly, Christmas :)

Provided by Sentinel Staff

TUNES:
The David Wax Museum, a Mexo-Americana band, Tuesday, Sept. 22, 8 p.m., The Starving Artist, 10 West Street, Keene. 

http://www.davidwaxmuseum.com/

Johnny Winter, James Montgomery, Jay Geils and members of Uptown Horns, Friday, Sept. 25, The Colonial Theatre, 95 Main Streeet., Keene. Tickets available online or at the box office - 603-352-2033 or http://www.thecolonial.org/

Events:
Tibetan Monks from the Drepung Gomang Monastery Fire-Day Residency, with an opening ceremony. Tour leader Geshe la will tell of the monks' tour in the United States and give an introduction to the monastery and a short talk about the mandala and the opening ceremony chant and prayers, Friday, Sept. 25., 9 am, Mariposa Museum & World Culture Center, 26 Main St., Peterborough. $3 - $5, Monks available to give house blessings. Call 603-924-4555.  http://www.mariposamuseum.org/

Just Desserts XIV, Toast of Keene, cabaret show featuring local performers and delectable desserts, proceeds benefit AIDS Services for the Monadnock Region, Thursday, Sept. 24 at 7 pm and Sunday, Sept. 27 at 4 pm, Blue Trout Grill, Keene, $15 - $25. Debbie, 603-209-6515 or dpickering@ne.rr.com  Table reservations, 603-357-6855.  http://www.asmronline.org/

On the road:
Boyz II Men, Sunday, Sept. 20, 7 pm, The Big E, 1305 memorial Ave., West Springfield, Mass. Free with admission. Admission, $8 - $15, kids 5 and under are free. Information: http://www.thebige.com/ 413-205-5115

I absolutely LOVE, LOVE, LOVE Dennis Leary and Rescue Me - however, the recent episodes have made me a bit uncomfortable and I'm wondering - am I just being an old fart taking things too seriously or is there a dangerous road being traveled on this show?

For anyone who watches - you probably already know that I am referring to the group of characters on the show - including the main man - Tommy Gavin - who were turning their lives around by sobering up and joining AA - only to have the other characters follow Tommy's lead in throwing it all away and embracing the bottle.

Tommy has always been wishy-washy about his commitment to being sober - but his sponsor??  So far Tommy's cousin/sponsor, his other cousin (the ex-con), his other cousin I think, and Tommy's very own sponsee - have not only decided to quit AA - but they are now having drinking parties with Tommy and talking about how much better their lives are now that the stress and misery of AA is gone from their lives.  I mean - even Tommy doesn't buy that one!

I understand that it is a TV show - and I get that the writers probably have a plan for showing the ill effects of this road - but in the meantime, they are making it look like a hell of a lot of fun!  I mean, they actually almost make some sense.

I don't really like to drink - so I'm not an AA member who is afraid that the show may tempt me - but I do wonder what it must be like to be a fan of this show right now if you ARE an alcoholic?

Whatever you think of the writers choice in going down this road - you have to admit that as always - this show can never be predicted.

I saw the first movie when it came out - and, o.k., it was cute and a good movie to see with your kids.  but that's about it.

I just don't understand the adults that are crazy for this story.  And even if that indicates a problem of mine and they are actually the normal ones - that doesn't mean that the director and producers are excused from trying to make a good movie!

Unfortunately, Harry Potter was the first feature at the drive-in theater the other night.  I never would have gone to see this movie as a stand-alone but since it was part of a double feature I figured "what the hell"

Now I have seen lots of movies that were part of a trilogy or sequels, prequels - whatever else hollywood invents to make more money from the same characters.  However, usually the second, third or fourth films in a series make an attempt to construct the story in a way that even a newbie coming in to film #4 for the first time can follow along.  I think you expect not to "get" all the ins and outs of a storyline if you haven't been following since the beginning.  But you also have a reasonable expectation that the filmmakers are aware that not everyone in the audience is up to date on the story.

This film failed miserably for anyone who isn't already a "potter-head" and for those of you who are....you can start making plans for the next one because this film's final scene basically announces that there will be another - probably just in time for next summer's box office.

by Nicole S. Colson, Sentinel Staff
Members of the cast of "I love you, You're perfect, Now Change,"
now at the Peterborough Players, are, from left: Kirby Ward,
Joshua Finkel, Pamela Bob and Bridget Beirne.

If men are from Mars and women are from Venus, “I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change” is a good long glimpse into what happens when they have to live together on Earth.

The play, written by Joe DiPietro with music by Jimmy Roberts, opened this week at the Peterborough Players. It runs through July 26.

There’s a reason it’s the second longest-running off-Broadway show in history — it’s a clever, provocative, well-written play. From the minute the stage lights went up until they went down again, the audience was laughing. It doesn’t always happen that the music and script are equally enjoyable, but that’s the case here. The flawless comedy and tight harmonies can be credited to the cast of four — referred to only as Woman No. 1 (Pamela Bob), Woman No. 2 (Bridget Beirne), Man No. 1 (Joshua Finkel) and Man No. 2 (Kirby Ward). These characters were given generic titles because they are archetypes, interchangeable couples who serve as reflections of ourselves, symbols of every important event we experience.

What’s brilliant about it is we can all identify a nugget that rings true, no matter what point we are in our lives. The dialogue is funny, but what makes it even more humorous is the “I’ve been there” factor. We recognize these odd beings and their antics, however crazy they might seem.

There isn’t really a linear story here; it’s done as vignettes strung together, each covering an area of significance in a person’s life — that first date with a potential spouse, meeting the parents, getting married (a noteworthy segment offers a nod to hideous bridesmaid dresses), having children and dating again after a spouse dies. The skits are introduced using titles printed on cue cards, all delivered by a mystery man and woman, whose interactions are entertaining on their own.

Women will recognize the strange grooming rituals required to ready for a date, from waxing off body hair to spending hours doing their hair and makeup. The same goes for men who let themselves be dragged to a so-called “chick flick” to impress a woman early on in a relationship.

Those who don’t have children will still recognize the couple who have a baby and suddenly act like complete neurotic strangers, making “ga-ga goo-goo” noises and freaking out at every noise heard on the baby monitor. The majority of parents will relate to “Marriage Tango,” about the dance of finding time for each other after the bills are paid and the kids are in bed.

The play premiered in 1995, which is impressive because it’s current, especially the satirical segment about having to wedge dating into our too-full schedules. The couple, who have just met, decide to skip dating in order to save time so they instead go straight to their first post break-up meeting, when they can appreciate each other again. Technological references were updated — for instance, there’s mention of Facebook (it didn’t exist in 1995), but everything else is spot-on in this age of speed dating and online singles match-up sites.

It’s not all yuks here, though — there are plenty of sweet, sometimes poignant elements to this play, in reference to topics such as dating again after a painful divorce and the idea of skipping the mid-life crisis and continuing to love your spouse after many years of marriage.

The most baffling part of all this? No matter how frustrating, painful or tiresome love can be, no matter how many times wives have to pretend to love football or husbands to enjoy shopping in a lifetime, we still can’t get enough. The cast sang it best for all of us: “I keep coming back to this whirlwind tour/Of loving, and leaving, and wanting more.”

“I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change” is on-stage July 16-18 and July 21-25 at 8 p.m. and July 19 and 26 at 4 p.m. Tickets are $38-$43 and can be ordered by calling 924-7585 or peterboroughplayers.org.

provided by Sentinel Staff

A listing of Memorial Day events and observations in the Monadnock Region during the next four days:

Saturday, May 23

Memorial Day Observance, with the American Legion Post 59, the Hillsborough-Deering High School Band and Chorus, Heidi Welch, director, the Loons Nest Girl Scouts, the Hillsborough area Boy Scouts, and tours of the Homestead, bring a lawn chair, rain or shine, grounds of the President Franklin Pierce Homestead, 301 2nd N.H. Turnpike, Hillsboro. Tours offered, 10 a.m.-3:30 p.m., free to all active duty and retired military with identification, also free to all members in their party. Private tours, contact James Marvin at 478-3913 or Jean Gannon at 495-0525, 10:30 a.m.

Sunday, May 24

 Marlborough Memorial Day Service, helping honor those who served Marlborough American Legion Croteau-Coutts Post 24, 12:30 p.m., services, Pine Grove Cemetery; 1:30 p.m., form parade, Frost Free Library; 2 p.m., parade, a concert will follow behind the fire station, Marlborough.

Nelson Memorial Day Events, 7-9 a.m., pancake breakfast with pancakes, syrup, eggs, sausage, home fries, juice and coffee, $6, proceeds benefit Nelson Scouting Program, Nelson Congregational Church, Nelson Village; 11:30 a.m., parade, with Nelson Town Band, march from Nelson Village to the Nelson Village Cemetery for the Memorial Day ceremony, all U.S. military personnel welcome.

Monday, May 25

Keene Memorial Day Parade, guests include state Sen. Molly M. Kelly, Mayor Philip Dale Pregent, the American Legion Band, and others, starting at 10 a.m. The parade will form on Gilbo Avenue and proceed from there to Main Street, turn  left and head up  Washington Street to the veterans monument at the Keene Recreation Center,  where the observance will be held. 

Hancock Memorial Day Parade, parade marshal will be Nahida Sherman, Rev. Carolyn Keilig of Hancock Congregational Church will offer prayers at the Pine Ridge and Norway Plain cemeteries, 1:30 p.m., parade will form, School Street, Hancock Elementary School, music by a band from Conval Regional High School, David Aines is musical director, local Boy and Girl scouts and 4-H members will march, all veterans are invited to participate, rain location for ceremony will be in the Hancock Church vestry, Hancock.

Swanzey Memorial Day Parade, all invited to march to honor veterans, presented by the Swanzey Veterans Council and the people of Swanzey, pledge of allegiance to the flag, singing of the national anthem, wreath laying and firing squad at the bridge for those lost at sea, followed by the parade, parade route is from Cutler School to the steel bridge on Denman Thompson Avenue, left on Homestead Avenue, through Christian Hill/Railroad Street intersection and past the old VFW Post to the cemetery, refreshments served at West Swanzey Community Church after the parade, 1:30 p.m., Cutler School, West Swanzey. Bad weather cancellation, contact Jim Devine at 847-9636.

Rindge Memorial Day Parade, dedicated to the late Dr. Gerald Parker and Arthur Speros, all veterans are invited to march in remembrance of their comrades living and dead who served in the armed services of the United States, sponsored by the Rindge Veterans Association, parade led by the Rindge Veterans Association Color Guard with music by Conant High School Band, directed by Leonard Holmes, 1:30 p.m., marchers meet up; 2 p.m., parade begins at town offices to the Highland Cemetery and return to Veterans Memorial at the head of the Rindge Town Common, Rindge. 899-6651.

Hinsdale Memorial Day, 7:30 a.m., members of VFW and any other veterans who want to participate meet at the post house, Main Street, then proceed by motorcade to the town’s cemeteries for services, cemeteries include, St. Joseph’s, North Hinsdale, Hooker and Pine Grove Cemetery; 10 a.m., anyone interested in participating in parade meet at the Pine Grove Cemetery, then march to Depot Street Bridge for a brief ceremony then to Jackwood Park, then to Main Street for a prayer and flag raising at the VFW, Hinsdale. Karen, 336-7461 or Alice, 336-5678.

Jaffrey Memorial Day Observance, 7:30 a.m., honor guards and troops from the local veterans organizations, John Humiston American Legion Post 11 and Jaffrey Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 5613 will visit cemeteries in town, prayers will be offered, taps played, and a salute rendered in honor of those departed veterans; 10:30 a.m., assemble for parade, Legion, Webster Street; 10:45 a.m., the main parade will step off and proceed to the Civil War Memorial in front of the library, the Korean-Vietnam Memorial Park, and conclude with ceremonies at the Buddy Monument on the Common where the flag will be raised at noon, speaker is Jaffrey native and Vietnam veteran Richard W. “Rick” Lambert. Copies of schedules are available at the town office building and library as well as stores in town, Jaffrey. For a ride call 532-8765.

Walpole Memorial Day Parade and Wreath Laying Ceremony, parade will begin from corner of Main and Union streets to Elm Street on to the Walpole Common, then a wreath-laying ceremony, hosted by Bridge-Wilsom American Legion Post 77, guest speaker will be Selectman Whitney Aldrich, music by Walpole Middle School Band and the Fall Mountain High School Band, at Veterans’ Memorial on the Common, 11 a.m., Walpole.

Marlow and Gilsum Memorial Day observations

American Legion Band, guest speakers and pledge of allegiance. At Jones Hall in Marlow at 10 a.m. and in Gilsum Center at 11:30 a.m.

Tuesday, May 26

Conant High School Memorial Day Assembly,   12:45 to 2:10 p.m.  in Pratt Auditorium.  All community members, family and friends are invited to this special observance honoring those military men and women who have given their lives in service to their country. 

 This year, 10 seniors have been selected to deliver their essays on “Why I am happy to be an American.”  Audience members will be given ballots and asked to vote for their top four choices.  The four students receiving the most votes will be awarded a Ralph E. Stratton Memorial Scholarship at the Senior Awards and Scholarship Night on June 11.

Contact:  Naomi Drury, Conant High School, 532-8113.

Whether you are a fan of Dennis Leary's creation - Rescue Me - or not - you have to find a way to watch the episode called "Jimmy" from Season 5, episode 4. 

A major subject on the show is examining 9/11 - as firefighters and also as friends and family of the people who died that day - and overall - as New Yorkers. 

This particular episode brought to the forefront the lingering tragedy of that day - the illness  - frequently terminal illnesses - that are being discovered by the survivors and heroes who worked at Ground Zero for months afterwards.  But the really poignant moment that I highly recommend is the monologue given by the wife (Sheila) of one of the fallen firefighters.

You don't have to understand or know the characters to appreciate this bit of drama - all you have to have is a heart and soul.  You will relate to this - guaranteed.  Particularly if you have ever lost someone you love.

But beyond the heart-wrenching delivery of the scene - is the truth and memory of that day.  The feeling of being suspended in time as your mind tried so hard to absorb that this was really happening.  That slow motion sensation that you go through when a part of you is trying desparately to find a way to quickly build a wall to prevent the reality from crashing down around you.  It is that feeling of "wait,, wait, wait" even though no one is listening. 

I am blown away that a television show could capture that - without going for the obvious tear-jerk stuff usually associated with that genre.  But then again - it comes down to the two main ingrediants of performance - the ability of the actor and the written script.  Without a great writer - you can't have a great moment.

This show has consistently dealt with major life issues - tragic life lessons - joy and grief - touching on the gamut of human emotions - without ever losing man's greatest gift - our sense of humor.

What else can I say - Dennis Leary is a genius.

Catch the episode here.