"Steel Magnolias"

February 26, 2017 — For the third and final play of its winter season, the Peterborough Players presented "Steel Magnolias" by Robert Harling. I hadn't seen this popular play before, nor had I seen either of the two movies based on it, so it was all new to me. Directed by Gus Kaikkonen for the Players, six actresses gave funny, heartfelt performances in scenic designer Charles Morgan's excellent reproduction of a beauty salon.

Set in a small Louisiana town near the end of the 20th Century, Salon owner Truvy (Brenny Rabine) and her newly-hired assistant Annelle (Alycia Kunkle) take care of the beauty needs of four local women of diverse backgrounds and personalities. Truvy stresses to Annelle that there is no such thing as "natural beauty." If there were, "we'd be out of business."

Shelby (Katelyn Manfre) and her mother M'Lynn (the always outstanding Lisa Bostnar) are the first customers this morning. Shelby is getting married in the afternoon. Wise-cracking Clairee (Kathy Manfre, Katelyn's mother in real life) drops in. Still later, Ouiser (Pamela White), tall and gangly, arrives, and spices up the conversation with her cynical, unsentimental observations on life.

We learn Shelby is diabetic and doctors have advised her not to have children. For now, this is acceptable to Shelby and her husband-to-be. But things change, doctors recommendations are not always followed, and a deeper human story is added to this otherwise light-hearted play.

The characters are well-defined, each has her own life story, and all the actresses are excellent, but Bostnar's performance as the doting mother stands out. A full house witnessed this final performance of the final play of the winter season and gave the cast a well-deserved standing ovation at curtain call.

"Mass Appeal"

February 4, 2017 — For the first time, The Peterborough Players is staging live plays in the winter in their Peterborough, New Hampshire theatre. "Mass Appeal," a two-actor play by Bill C. Davis is the second of three plays being performed this winter.

Father Tim Farley, a traditional older-generation priest, adored by his congregation, is delivering mass when he's interrupted by young seminary student Mark Dolson, loudly demanding Father Farley defend the church's position on women priests and other issues. The laugh-lines are plentiful right from the beginning, and continue throughout the play which has its moments of poignancy and philosophical debate.

In spite of Mark's challenges to church tradition, Father Farley takes an interest in him and invites the young seminarian, who is serious about becoming a priest, to his office for fatherly advice and coaching. But Mark's continuing refusal to observe church teachings, his constant criticism of Farley's tendency to play it safe and never offend, causes Farley to fear for Mark's ability to ever attain the priesthood. It's not Farley himself Mark must fear, but Farley's boss and head of the seminary, the terrifying Monsignor Burke, a strict and unbending follower of church doctrine. Burke casts a big shadow without ever appearing in person.

Farley is portrayed by Peterborough Players artistic director Gus Kaikkonen, who is also credited with set design, which consisted of Farley's office and a pulpit off to the left where the priest delivers mass. Adam Sowers takes the part of Mark Dolson. The two actors carry the play beautifully. Keith Stevens directed. Costume design was by Lara de Bruijn who did an especially nice job on Father Farley's colorful robe.

The audience was obviously delighted with the play. Laughter was frequent. Anyone who ever belonged to a church — of any denomination — could relate. They gave the actors a standing ovation
at the end.