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Acting

The Stage at the end of the Lane

Every theatrical venture is a triumph of the improbable over the impossible. None more so than a theatre in northern Maine where I’ve just had an intense few days.

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The Bagaduce Theatre lives in a large barn where swallows nest at the end of a long driveway on a peninsula where seals frolic in the swift flowing tidal inlets.

Here I am with an actress that I know well, Patricia Conolly of Broadway fame:

unnamed (5)It was like one of those European whirlwind tours — if it’s Thursday it must be Prague — The centre piece this season was an adaptation of The Tempest by Shakespeare, but also including segments from all your Bardic favorites! Other programs took in: Checkov, Durang, Shanley, Bennett, all the way up to and including a reading from that little-known British/Australian author C. McPhillamy.

I would have posted earlier so that you could have come to see a show if you were passing, but the days were full, hopping in and out of various costumes, brewing the excellent coffee available from the nearest town, Blue Hill, and grappling with the local mosquitoes which in that locale are special forces trained.

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Here are some of the company: Monique Fowler who is the driving force behind this splendid effort is center. She gives us a delicate Prospero aided by all the actors seen below and that redoubtable man of theatre craft John Vivian, who when not operating lights and sound, was everywhere, performing in one body the work of three men with behind the scenes support.

 

And this is the company at a lobster dinner given by the producers: The lobster flowed (there’s no other word for it), the wine flowed. We laughed, then there was singing. We all ate and drank more than would be advised by a doctor. I’ve said it before, in my line they pay you in fun.

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It was a theatre fest of the kind that reminds you why you joined.

 

10 replies on “The Stage at the end of the Lane”

Hi Col, That sounds like another marvellous gig: as you say, fun, which is the most important thing in this business. Or is that money? No! Fun!

Good fun at the National too, though no lobsters flowing. Young Chekhov:Birth of a Genius (low-key title, don’tcha think?) trilogy – Platonov, Ivanov and The Seagull – opens Tuesday. All three in a day. I’m in the first two. After three weeks teching in the Olivier, a barn in mosquito-infested Maine has its attractions. You’re looking very prosperous, by the way. Tootle-pip!

Best,
As ever,
David

You have no idea how much I adore you…Love to beautiful Trish. I so hope you two will someday consider getting that little condo down here so I can actually have you both in my life on a regular (sort of) basis. Selfish I know. The Maine adventure looks fabulous.

Well that looks like marvellous fun Colin! Love to you and Trish. How did you love the magnificence of Maine? I am heading to NYC for a visit in mid November. Will you both be there by chance? Baci from bella Roma. Joxxx

Dear Colin
My brother Alan sent me this and I was excited to read your blog
Alan in my visits home is wonderful at keeping me a little up to date over happening s of family who I do not see but hold many many fond memories from my childhood
Most interesting
Barb Savage(nee. Conolly)

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