Fall 2015: offerings of nostalgia

If you’ve read my column in years past, I would hope that you could at least surmise that I enjoy following trends in the fields of theatre, film, and television.  While trends develop based on circumstances that seem to affect the national movements of these fields, we too in Sheridan have seemed to developed our own microcosmic trend of designating November as a theatre-heavy month.  On an even more remarkable level, it would seem that all three of the major productions that I’m aware of convey a common theme - on both obvious and subtle levels - of nostalgia for times past; more specifically, how they might actually give reason to reflect on our present and future.

As of this printing, two productions are already underway.  The Civic Theatre Guild is presenting the final four performances of the Norman Barasch comedy, “Standing By.” Tackling the very sensitive issue of finding love in the midst of a cancer diagnosis, Barasch injects just the right amount of humor to keep the play relatively upbeat and not without a sense of hope.  As for nostalgia, the play was written by a man that made his living writing for sitcoms in the Golden Age of network television.  Having written for sitcoms like “Rhoda,” Barasch seems to channel himself into the male lead in this play, who himself is almost something of a relic, but nonetheless a major player in the cultural evolution of the art.  It might do you well to take note of the references he makes, and consider how those might be used in this new era of cable and on-demand television viewing, in which the major network are almost no longer major.  “Standing By” plays at the Carriage House Theater tonight, Friday, and Saturday at 7:30p, and this Sunday at 2:00p.

Speaking of relics (in a complimentary tone, I assure you), newly anointed Sheridan High School Drama Club Director Erin Kranz will be stepping off the stage and settling into the director’s chair for her SHS debut with an old standby: Thornton Wilder’s “Our Town.”  Laden with educational value, “Our Town” is a wistful doting upon a small New England town and its history from 1901 to 1913.  The play generally focuses on the lives and intertwining of two of the town’s flagship families, but offers enough perspective on the many quirky fringe characters of the establishment, and more specifically how their actions affected the future of the community … or not.  It’s hard to NOT draw parallels between this fictional town and Sheridan, as at that time, both communities were in their youth, and just on the cusp of figuring out what they may become.  As a point of reference, the construction of Kendrick Mansion ended in 1913.  I would almost recommend that, as you attend, you replace all mentions of the town’s name, “Grover’s Corners” with that of our own.  I have a feeling the histories of the two communities - albeit that one is fictional - would have a similar chain of events.  “Our Town” plays at the Sue Henry Theater for the Performing Arts at SHS tonight, Friday, and Saturday at 7:00p, with a matinee this Sunday at 2:00p.

Finally, Sheridan College Theatre Dept. invites us to the Mars Theater in the WYO for their production of the bedroom farce “Boeing Boeing.”  In some regards, the play is a commentary on how evolving technology vastly affected the general concept of time, and some other themes evolve as well.  Set in Paris in the 1960s, this production sees a swinging bachelor who is “engaged” to three separate stewardesses, and is able to maintain this ruse, as long as their schedules stay the same, and only one is in Paris at any given time.  Enter the new faster Boeing jet that was introduced in the 60s, which vastly altered flight schedules to accommodate more travel.  In this particular play, all three of these stewardesses end up being in the same place at the same time, effectively sprinkling the appropriate amount of chaos to the protagonist’s Bunburying (google it, that’s your treat).  Much of the marketing is suggesting that this production evokes the stylistic qualities of “Mad Men.” I can only hope that, like that show, attention is paid to scrutinizing the patriarchal pot belly that often hung over the belt loops of that time. “Boeing Boeing” will be produced next weekend, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, November 19, 20, and 21 at 7:30p, with a matinee on Saturday the 19th at 2:00p.

I’m hoping to attend all of these, and if you see me, I love me a good chat about the stage.  I’ll see you at intermission!