"Last Train to Nibroc"

June 28, 2011 — A soldier and a girl meet in 1940 on a train from Los Angeles. She's returning home after being jilted by her fiance, he's been discharged from the army on the eve of World War II because he suffers from "fits." Coincidentally, they learn they're both from neighboring towns in Kentucky.

This simple play, written by Arlene Hutton and based loosely on her parents' meeting, is being presented by the Peterborough Players in Peterborough, New Hampshire. Allison McLemore and Joel Ripka are the only actors in the 90-minute, three-act play with no intermission. Each act finds the couple meeting under different circumstances over a three-year period, their lives taking directions they never anticipated, but one thing remains constant: their attraction to each other. She's often in denial of it, but he refuses to give up.

These two small-town southerners with 1940s values are sometimes combative, sometimes sympathetic, sometimes sarcastic, but always immensely likable, thanks to the skillful actors. The play is humorous, heart-warming and in the end satisfying. You can sense when an audience is pleased, and tonight's audience certainly was. I drove home with a good feeling.

"Butterflies Are Free"

June 23, 2011 — Whenever I go to a play at the Winnipesaukee Playhouse (the "Winni") in Weirs Beach, New Hampshire, I make an afternoon out of it and stop first in nearby Meredith and stroll around the picturesque bayside community, admiring the very expensive boats along the dock, and taking in the beauty of Lake Winnipesaukee on a warm summer day. After supper at Hart's Turkey Farm, I drive over to Weirs Beach and stroll along the boardwalk, and if the timing is right, see the M.V. Mount Washington, Lake Winnipesaukee's huge, popular excursion boat, arrive at the Weirs dock. But on this third day of summer, the temperature was a very unsummer-like 60 degrees and a cold rain was falling. That pretty much ruled out my afternoon strolling, so I had supper at home and drove directly to the Winni.

On this evening, the Winni was staging "Butterflies Are Free." I didn't see the 1972 movie, so this perfectly charming little play was all new to me. It's about a young man who, after a sheltered life, strikes out on his own and gets an apartment in New York City, escaping his domineering mother. The young man has a handicap I won't disclose in case you have a chance to see the play, although it's revealed fairly early on. A lackadaisical young woman with little sense of moral propriety in the adjacent apartment intrudes into his well-ordered life, quickly seduces him, and he just as quickly falls head over heels for her. When his mother shows up unannounced and finds the couple in their underwear, some very peppery dialogue ensues.

The play is a delight. Perky, cute Rebecca A. K. Turner is perfectly cast in the role of the free-spirited girl. Her performance is easily the best of the talented cast. Mostly humorous and lighthearted, with smart dialogue, the play has lessons on how emotional handicaps can often be more threatening to quality of life than physical disabilities.

The drive home was rather unpleasant over dark New Hampshire roads as the relentless rain continued. That was yesterday. This afternoon, as I write this, it's 58 degrees and still raining. Summer, where are you? Did we say something to offend you?

"This Verse Business"

June 18, 2011 — The Mount Washington Valley Theatre Company in North Conway, New Hampshire, presented "This Verse Business" by A. M. Dolan, a one-man show starring Gordon Clapp as poet Robert Frost. Clapp, a New Hampshire native, is probably best known for his portrayal of detective Greg Medavoy on the TV show "NYPD Blue," for which he won an Emmy in 1998. He was also nominated for a Tony award for his part in the Broadway revival of "Glengarry Glen Ross." He appeared in Clint Eastwood's World War II drama, "Flags of Our Fathers," and many TV shows.

Ticket holders were invited to show up at 7 p.m. for a buffet, drinks and entertainment outside the theatre an hour before the main performance. It was a comfortably warm evening, but the hour seemed overly long to me. With only ten chairs provided for over 100 people, most of us remained standing. Gordon Clapp, friendly and unpretentious, joined us for awhile, mixed with the crowd and posed for pictures. Several excellent vocalists sang Broadway show tunes. Finally, at 8, we were all admitted inside the theatre, but waited another half hour for the show to start.

Those unfortunate timing problems aside, Clapp's performance was superb. He was totally immersed in his characterization of Frost. Dressed in a rumpled, ill-fitting suit, wearing a shaggy white wig, speaking in folksy witticisms and puns, he was a believable Frost. The one-hour performance was often funny, sometimes poignant. He recited several of Frost's poems and talked about his (Frost's) rationale for writing them. He received a well-deserved standing ovation at the end of the performance.

"Straw Hat Revue"

June 9, 2011 — The day was sweltering, mid-90s with storm clouds building, when I left for New London, New Hampshire. Violent storms were roaming about the state and power was out in many areas. Radio bulletins were advising people to seek shelter and keep away from windows. I was wondering if this trip was foolhardy, but I had a reservation for the 54th Annual Red Hat Revue at the New London Barn Playhouse, and after the second day in a row of temperatures in the 90s, I just wanted to get away for a few hours.

About five minutes from home, the weather caught up with me. The wind picked up, lightning flashed and thunder roared and the rain was coming down almost horizontally. The temperature dropped from the mid-90s to mid-60s in minutes. I eventually rode the storm out, and by the time I got to New London, the rain had stopped, clouds had thinned and it was refreshingly cool. I had time to kill, so I strolled around the picturesque college town for awhile. I had dinner at my favorite New London restaurant, Peter Christian's Tavern.

The Barn's "Red Hat Revue," an admission-free performance that launches their summer show season each year, was excellent. It featured songs and dance numbers from Disney, Broadway shows and Gershwin, performed by a very talented young cast of twelve. The orchestra was also excellent, better than average for summer stock theatre, but a little overpowering at times. Overall, a great evening's entertainment, and the price was certainly right. A bonus: the New London Barn is air conditioned for the first time this year.