Christmas 2022

December 24-25, 2022 — Some of the worst weather in a generation moved cross-country from west to east, but somehow spared our small pocket in New Hampshire and Massachusetts, and I was able to make my annual two-hour drive to spend one of the coldest Christmases in memory with my relatives in their south shore community.

Historic snowstorms buried cities throughout the nation, notably in Ohio and western New York. Buffalo was covered in five feet of snow, paralyzing the city and resulting in about 30 deaths. While all this was going on, a warm front brought heavy rain and temperatures in the 50s up the east coast into New England on December 23. The next day, temperature fell off a cliff to single numbers with wind chills below zero. But highways were clear.

Since the beginning of the pandemic, in an abundance of caution I've been avoiding parties with large numbers of people in enclosed spaces. So rather than join my extended family at their Christmas party, I've stayed at my sister's house and we hook up with them over Skype. You can see my Skype setup and photos and videos with contributions from photographers at both locations at this link:

https://www.linwoodstreet.com/christmas22/

"A Safe Passage"

November 5, 2022 — In the confines of a small theater with audience close to players, drama can be very intense. You're part of it. That's the way it is at the Players' Ring in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. The theater occupies a portion of a 19th century brick building owned by the city of Portsmouth. The brick-walled theater seats a mere 75 on three sides of a ground-level stage.

Glass Dove Productions was presenting "A Safe Passage," Ireland-based playwright Irene Kelleher's fourth play. Catherine Stewart directed this performance. Tayva Young, whose work has enhanced so many theater KAPOW productions I've enjoyed, did the very effective lighting, an important part of this play. In fact, everyone deserves recognition for tackling the unique challenges of presenting a play in such a small space. Stage design and props were the responsibility of Quentin Stockwell. CJ Lewis was in charge of sound. Corrie Owens-Beauchesne was the stage manager.

The setting is a lighthouse on the Irish coast on New Years Eve, 1979. The cast consists of just two actors. Christy (Andrew Codispoti), a lighthouse keeper who has never gotten over a tragedy in his past, has only occasional radio contact with the shore to keep him company. He takes wind and other readings and reports conditions on the radio, makes notes in his log, paces around the realistic lighthouse on the Ring's small stage with the keeper's desk and communications equipment on one side, a spiral staircase, lanterns, trunks and other clutter scattered around. We have to imagine a view of the sea from one corner that Christy keeps returning to as a storm moves in. He also frequently stops at a small table on which a bottle of Jameson's Irish Whiskey and a glass sit. He examines some papers and pictures on the table, but doesn't drink.

A crash of thunder, flash of lightning and loss of lights plunges the stage and entire theater briefly into darkness, startling the audience. In a dim returning light, a woman (Emily Karel) can be seen standing outside the lighthouse. Christy shouts at her to get off the rocks where she's in grave danger. He finally gets her into the lighthouse. She's cold, wet, wearing rather sexy party attire. He offers her blankets and dry clothes which she refuses. She remains silent as he questions her as to how she got there, her name, her intentions. Could she have been planning suicide? How could that be? He suffered devastating loss but found the will to go on. He radios shore for emergency rescue. There's no response.

When the woman finally gets her voice, she taunts Christy. Their relationship immediately turns hostile. He begins to pour a glass of Jameson's for her, but she grabs the bottle and drinks directly from it. When she urges him to drink, he claims he never touches the stuff. Their conversation becomes increasingly contentious, sometimes leading to physical violence. Christy starts hitting the Jameson's. As I mentioned at the beginning, in the small confines of this theater, the audience almost becomes part of the action, especially with such convincing actors as Codispoti and Karel.

I'm reluctant to describe any more of this tense play for fear of lessening its impact on those who may see it. As Stewart, the director, puts it, when we invite a stranger into our lives our world can be turned upside down, in good or terrible ways.

"[title of show]"

October 30, 2022 — Yes, that's the title, [title of show], brackets included. The Winnipesaukee Playhouse Education Department in Meredith, New Hampshire, staged this unusual musical, originally presented by Bridge Club Productions in 2004, produced by the Vineyard Theatre in New York City in 2006 and on Broadway in 2008. The "Winni" cast consisted of four appealing, talented teens. They were Miles Sargent as Jeff, Rafael Vazquez as Hunter, Drea Campo as Heidi and Riley DeGange as Susan. Timothy L'Ecuyer directed this production. Judy Hayward was music director and also accompanied on the piano, with occasional comments, as Mary. Matthew S. Crane designed the set and Wendy Davidson the costumes.

With music and lyrics by Jeff Bowen and book by Hunter Bell, the show takes us through its own creative process in dialog and song. The best was a song and dance routine by Sargent and Vazquez early in the performance, complete with bowler hats and canes, laced with profanity, mostly by Vazquez. The Winnipesaukee Playhouse's promos have the disclaimer that the production contains "mature language and some references to mature situations. It may not be appropriate for all audiences." One of the actors was 14 years old. All but one were under 18.

The young, energetic cast kept the 90-minute show without intermission moving at a fast pace. Aside from Sargent and Vazquez's routine described above, I wasn't particularly impressed with the music. But my musical theater tastes evolved in a different generation with the likes of Oklahoma, South Pacific and Brigadoon. The audience definitely was pleased with this production. Upon leaving and looking back on what I had seen, I thought yes, all and all, this was a good show. So I can still say unconditionally I've never been disappointed in a Winnipesaukee Playhouse production.

Jalopy Hill Climb

October 22, 2022 — Not a car show in the strictest sense, but a gathering of hot rods testing drivers' skill and car endurance speeding about a mile up a rough-cut dirt road at a working granite quarry. I thought it would be a fun event to end the season, and provide some good photo and video action. I wasn't disappointed.

Named Jalopy Hill Climb, the event took place in Campton, New Hampshire, on the edge of the White Mountain National Forest, with panoramic views of the mountains from the top of the hill in the waning days of fall color on a day of fantastic weather. I'm not normally a hot rod enthusiast, but I must say these people love their cars and are the most enthusiastic group I ever had the pleasure of spending a day with. I got to ride in a couple of modestly rodded-up cars, a 1950 Ford and a 1934 Chevrolet, in both cases shooting video inside the cars while interviewing the drivers.

My coverage of the event can be seen at the following link. Be sure to play all the videos, they're the best part.

https://www.linwoodstreet.com/jalopy/

Granite State Season Closer

October 15, 2022 — My second show of the day was the Granite State Season Closer, sponsored by NH Muscle Cars, a 45-minute drive away at the Brookvale Pines Farm in Fremont, New Hampshire. I arrived shortly after noontime, my first time there, to find picturesque rolling fields covered with mostly customs and muscle cars. Cars lined up to take turns on a mound above the fields to pose individually for photographers, yielding some very nice photo ops.

The show wasn't as productive for me as the Little Red School House, but the beautiful weather continued through the afternoon and colorful fall leaves provided enhanced backgrounds for the cars. You can view the results of my efforts at this link:

https://www.linwoodstreet.com/seasoncloser/

Little Red School House

October 15, 2022 — The Antique Vehicle Meet & Tour, sponsored by the Bean Pot Chapter of the Antique Automobile Club of America (AACA), is one of those must-see shows. Coming in mid-October, it often ends the car show season in the northeast, although this season it was followed by two more shows.

Held at the Tyngsboro-Dunstable Historical Society's Little Red School House & Field in Dunstable, Massachusetts, the picturesque 1798 school house and colorful New England fall foliage provide a photogenic backdrop for antique car display. The show draws many high-quality antiques, although many of the same cars tend to show up every year, a problem I'm having after covering shows in a relatively small geographic area of the northeast for seventeen years, with only occasional forays into New York state and Pennsylvania.

If you've been a regular visitor to my site for several years, you'll see repeat appearances by some cars, but I like to think their beauty deserves encores. You can view my effort at the Little Red School House at this link:

https://www.linwoodstreet.com/beanpot2022/

Brimfield Auto Show

October 8, 2022 — The Brimfield Auto Show has changed its name and location, but both only slightly. Formerly called the Brimfield Antique Auto Show, they have eliminated Antique from the title, opening it up to a more inclusive show, welcoming cars of all ages right up to the present. It does seem to have made the show much larger compared to previous years. They've also moved a few blocks on Route 20 from Heart-o-the-Mart to larger fields adjacent to the Brimfield Winery. Brimfield is located in central Massachusetts in an area known as the Pioneer Valley.

Personally, I preferred the Heart-o-the-Mart location. Opening up the show to models of all years has indeed resulted in a significant increase in cars, but even with the increased space, the show was over-crowded and over-busy. Cars were coming in almost all day, and by mid-day incoming and outgoing cars, maneuvering around spectators, were creating minor traffic jams. Long lines were forming at food vendors and comfort stations.

Those complaints aside, it was a productive show for photography. Proof of that can be seen on my website pages:

https://www.linwoodstreet.com/brimfield22/

Castle Car Show

October 1, 2022 — It was a close call, but after devastating Florida, parts of Georgia and the Carolinas, hurricane Ian spread heavy rain and wind all the way up the east coast to southern New England, but central New Hampshire proved to be out of its reach, and the Castle Car Show in Moultonborough went on as scheduled. The annual show was held in the lower fields just below Castle in the Clouds, a popular New Hampshire attraction. Skies were mostly cloudy but with light winds and moderate temperature.

There was a heavy turnout of both cars and spectators. There were cars to satisfy every automotive taste, including classics, '50s standards, customs and imports in a scenic setting. It's one of the shows I most look forward to each year. You can see my photographic coverage at this link:

https://www.linwoodstreet.com/castle2022/

"Murder for Two"

September 29, 2022 — There's been a murder. A detective arrives to investigate and begins questioning a houseful of suspects, all of whom have an alibi but all of whom also have motive and opportunity. Evidence seems to lead to one individual, only to prove false, then lead to another. Clues appear and disappear. Suspects tell conflicting stories. Red herrings abound. The culprit isn't identified until the final minutes. Are you thinking an Agatha Christie mystery? Not this time.

Murder for Two is a murder mystery set to music with comic antics which had its world premiere at the Chicago Shakespeare Theater in 2011 with lyrics by Kellen Blair and music by Joe Kinosian. The Winnipesaukee Playhouse in Meredith, New Hampshire has produced the play under the direction of Clayton Phillips. Judy Hayward is the music director, Matthew S. Crane the scenic designer and Christina Vargas the costume designer.

A cast of only two carry this spoof of traditional murder mysteries in about ninety minutes with intermission. Micah Weese is detective Marcus Moscowicz. Mark Schenfisch plays all the suspects, allegedly thirteen, although I couldn't count that many. The story is told mostly in song lyrics by the two actors who also play a grand piano, sometimes individually, sometimes together. Novelist Arthur Whitney is done in by a gunshot early in the first act. Detective Moscowicz begins his investigation of Schenfisch's odd-ball characters. Among them, besides the late Whitney, was Whitney's wife and a ballerina, a psychiatrist and three choirboys. There were no costume changes. Schenfisch skillfully portrays the different characters with subtle changes in voice and mannerisms. He gets down on his knees as the short choirboys, distinguishing them simply by changing the position of his baseball cap.

The performance of the two actors is a tour de force. The huge parlor of an isolated manor in rural New England is a masterpiece of design and construction. To me, the play seemed to get better as it progressed. The energy level never flags from beginning to end. It's a late-season triumph for the Winnipesaukee Playhouse.

Stratham Hill Car Show

September 25, 2022 — The full name of this show is the 29th Annual Stratham Hill Car and Bike Show. Boy Scout Troop 85 presents this show at Stratham Hill Park each year. It's one of the better New Hampshire shows, but attracts many of the same cars year after year, so to avoid a lot of repetition I've greatly reduced my coverage. Still, if you're not a regular visitor to my site, most of the photos may be of cars you haven's seen before. I've also included nine motorcycles, a few very rare and original. You may view this series, one of my shortest of the season, at this link:

https://www.linwoodstreet.com/stratham22/

Carriagetown Car Show 2022

September 24, 2022 — A variety of outstanding vehicles, a picturesque downtown as background, convenient parking and good dining all add up to make this one of my favorite shows of the season. On this particular day, bright sun and moderate temperature completed a perfect day. Amesbury, Massachusetts is the home of this annual show. Cartoonist Al Capp, creator of Li'l Abner, shmoos, Fearless Fosdick and Sadie Hawkins Day once called Amesbury home. You'll find some outstanding vehicles in this pleasant, hilly city at this link:

https://www.linwoodstreet.com/carriagetown2022/

39th Rye Lions Car Show

September 18, 2022 — It was the 39th annual Rye Lions Club Car Show in Rye, New Hampshire, and my second show this weekend. It's been a summer of incredibly good luck with weekend weather. I can only remember one show all season that got rained out. However, extreme heat was also a feature of this season, hot enough to reduce participation in some shows. But temperature was moderate for this particular show.

Rye Lions is a long-time favorite. You'll see many of the same cars return year after year, but you can depend on it for a few surprises. This year's show featured some very rare vehicles, including a couple of  models I had never heard of. Competition Motors LLC of Portsmouth, NH brought two of their restored Bugattis from the '20s. There was also a 1958 AC and a 1935 Fiat Balilla. You can see these and many others at:

https://www.linwoodstreet.com/rye22/

Aviation Weekend

September 17, 2022 — The American Heritage Museum in Hudson, Massachusetts had a busy Saturday. They featured two World War I planes, one original, the other a replica, and both planes were flown. Later, there was a WWI battle reenactment featuring a WWI M1917 tank. As if that were not enough, over one hundred Model A Fords from the Ford Model A Regional Auto Show were invited. On top of all that, their three museums, American Heritage, Historic Aviation Hangar and Classic Automobile Barn were open. On Sunday, they repeated all except the appearance by the Model A's.

The two World War I planes were a Nieuport 28, restored but 80 per cent original, and a replica of a SPAD VII. Both planes were flown, and while they were on the ground, spectators were allowed to give them a close inspection while experts described their attributes and answered questions. Many photos of the planes, Model A's, and videos of the planes in flight at this link:

https://www.linwoodstreet.com/wwiweekend/

Kiwanis Car Show 2022

September 10, 2022 — The Kiwanis Club returned after a two-year absence to New Hampshire Technical Institute in Concord for their 35th annual car show. It was somewhat disappointing. This was a show where you could count on high turnout and wide variety year after year. But it seems to be a victim of the general decline in interest I've observed in many shows, especially since the beginning of the pandemic in 2020.

Indeed, many former good shows have disappeared for good, such as the Vermont shows in Manchester and Bennington, the Hemmings Concours d'Elegance which was last held in Saratoga Springs, New York in 2019, and the biggest disappointment for car enthusiasts in the Eastern Massachusetts-Southern New Hampshire region, the permanent closure of the popular Skip's Snack Bar in Merrimac, Massachusetts. Skip's held bi-weekly cruise nights and an annual mega-cruise for the last 25 years of their more than 70-year history. This past season they had no car shows and limited open hours due to inability to get help and announced at the end of the season it would be their last.

Record heat and high fuel cost may have been responsible for some of the decline this season. If that's the case, maybe we can hope for a rebound if weather and gas return to more reasonable levels. My photos of one of the smallest-ever Kiwanis shows can be viewed at this link:

https://www.linwoodstreet.com/kiwanis22/

"The Conference of the Birds"

September 8, 2022 — It was my second play this season in Meredith, New Hampshire at the Winnipesaukee Playhouse’s outdoor amphitheater, built in 2020 to provide a safer outdoor space for patrons during the pandemic. In July, “Robin Hood,” was terminated right about the halfway point when rain sent actors and audience scurrying for cover. The rain continued and the play was not resumed that evening. Full credit for admission was granted to all attendees in the form of gift certificates. The play would be in its final run the next day, not convenient for me, so I held on to my certificate until today’s play, never learning how “Robin Hood” ended.

Today’s presentation was the most unusual performance I’ve ever seen. “The Conference of the Birds” is a 900 B.C. sufi poem by Farid ud-Din Attar. This stage version was written by Peter Brook and Jean-Claude Carriere in 1977. The Winnipesaukee Production was wonderfully directed by Teisha Duncan. Klimchak (he only uses one name) composed and performed the score. The many colorful costumes were designed by Nick Cochran.

The cast, each playing multiple roles, featured Lupa Aguilar, Sarvin Alidaee, Nazlah Black, Erica Colarusso, Krystal Pope, Viviana Renteria and Alyssa Naka Silver. Klimchak was seated off to the side of the stage with all the instruments and other devices he used to produce the musical score and other sounds.

I have to own up to the fact that before I could complete writing down my impressions of this play, I had to do some research. The play moved too fast for me to catch all the dialog, action and underlying subtleties. The plot goes like this — the birds of the world have to decide who is to be their king. The leader of the birds tells them they have to cross seven valleys to reach Simorgh. The valleys are Quest, Love, Knowledge, Detachment, Unity, Wonderment and last but not least the valley of Poverty and Annihilation. Got that? Of course, these valleys are all human qualities and failures.

The cast of seven, in colorful costumes, face paint, masks and other adornments, frequently changing to different characters, performed beautifully in just an hour without intermission at a hectic pace, very close to the audience in the small amphitheater. Unlike my earlier experience, there was no danger of a rain-out on this sunny day with moderate temperature in the 70s in New Hampshire’s Lakes Region.

Cruising Downtown

September 3, 2022 — Cruising Downtown, Manchester, New Hampshire's annual car show always held on the Saturday of Labor Day weekend, had perfect summer weather for this year's show. It now ranks among the largest shows in New England. They have counted over 1,000 cars at a few past shows. I haven't heard an official count for this show, but I thought it was one of the biggest I've seen. It fills several blocks of Manchester's main drag, Elm Street, as well as Veterans Memorial Park, several side streets, and this year they made space on the Notre Dame Bridge for NH Muscle Car members to display their cars, creating what could be called a show-within-a-show.

The show never lacks for variety. You'll find everything from rat rods to customs to muscle cars, all the way up to classics of the '20s, '30s and '40s in original condition. You'll walk about four miles to cover the entire show. I'm not pretending it's like being there, but you can view my photos and videos of the event on your PC, laptop or phone at this link:

https://www.linwoodstreet.com/cruising2022/

Aleppo Shriners Car Show

August 28, 2022 — The Aleppo Shriners, besides their fine work benefiting children, know how to put on a great car show. Cars overflowed their spacious auditorium in Wilmington, Massachusetts, and began filling the parking lot. There was a good mix of classics, muscle cars and customs. The customs showed real mechanical and artistic talent, with a good dose of humor.

You'll find many of the best examples in my photo coverage of the event at this link:

https://www.linwoodstreet.com/aleppo2022/

Bean Pot Summer Show

August 20, 2022 — The Antique Automobile Club of America (AACA) Beanpot Region once again presented their annual show at Melmaark New England in Andover, Massachusetts. Melmark serves individuals with autism and has generously made their property available for the show for several years.

This show is gaining in popularity, with increasingly higher turnout of show cars and spectators with each passing year. My photos from this year's show can be seen at this link:

https://www.linwoodstreet.com/beanpotsummer22/

Antique and Classic Car Meet

August 13, 2022 — The granddaddy of New England car shows, the Antique and Classic Car Meet in Waterbury, Vermont, formerly in Stowe, isn't what it used to be, but it can still generate excitement albeit on a smaller scale. I've attended this show, presented by Vermont Automobile Enthusiasts (VAE), thirteen out of its last fifteen years.

In 2018, after sixty years in Stowe, the three-day show moved to Waterbury. This year was its 65th annual show. Farr's Field in Waterbury is better for car display than the cow pastures of Nichols Field in Stowe, but the cow pastures had a charm all their own. Waterbury can't match the intimate small-town feel of Stowe for the Saturday afternoon car parade and evening street dancing. I miss Stowe Volunteer Fire Department's cooking and dining under tents in Stowe. In Waterbury, it's hard to find shelter from the hot sun (or some years rain). Some have complained about a lack of variety in the show, with many of the same cars appearing year after year.

With the exception of one year out of thirteen, I've always attended the Saturday show which offers the most variety of the three days. There's a fashion show on the field where owners dress in the same period as their cars and compete for awards. The cars leave the field at 3:30 p.m. and drive into town for a parade. Following that, there's a break of over an hour where you can find a place to dine, then street dancing to '50s rock music commences.

I arise at 5:30 Saturday morning and get ready to make the more than two-hour drive north. I usually leave as street dancing begins and arrive home after 9 p.m. after my longest car show of the season. It's still an exciting day in spite of the shortcomings I mentioned, and I hope to do it again.

You can view my coverage, videos and stills, of the 2022 show at this link:

https://www.linwoodstreet.com/vermont22/

Vintage Racing Concours d'Elegance

August 7, 2022 — This year's annual Concours d'Elegance at the Vintage Racing Stable in Sanbornton, New Hampshire was far below previous years' participation, probably because of the blistering heat in this hottest summer in recent memory. But three classic Rolls Royces, one formerly owned by Mrs. Alice Vanderbilt, a Packard from the '30s, along with the Racing Stable's own rare classic cars and other entries, both domestic and imported, made it a day well-spent.

I photographed all the best, at least in my opinion, and would like to share them with you at this link:

https://www.linwoodstreet.com/vintageracing22/

"Black Coffee"

August 2, 2022 — "Black Coffee" was British novelist Agatha Christie's first effort written for the stage, produced in 1930. The Barnstormers Theatre in Tamworth, New Hampshire, is currently presenting it, one of many Christie plays they have staged over their 92 years. Blair Hundertmark directed this excellent production. Rachel Rose Burke designed the sumptuous British parlor in which all the action takes place, and Alison Pugh was responsible for the costumes, perfect for the period.

The cast of twelve included some of the Barnstormers' finest veteran actors and a few equally impressive talents we haven't seen before. To summarize, Sir Claud Amory (Bob Bates) has discovered his formula for an explosive has been stolen from his safe. He calls Hercule Poirot (Steve Barkhimer), Christie's famous detective who appears in many of her plays and novels. Sir Claud then gathers his sister Caroline (the always delightful Vinette Cotter), his son Richard (Neil Redfield) and Richard's Italian wife Lucia (Miyuki Miyagi), niece Barbara (Lisa Joyce, a big hit with the audience for her scene-stealing turn in the second act), secretary Edward Raynor (well-played, a bit on the sleazy side, by Robert St. Laurence) and the Italian Dr. Carelli (long-time Barnstormers favorite Doug Shapiro), an old friend of Lucia. The very refined John Schnatterly had the small but no less important role of Tredwell the butler.

As Lucia serves coffee, Sir Claud demands a cup before anyone else is served, complains that it's  bitter, then announces to the assembled group that all lights will be turned off briefly. If whoever took the envelope containing his formula places it on the table, no further action will be taken. If it is not returned, Sir Claud will take steps to find and prosecute the thief.

The lights go out, plunging the room into total darkness, there are a few screams, a thud or two, but when the lights come back on, the envelope is on the table, no one appears to have moved, and Sir Claud is still seated where he was, but motionless with eyes closed. When he fails to respond, Dr. Carelli examines him and declares him dead!

Detective Poirot arrives with Captain Arthur Hastings (John Long). Most of the group believes Sir Claud died of natural causes. Poirot isn't willing to take that for granted and takes a sample of the remains in Sir Claud's coffee cup. Later, Dr. Graham (Will Johnston) confirms the sample contains poison and that was the cause of Sir Claud's death.

Now the investigation begins in the best of Dame Agatha's style, with red herrings aplenty confusing the audience. The envelope returned to the table when the lights were out was empty. There was a duplicate key to Sir Claud's safe. It's revealed Lucia's mother was an international spy. Lucia claims Carelli was blackmailing her. She admits she once contemplated suicide. Does any of this have anything to do with the crime? There's even a confession which proves false. Where do we go from here? Inspector Japp (Lee Hollis Bussie), a take-charge kind of guy, arrives. In true Christie fashion, the perpetrator isn't revealed until the final minutes and it's not necessarily someone you may have suspected.

I've seen several Agathe Christie plays at The Barnstormers. No theater does them better. "Black Coffee" was new to me, and it didn't disappoint.

Show-n-Shine

July 31, 2022 — It was the 26th annual Show-n-Shine in Sanford, Maine, and somehow it got by me all those years. It was the first time I'd heard of it, so I decided to check it out. It didn't take long to realize the densely-packed, sprawling exhibit along a busy highway in Sanford was not my kind of show. Nothing wrong with it if you're a dedicated late model muscle car enthusiast, but I'm a classics fan in love with early brass era cars all the way up to the '70s, as original as possible, and that's what my website specializes in.

But I was there so I decided to make the most of it. I found a few old standards and some humorous customs. I have to admit some of these muscle cars are pretty impressive, including quite a few Japanese offerings that have been updated to muscle class by their talented owners.

Out of a field of approximately 200 vehicles, I came away after an hour and a half with 26 carefully-chosen photos. I'd like to suggest to muscle, custom and street rod enthusiasts that they find someone with a camera and some elementary web construction ability, it's not that hard, to start a website for them. Maybe some already exist. Do a search.

"The Legend of Georgia McBride"

July 20, 2022 — I have to comment on this latest presentation at the Barnstormers Theatre in Tamworth, New Hampshire very carefully. Last year when I reviewed “The Bøyg” I received an email from the playwright correcting me when I innocently stepped into the minefield of 21st Century gender references. But I will say unequivocally that "The Legend of Georgia McBride" by Matthew Lopez was hilarious, sometimes poignant, and received the greatest audience enthusiasm I've witnessed in some time.

Casey (Jordan Ahnquist) earns a meager salary and poor tips as an Elvis Presley impersonator in a drag queen theater. Bills are unpaid, rent is overdue, and his wife, Jo (Kira Sarai Helper), has just informed him they're going to become parents. Things only get worse when Rexy (short for Anorexia), played in convincing drag by Dyllan Vallier, is too drunk to appear in the evening show. Casey is chosen to be Rexy's replacement. Horrified at the thought, Casey refuses, until the manager, Eddie (Barnstormers veteran Bob Bates) tells him to either put on the dress or be fired. Having no choice, Casey agrees. With the assistance of Miss Tracy Mills (Brian Charles Rooney in a marvelously over-the-top performance), Casey changes into all the accoutrements of drag in full view of the audience, egged on by their cheers.

Casey assumes the name Georgia McBride and with Miss Tracy Mills' coaching his drag performance is a smashing success, the tips are non-stop, and he comes home to show Jo a fistful of cash, enough to pay the rent and all their bills, and the promise of more of the same. In an omission that will come back to haunt him later, he doesn't tell her how he earned this windfall.

Jo remains unaware of Casey's new role until one day she stops by the theater and discovers him in full drag costume. Stunned and humiliated, Jo packs Casey's things and orders him out of her life. I won't give away all the details of the ending, but suffice it to say all's well that ends well.

This was a pretty risqué play for the Barnstormers, but the audience loved it. Their enthusiasm, laughter and cheers had to be gratifying for the actors. There's a lesson here. In mostly conservative New Hampshire, any lifestyle you choose to pursue, as long as it causes no harm, is OK with us.

Taylor Shubert was the director and choreographer. Rachel Rose Burke designed the scenery. The many costumes Patty Hatch Hibbert designed were an important part of the production.

Misselwood Concours d'Elegance

July 17, 2022 — The Misselwood Concours d'Elegance at Endicott College in Beverly, Massachusetts, in its 13th year, is one of New England's premier car shows. Although far from the largest, it's combination of rare and beautiful vehicles and a picturesque setting overlooking the sea set it apart from the average show. Its status as a concours d'elegance dictates that a car exhibited in any given year cannot return for three years, assuring that you will see a whole new collection of vehicles most years if you're a repeat attendee.

This year's show featured three vehicles that appeared in popular '80s movies, the 1949 Buick Roadmaster driven by Tom Cruise and Dustin Hoffman in "Rain Man," Michael J. Fox's 1985 Toyota SR5 from "Back to the Future" and Christopher Lloyd's 1949 Packard Custom Victoria from all three "Future" movies. Besides these gems, there were many other rare vehicles, domestic and imported, among them names that may be unfamiliar to even serious antique car aficionados.

https://www.linwoodstreet.com/misselwood22/

Aviation Museum Car Show

July 16, 2022 — The Classic Car Show at the Aviation Museum in Londonderry, New Hampshire has grown from a small gathering to a major exhibit in its short history. After admiring the mix of many vehicles of various varieties and vintages, a walk through the museum with its antique planes, aviation artifacts and history can be rewarding, but it needs expansion. The exhibits are really too much for the small space, and when you add people, navigation and especially photography become problematic. But it's still worth exploring.

My coverage of the car show and museum can be seen at this link:

https://www.linwoodstreet.com/aviation2022/

BSAAC Car Show

July 10, 2022 — The Bay State Antique Auto Club returned to the Endicott Estate in Dedham, Massachusetts after a two-year absence due to the pandemic. There was a bit more empty space on the sprawling estate grounds than pre-pandemic, but a show of this size, sometimes over 1,000, could lose 200 cars and still have an impressive turnout of vehicles. The Heritage Museums and Gardens in Sandwich, Massachusetts, usually brought one of their antique cars to the show in the past, but were absent this year.

The weather was perfect, low 80s, low humidity, typical for this rain-free summer so far. There may be a price to pay as a widening area of New England slides into severe drought. But those of us who love our car shows are delighted with weekend after weekend without cancellations or postponements due to weather.

You can see my coverage of the biggest car show so far this season at this link:

https://www.linwoodstreet.com/endicott2022/

"Into the Woods"

July 7, 2022 — In the roughly dozen years I've been traveling to the Barnstormers Theatre in Tamworth, New Hampshire, to attend their consistently excellent live performances, "Into the Woods" was the biggest, most ambitious production I can ever remember seeing at this theater. With music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim and book by James Lapine, the musical won three major Tony awards on Broadway in 1987. Clayton Phillips directed and choreographed this production for the Barnstormers. Bret Silverman was music director. The excellent scenic design was by Jonathan Dahm Robertson and Jose Avendano designed props. Truly stunning costume design was achieved by Patty Hatch Hibbert.

Full disclosure: I am not generally a Stephen Sondheim fan, even though he wrote one of my favorite songs of all time, "Send in the Clowns." That fact might color my review of this excellent production with  its cast of seventeen highly talented singers and actors. Great voices, fine direction, superb stagecraft, costumes and the Barnstormers' new sound system came together for one of the best New Hampshire summer theater experiences of the past several years. My issues are with Sondheim's songs which simply don't match my musical taste (except for the aforementioned), flawed though my taste may be, and some elements of the plot.

"Into the Woods" brings together several of Grimm's individual fairy tales in one story line. Among them are Little Red Riding Hood, Cinderella, Jack and the Beanstalk, Rapunzel and others. The baker and his wife wish for a child but a witch's curse prevents it. Jack wishes his cow would give milk. Cinderella wishes her abusive stepsister would allow her to go to the ball. Jack's mother wishes for wealth. Red Riding Hood wishes for treats to bring to her grandmother. The characters are sent on a search of the woods by the witch to retrieve certain items that may or may not allow them to realize their wishes. The first act is filled with their misadventures in the woods, all set to Sondheim's music.

In the second act, "be careful what you wish for" could be the important lesson to be learned. The outcome of their bargain with the witch results in disaster, in a few cases tragedy, for some of the characters. The fate of some of these characters is rather jarring to the audience. However, I found the songs more appealing in Act 2.

Michael Ursua and Mary McNulty as the baker and his wife were the leads. Cheryl Mullings, a frequent Barnstormers performer and one of my favorites, played the witch in a terrific costume that hid her face in a brilliantly designed witch's mask, until she loses her powers and her natural face is revealed. Her powerful voice filled the theater with several of the show's best songs. The other fourteen cast members represented the finest assemblage of talent I've seen in a New Hampshire summer theater performance in quite some time.

Should you see "Into the Woods" if it comes your way? Absolutely! My review is my personal opinion and my opinion alone. Stephen Sondheim was one of America's finest composers and had the success and awards to prove it, my opinion notwithstanding.

4th of July Classic Car Show

July 4, 2022 — The town of Amherst, New Hampshire, observed Independence Day featuring antique cars, a parade and dozens of booths and exhibits on the town's Village Green in what we think of as a typical patriotic celebration in small town America on a day of ideal weather.

A video and photos of highlights of the event can be seen at this link:

https://www.linwoodstreet.com/amherst4th/

Medfield on the Charles

June 26, 2022 — The temperature exceeded 90 degrees for the first time since back in May for Medfield on the Charles in Medfield, Massachetts, one of New England's biggest car shows. Before the show, I read they anticipated 800 vehicles. I don't know whether they got that many. I'm not good at estimating number of cars, but it was one of largest gatherings I've seen in a few years. By the time I passed up all cars with raised hoods (my nemesis) and many I'd seen before, I ended up with photos of a relatively small percentage of the total. Still, it was the second greatest number of pictures from one show so far this season.

Unlike yesterday's show in Newport, New Hampshire, I'm happy with the variety of photos I got. To fill out the series, I included some pictures of the old Medfield State Hospital buildings and property where the show is held. The Cultural Alliance of Medfield is transforming the chapel and adjacent building into a performing arts center.

 https://www.linwoodstreet.com/medfield2022/

Newport Wings & Wheels

June 25, 2022 — The Newport Wings and Wheels Car Show, held at the Parlin Field Airport, Newport, New Hampshire, was presented by the former hosts of the Sunapee Antique & Collectible Motor Vehicle Show which was held at the Mount Sunapee Ski Area in nearby Newbury. In my opinion, this is an unfortunate change of venue. Parlin Field is sprawling and flat and cars are spread out more than necessary, necessitating too much walking. There are no nearby buildings and no shade unless you step into the woods surrounding the field. There are also few places to sit. Even the truck food vendors offer very limited seating.

I enjoyed the show at the more scenic and photogenic Sunapee for many years, where they have two ski lodges, at least one always open during the show, with tables and seating, rest rooms, nice views from their verandas, and better food and ample picnic tables. At most shows they ran the skiers' chair lift and you could ride to the top of the mountain for some spectacular views, then ride back down. They also drew far more cars. I'll miss Sunapee which had its last show in 2019.

I didn't find a lot that appealed to me among the vehicles at Parlin. There were also small planes on display, but unfortunately with no information posted on them and hard to find anyone to answer questions. We saw a few planes taxi down the long grassy runway, but upon reaching the end of that runway, they turned and went out of sight, apparently taking off from another runway.

I selected some of the best vehicles and planes at the show for my website. You can see them at this link:

https://www.linwoodstreet.com/newportnhshow/

 

1 Day, 2 Shows

June 18, 2022 — I headed for Maine for the second time this season to the town of Wells for the Maine Coastal Cruisers' 25th anniversary car show at Wells Junior High School. There was ample room on the junior high's spacious parking lots for the medium-size collection of vehicles. Although not one of the largest shows so far this season, it was rewarding in its variety. An advantage of being in Maine was that it offered many cars I hadn't seen before in my travels to car shows this year in a relatively small area of New Hampshire and Massachusetts. A highlight of the show was a fleet of beautifully restored antique pickup trucks.

Returning home from the Maine show I stopped at the Classic Car & Pin-Up Party in Manchester, New Hampshire at what appeared to be a hastily-arranged show featuring antique and late model cars and rock bands. Cars were parked at angles along a stretch of Manchester's main drag, Elm Street, with their front ends jutting out into the busy street which remained open to traffic. Getting in front of the cars for photographs took some careful timing to avoid the fast-moving city traffic that seemed to come within inches of the show cars. Overall, photography was the most difficult I could remember.

I never did learn what the "Pin-Up Party" was all about, but I didn't see any evidence of it while I was there. I left to go home for supper, thinking I might return, but it started raining, so the pin-ups, whoever they were, might never have made an appearance.

My coverage of the Maine show can be seen at this link:

https://www.linwoodstreet.com/wellscarshow/

Pictures from Classic Car & Pin-Up, minus the pin-ups, are at  this link:

https://www.linwoodstreet.com/carsandpinup/

"Private Lives"

June 15, 2022 — Let me set this up for you. Elyot has married Victor's ex-wife, Sibyl. Coincidentally, Amanda, Elyot's ex-wife, has married Sibyl's ex-husband, Victor. By an even greater coincidence, the two couples, unknowingly, have booked adjacent honeymoon suites in a luxury hotel in France. Got that? Only Noël Coward could have dreamed up such a scenario. "Private Lives" has been hailed by some critics as his finest work. I first saw it at the Peterborough Players in Peterborough, New Hampshire fourteen years ago. When I discovered it was being staged at the Winnipesaukee Playhouse in Meredith, New Hampshire this year, I decided enough time had gone by so I could enjoy again, and made a reservation.

It seems as though Nicholas Wilder is everywhere. I've been seeing him at least once per season for several years. A versatile actor, especially in comedy, he's equally comfortable in Monty Pythonesque silliness or a comedy of manners like "Private Lives" where he appears as Elyot.

Amanda, Elyot's ex-wife, is portrayed by Molly Kane Parker. Haley Jones plays the part of Sybil, now married to Elyot. Both these women are strong-willed and self-assured, and it's 1930, a time when women were expected to be subservient and submissive. Michael Luongo plays Amanda's current husband. All the actors were excellent in a demanding play. All Americans, their British accents were well-practiced and convincing. Gwen Elise Higgins appeared briefly as a French maid. More about her further on.

It's obvious from the start there are already tensions in the two new marriages. Elyot is annoyed by Sybil's questions about his previous marriage. Victor is angered by what he perceives as  Elyot's cruelty toward Amanda during her marriage to him. Their conversations tend to fluctuate back and forth between affection and acrimony. The two couples eventually discover each other in the adjacent suites, both using the same open terrace.

By the end of the first act, Elyot and Amanda have discovered they still love one another. Beautiful set design and construction is a highlight of all Winnipesaukee productions, and in the second act, after a conversion from the terrace of the hotel to Amanda's luxurious apartment, Elyot and Amanda are together again. But soon the same tensions that led to their divorce rise again, and the second act ends with Amanda smashing a phonograph record over Elyot's head, Elyot throwing Amanda on the sofa, Amanda dragging Elyot across the floor, numerous objects being thrown, and the act ends just as Victor and Sybil walk in.

The third act begins the next morning. I mentioned Gwen Elise Higgins in a previous paragraph. She proved to be a great audience-pleaser in her brief appearance as a French maid, disgusted with the mess in the apartment left by Elyot and Amanda's free-for-all she had to clean up. Her limited English and the two couples' limited French trying to converse led to the most laughs from the audience up to that point.

All I'll say about the ending is that it's not what you might have expected. I was right in my belief I could enjoy it all over again after fourteen years. Clayton Phillips directed this production. Michelle Elyse Levinson was the stage manager. Hannah Joy Hopkins designed the set and an excellent job it was. Lighting was by Heather M. Crocker. Adrianne Williams did the costume design. Winnipesaukee Players producing artistic diector Neil Pankhurst handled sound design.

 

Thunderama

June 11, 2022 — New England's Vintage Thunderbird Club, Inc. held it's show at the Little Red School House in Dunstable, Massachusetts, better known as the site of the AACA's fall meet in October which I've been attending for many years. As you might expect from the organization hosting it, this June show was dominated by Thunderbirds, but all makes were welcome.

It was a good show, especially for Thunderbird enthusiasts, but a scattering of other makes gave the show a good mix. Even if you're not particularly enthused by Thunderbirds, you probably would have found the history of this iconic brand and its many reinventions well-represented by the models from its origins in the '50s to 2005 fascinating.

If you missed the show, check out my representative sampling of the best it had to offer at this link:

https://www.linwoodstreet.com/thunderama2022/

1 Weekend, 2 Shows

June 4-5, 2022 — A weekend of perfect weather guaranteed success for two popular car shows. First, on Saturday, Goffstown Rotary Club in Goffstown, New Hampshire held its 9th annual show featuring an eclectic collection of cars of all makes and years, classic and custom, both domestic and imported.

With temperature in the low 70s and low humidity, it was far more comfortable than the past two weekends that saw the thermometer soar to an unseasonable 90 with humidity in the oppressive range. We expect this kind of whether in July, but our bodies just weren't ready for it this soon.

Sunday was a carbon copy of Saturday weather-wise for the 12th annual Marlborough Main Street Car Show, held in downtown Marlborough, Massachusetts. Returning after a two-year absence due to COVID, pent-up spectators came out en masse, filling Main Street with a crowd so dense it was difficult to move around. Photography was challenging.

The show in the past had a good mix, but was slightly dominated by customs this year. The classics had a larger share in previous years. Even imports, well-represented in the past, were hard to find. Still, it was worthwhile, always one of my favorite early-season shows, and I expect I'll be there in the future.

The Goffstown series can be seen at this link:

https://www.linwoodstreet.com/goffstown2022/

Select this link to view the Marlborough photos, including one video:

https://www.linwoodstreet.com/marlborough22/

Londonderry Rotary Car Show

May 29, 2022 — Another bright, sunny day, but not as hot as the two previous weekends. I had given up on the Londonderry Rotary Club Classic Car Show after finding less than twenty unremarkable cars my last time there a few years ago. I never returned up until this year when I decided to give it another chance. I was pleasantly surprised. There were over one hundred cars in a wide range of categories, and a large turnout of spectators.

You'll find my photos of some of the most appealing vehicles, at least in my opinion, at this link:

https://www.linwoodstreet.com/londonderry2022/

Granite State Season Opener

May 22, 2022 — The Granite State Season Opener, one of the largest car shows in New Hampshire, presented by NH Muscle Cars, is held on the sprawling Deerfield Fairgrounds. For the first time this year it was a three-day show, held Friday, Saturday and Sunday, May 20-22. It rained Friday, fair Saturday and Sunday, but the temperature was over 90 with high humidity. As much as I wanted to see the show, I stayed home Saturday because I knew covering the huge field of hundreds of cars would be the equivalent of walking several miles in dangerous heat.

I decided to go Sunday, fully aware most show car owners who hadn't left Saturday would be preparing to leave Sunday and the show would be greatly diminished. I was right about that. But of the few cars remaining, there were some rare and unique examples. I arrived at 9 a.m. and left at 10:30 with all the photos I wanted, a mere forty. Have a look. It will only take a few minutes to go through the single page of photos at this link:

https://www.linwoodstreet.com/graniteopener22/

Bow Rotary Car Show

May 14, 2022 — The Bow Rotary Club in Bow, New Hampshire, held its 11th annual car show on the first 90-degree day of the season, much too early for that kind of heat, and it broke records for the date in some areas. It may also have discouraged some from showing up, as both show cars and spectators were below average for this show.

Still, it was a good show with a good variety of cars. There were a few really outstanding entries, especially a couple of beautifully restored pickup trucks. You can see them all at this link:

https://www.linwoodstreet.com/bowrotary22/

Bentley's Saloon

May 8, 2022 — The Bentley's Saloon car shows are "car shows with benefits." Bentley's is a complex of saloon, restaurant and campground and plenty of acreage for a car show on U.S Route 1 in Arundel, Maine. They have cruise nights throughout the season, bracketed by an all-day first-of-the-season show in the spring and a season-ending show in the fall. I attended the 2022 first-of-season show for the second time this year.

The show draws a good mix old and new, classic and custom cars. There are usually many humorous entries. You can see my coverage of this spring's show at:

https://www.linwoodstreet.com/bentleys2022/

A Car Show for Veterans

April 30, 2022 — New England Car Show for Veterans was held on the Northern Essex Community College campus in Haverhill, Massachusetts. Two long lines of show cars and spectators formed at the beginning in an exceptionally strong turnout for such an early-in-the-season show. When I left, shortly after noontime, they were still coming in with less than two hours remaining in the show.

The show was an eclectic mix of old and new, domestic and imported, military and civilian, classic and custom. There were at least a half dozen Lamborghinis, an unusually high number of that make to appear in a single show. Of the more than 200 cars (my estimate), I ended up with 58 photos. I hope you agree with my choices. You can see them at this link:

https://www.linwoodstreet.com/carsforvets/

Season's First

April 16, 2022 — This was an earlier than average start for the antique and classic car show season. My first show often is not until May. This show at the North East Motosports Museum in Loudon, New Hampshire, featured racing cars, not my main category of interest.

But also at this show was a 1912 Stanley Model 74, steam-powered, in which rides were offered to show attendees. That I couldn't resist! Video of my ride, along with photos of many of the race cars, can be seen at this link:

https://www.linwoodstreet.com/racersreunion/

"The Power of the Dog"

February 9, 2022 — I've reviewed many live theater performances and one book in my blog, but this is my first attempt to pass judgment on a movie. "The Power of the Dog" has been nominated for the Oscar for best picture and is a favorite to win. Other nominations for this movie, Jane Campion for best director, Benedict Cumberbatch for best actor, Kirsten Dunst for best supporting actress, Jesse Plemons and Kodi Smit-McPhee for best supporting actor.

Beginning in 1925 on a Montana cattle ranch, the story takes its time unwinding in five parts over an unspecified number of years. Straight-laced, shy George Burbank (Plemons), is the ranch owner. His brother, Phil (Cumberbatch) wants nothing more than to be a ranch hand. He is George's opposite, threatening, cruel, abusive. George's wife, Rose (Dunst) is the target of Phil's harshest insults. Peter (Smit-McPhee) is Rose's teen-age son from a previous marriage, haunted by his alcoholic father's suicide, and having trouble finding his place among the rowdy ranch hands. "The Power of the Dog" is from a line in the Book of Psalms in the Bible.

This movie takes patience on the part of viewers. Fine acting all around, great photography and scenery, but slow-paced with minimal dialog and long, silent pauses. It may not be to everyone's taste. Personally, I thought it was superb movie-making. Tension slowly builds throughout the movie. Where does this end?

You may find the ending puzzling. Pay close attention to Peter's voice-over at the very beginning. It's a clue. Keep it in mind for the next two hours and eight minutes. The movie has had limited release in theaters and can currently be seen on TV on Netflix.