The Woods Hole Plays are two one-act plays written by playwright friends Bronwen Prosser of Woods Hole and Danny Mitarotondo of New York. Both plays were written to be performed in Cotuit Center for the Arts’ Black Box Theater, both are directed by Kathryn Walsh of Chicago, and both make use of the same three … Continue reading
Larry Marsland is one of my favorite local performers. He puts his heart into everything he does, and he really knows how to tell a story—and sing a song. He is highly regarded for his monologue memoirs, such as “Night Falls in Emerald City,” in which he speculates on what Judy Garland did one night … Continue reading
An extraordinary collaborative work of art was installed piece-by-piece last night at Cotuit Center for the Arts, created by 96 Cape Cod artists in a variety of media from paint to glass to wood and wire sculpture and even photography. Back in April each participating artist was given a 4 by 4 inch square on … Continue reading
John Murelle’s vocal students performed songs of Richard Rodgers at First Night Chatham on December 31 at the First Congregational Church of Chatham. In addition to John’s regular students (including my daughter Gabbe Rowland), there were two former students of John’s: Matt Astone, now in his senior year at Westminster Choir College, and Lily Mae … Continue reading
“Talking With…,” by Jane Martin, is a well-written, engaging, and fast-paced series of monologues by or about quirky, compelling people. I can’t imagine a better production of it than the one director Holly Erin McCarthy of Theatre Under the Stairs has put together for Cotuit Center for the Arts. It runs through December 16. McCarthy’s … Continue reading
Singer/songwriter/comedian Christine White was warm, witty, and delightful last Saturday evening (November 3) at Cotuit Center for the Arts. Having heard her songs on the radio over the years, I expected that, and she did not disappoint. I had not heard much of Don White, so did not quite know what to expect. He was … Continue reading
“Dear Liar” is the delightful story of the charming and volatile 40-year relationship between playwright George Bernard Shaw and the woman for hom he wrote the role of Eliza Doolittle in “Pygmalian,” an actress who went by the name of Mrs. Patrick (Stella) Campbell, one of the most popular actresses of her day. Campbell was … Continue reading
At an elegant, ostentatious wedding reception at a Knoxville, Tennessee, mansion, five women escape the festivities for a moment of calm in the bride’s sister’s bedroom. As the evening progresses, the women get to know each other and find they have more in common than a dislike for the bride—who seems to have everything but … Continue reading
First of all, “Ava Gardner and the Pizza Boy,” written and directed by Larry Marsland, is only peripherally about Ava Gardner. Those who saw Marsland’s one-man show, “Night Falls on the Emerald City,” in which he channeled Judy Garland might be thinking this show is a similar examination of Ava Gardner’s life. It isn’t. “Ava … Continue reading
“Frog: A Modern Fairy Tale” is a delightful summer entertainment for the whole family, sure to please both children and adults. Written and directed by Christopher Compton and Holly Erin McCarthy of Theater Under the Stairs, the show’s message is simple: don’t ever lose your childhood sense of imagination, but the delivery is wonderfully complex … Continue reading
Notes on The Arts 