![]() IT'S FUNNY AND FAST...and NOT SCARY by Barbara Biddison I begin this blog with this "not scary" statement because potential audience members were asking me, just before the show opened, if it was just too frightening for them to be able to enjoy it. The Night of the Living Dead has a title that leads you to believe you'll be uncomfortably scared for a couple hours as you sit in the Warehouse Theatre. Not so! I saw it opening night and found it to be fast-paced and funny as it presented a complex mystery that held my focus throughout. The sell-out audience loved it and gave it their complete attention until it ended with a standing ovation! After which we all gathered in the Warehouse Gallery for Opening Night food and conversation Now about the show and its director Noyes Lawton. This is his first time to direct a main-stage Hamilton-Gibson show; however, he goes way back with HG beginning with Injun Joe as an actor in Tom Sawyer17 years ago. He has designed and built sets, and he plays Christmas Present in our annual A Christmas Carol, and he has also performed for Elmira Little Theatre. He met and married Sarah Lawton when they were in HG's Blithe Spirit, and she serves as assistant director in this show. It's worth of note to observe that we have more than one married couple active in HG. As Noyes says in the program, "This is more than just a zombie play." Well, there was an original movie so that's probably part of the great name recognition that gave us a full house opening night. Which makes me think of the Warehouse Theatre seating arrangement.. Chairs are close together, and Box Office asked ushers to request of audience members, as they came in, to sit right next to the person on their right or left. (People are generally prone to leave a "polite distance" between their seat and the already seated). Absolutely everyone honored that request. It was clear, as the last reservation arrived, that we had a full house and it was time for the show to begin! [NOTE: Performances of Night of the Living Dead LIVE continue this weekend on Friday and Saturday at 7:30 at the Warehouse Theatre. Tickets can be obtained at HGP.BOOKTIX.COM or by calling the HG office at 570.724.2079.]
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![]() ONE COUNTRY : MANY VOICES...or MANY VOICES : ONE COUNTRY by Barbara Biddison The printed program on October 6 would have it both ways. In any case the TREBLE CHOIR was joined by the younger ones called CHOIR TOO and the older guys who were the brothers in JOSEPH AND THE AMAZING TECHNICOLOR DREAMCOAT. All featuring "uniquely American music." What a wonderfully diverse concert! I did not want it to be over. Thomas Putnam has created an extraordinary environment for singing. For kids singing under the encouraging direction of Laureen Wolgemuth. And for young adults singing under Thomas's direction. St. Paul's was nearly full with people related to the singers, of course—but I saw a goodly number, like us, who just enjoy hearing all these people sing. Next spring audiences across the ocean will hear them sing, too! They will be traveling to Yorkshire, England. To help fund the trip they are selling poinsettias as the Christmas holidays approach, (I like to present them as gifts.) And coffee and baked potatoes, and for anyone who doesn't need any flowers or coffee or potatoes, there's always the opportunity to just contribute and write a check. There are openings in both HG choirs grades 2-8!! I always remember my own high school choir experiences when the HG choirs sing and travel and enter foreign countries. I'm sure their memories will last as long as mine have. I lived in South Texas so our "foreign travel" was into Mexico and not across any ocean, but I suspect that the feeling is much the same. Speaking of foreign countries, HG just returned from our annual trip to Ontario, where we experienced three shows in the world-famous Stratford Festival. And in December we travel to the Shaw Festival in Niagara-on-the-Lake. HG is truly alive at home and abroad! Join us! |
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October 2024
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