"The Little Mermaid"

December 29, 2018 — Hans Christian Anderson's popular story, "The Little Mermaid," re-imagined as a British-style "panto," was written for the Winnipesaukee Playhouse, the "Winni," in Meredith, New Hampshire, by Neil Pankhurst, who also directed this presentation. Judy Hayward was the musical director, with choreography by Chris Hendricks. The many spectacular costumes were designed by someone identified in the program only by his or her initials, D. W. The beautiful, frequently changing sets were the creations of Andrew Stuart. The efforts of all these individuals and others came together brilliantly in a delightful holiday production.

The songs were all familiar to the audience, from Sigmund Romberg to the Beatles, opera, show tunes and currently popular numbers. Audience sing-alongs were encouraged. Indeed, there was lots of interaction with the audience, in panto style. Panto, short for pantomime, originated in England and is characterized by song, dance, slapstick comedy and outrageous puns. This program had all those elements, and was appropriate for all ages. Children and adults could delight in the overall production, while adults could pick up on the "in" jokes and parody on present day issues and politics.

John Findlay skillfully juggled three roles as Hans Christian Anderson, Baldrick and a captain. Gender switching is common in panto, and actress Rob Yonkers lent her talent and great singing voice to the male role of Prince Harry. It was hard to top Tom Bengston, big and burly, towering over the other actors, in magnificent drag as the flamboyant Dame Gladys. Kelley Davies was charming as Marina, the mermaid whose one desire is to be human. Richard Brundage was King Hamlet, Ken Chapman portrays King Neptune and Ellouise McGonagle was Megan, a princess. Ursula Minich Boutwell played Octavia who has an important role near the end, in a very clever octopus costume. Winni veterans Lynn T. Dadian and Barbara Webb, in keeping with the nautical theme, played a crab and starfish named Jules and Verne. The junior chorus, consisting of eight teen and pre-teen girls, was fantastic. The band was composed of Judy Hayward on keyboard, Paul Bourgelais on guitar, bass and banjo and Eric Weinstein on drums.

The Winni's acoustics caused some sound distortion, at least where I was sitting. Scene 1, introducing Neptune's underwater palace, was just a bit lacking in energy, but all the rest of the production was truly magnificent, and I think the audience was the most enthusiastic I've enjoyed being a part of at the Winni or any other theater in years.

Christmas 2018

December 24-25, 2018 — Christmas with my extended family seems to get bigger, noisier (in a good way) and more entertaining as years go by, girl friends and boy friends come and go, marriages and new babies come along. We have gift exchange and a Yankee swap at one house Christmas eve, then breakfast Christmas morning across town. Weather was good both days this year, fortunately for me because I have to drive 90 miles from my home to theirs.

Photos and videos of some of the gaiety can be seen here:

https://www.linwoodstreet.com/christmas18/

"Murder on the Nile"

October 30, 2018 — I had seen "Murder on the Nile" at the Barnstormers in Tamworth, New Hampshire seven years ago in 2011. It's currently being staged again at the Winnipesaukee Playhouse (the Winni) in Meredith, and I decided I had forgotten enough about this complicated Agatha Christie play to enjoy it again, so I high-tailed it to Meredith to take in this new production on Halloween night.

In my comments on the Barnstormers version, I criticized the play for the plodding first two of the three acts introducing characters and providing background essential to understanding this convoluted story. I felt the actors, with a little more passion, could have livened up these two acts. Things heated up in the third act at the Barnstormers. It was a tour de force with a stunning ending.

I could level the same criticism at the Winni, but their version never reached the crescendo in the third act that saved the Barnstormers production. Rick Morten was a standout as Pennefather, but couldn't quite match Scott Severance's portrayal of the same bombastic clergyman at the Barnstormers. Winni regular Barbara Webb was excellent as always as the cantankerous Miss ffoliot-ffoulkes. It's unfortunate she didn't have more time on-stage. In a play where many different accents had to be affected, Jennifer Schaffner's Scot was the best in her role as Miss ffoliot-ffoulkes' niece, Christina Grant. Otherwise, the accents combined with the inability of several of the actors to project their voices caused me to miss some dialog.

Other important roles were Delaney Andrews as Kay Mostyn, Frank Stetson II as her husband, Simon Mostyn, Maggie Godsoe as Jacqueline de Severac, Sasha Kuznetsova as Louise and Jim Gocha as Dr. Bessner. The large cast was filled out by Lynn T. Dadian, Patte Sarausky, Jim Rogato and Justin Elliott. Michael Cobb directed, Zach Glennon designed the excellent reception room of the steamer Lotus in which the entire play was set, and Doreen Sheppard designed the many costumes.

Maybe this play's short-comings weren't entirely the fault of the actors. In his review of the premier of "Murder on the Nile" in 1946, Bernard Buckham of the Daily Mirror wrote, "An Agatha Christie play, but a poor one. At this time of day such set-ups need to have character interest, ingenuity of plot and excitement. This piece falls down on them all."

Radio Drama Double Feature

September 28, 2018 — Every fall for the past few years, the Winnipesaukee Playhouse in Meredith, New Hampshire, has presented a reproduction of an old-time radio broadcast on their stage, with all the players and sound effects technicians clearly visible. Actors, seated on folding chairs, step up to the microphone when required by their roles and read directly from the scripts, but not without a generous amount of emotion, mugging and hamming-it-up. These shows in the past have been near Halloween, but this year's production was a little earlier. But still, as always, the subject matter was of the creepy variety.

This show was a double feature, consisting of "Journey to the Center of the Earth" by Jules Verne and "The Lost World" by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. Both were adapted by John de Lancie (you may know of him. He had the recurring role of "Q" in "Star Trek: The Next Generation") from scripts by Nat Segaloff and de Lancie.

More laughs than Verne and Doyle ever intended were written into these versions. The sound effects were the star of the show, designed and executed by sound designer and performer Lord Adam Young, ably abetted by the sound apprentice, his son, Luke Young. With their huge battery of sound-producing equipment, along with their own voices, they reproduced gunshots, the flapping of pterodactyl wings, prehistoric animals, rattling cages, crashing bridges, etc.

"The Lost World" was the better of the two features. With its prehistoric creatures, primitive tribes and variety of action, it had more to work with. The actors seemed to be enjoying themselves, and that always inspires the audience. The entire show was directed by Margaret Lundberg and produced by Jim Rogato. I'll name all the actors, but not their parts. With many appearing in multiple roles, it's too complicated to go into here. The actors were Andrew Burke, Leigh Webb, Stephen Hird, Christina Mason, Laurel Briere, Charles Fray, Kayla Pingree, John Piquado and Gail Ledger. Hope I didn't miss anyone. Thanks to all for a very entertaining evening.

Driven To Make a Differemce

September 22, 2018 — The Driven To Make a Difference Charity All Car Show, presented by Great Bay Corvette Club, was held on the property of arms manufacturer Sig Sauer in Newington, New Hampshire. Primarily a Corvette and muscle car show, other makes, including a 1914 Rolls Royce Silver Ghost, could be found. There were a number of Mustangs among the Corvettes.

The day began with winds so strong I had to hold onto my hat while attempting to take pictures one-handed, but the wind subsided as the day wore on, and it became quite pleasant with mostly sunny skies and moderate temperatures. I didn't attempt to photograph all the Corvettes, just the ones I thought stood out because of style, color, etc. There were a couple of 2019 models, not the first ones I've seen this season. My personal favorites are the Corvettes of the late '50s-early '60s. There was also a rare 1953, the first Covette.

My photo coverage of the event can be seen at this link:

https://www.linwoodstreet.com/driven/

Hemmings Concours d'Elegance

September 15-16, 2018 — I traveled to Lake George Friday where I had booked a room at the Wingate for two nights to take in the Hemmings Concours d'Elegance. Hemmings had moved the event, which started in Stratton Mountain, Vermont, twelve years ago, to Saratoga Springs, New York, for several years, then to Lake George last year. I was seeing it for the first time at Lake George.

On Saturday, the Cruise-In Spectacular is open to all makes. Sunday's Concours d'Elegance is invitation only for the cars which must be approved in advance by officials, and must be 1974 or earlier. It's the crème de la crème of car shows. Weather for both days was almost as good as it gets, sunny but hot, especially for mid-September in upstate New York.

The shows were held on the Festival Commons at Charles R. Wood Park, a large open field that easily accommodated the hundreds of cars in each show. It's in a picturesque spot, surrounded by the Adirondacks with Lake George within a short walk. On the downside, parking for spectators is inconvenient, mostly on-street and metered, although the town fathers generously offered not to ticket for non-payment for the weekend. Good restaurants were hard to find, and truck food at the show wasn't as good as it was at Sarasota Springs.

Overall, it was a great show featuring a broad variety of vehicles. I was especially impressed with the beautifully restored pre-war vehicles, always my favorite. Since no vehicles were allowed to exhibit at both shows, it was as good as two completely different shows, and that's how I treated them, building two sets of pages on my website.

You can view my photos of the Saturday Cruise-In at this link:

https://www.linwoodstreet.com/lakegeorgecruise/

Sunday's Concours d'Elegance can be seen at this link:

https://www.linwoodstreet.com/lakegeorgeconcours/

Kiwanis Club Antique and Classic Car Show

September 8, 2018 — The 33rd Annual Kiwanis Club Antique and Classic Car Show was held, as usual, on the New Hampshire Technical Institute campus in Concord. Temperature was on the cool side, never reaching 70 all day, but that was a relief after the intense heat and humidity we experienced most of this summer. Cloudiness stubbornly refused to clear most of the day, denying photographers that brilliant sun glistening on highly polished, chrome-laden antique cars.

This popular show can always be depended on to draw a large number and variety of cars. It's one of the few shows featuring Studebakers, and provides a special section for them. Pictures can be viewed at this link:

https://www.linwoodstreet.com/kiwanis18/

Atkinson Truck and Car Show

September 3, 2018 — The MacDonald Memorial Truck and Car Show, an annual Labor Day event in Atkinson, New Hampshire, was held this year on a 90-degree day with high humidity, one of many such days this summer. With the humidity, the heat index made it feel like at least mid-90s. This didn't seem to discourage anyone, as number of cars and spectators was about average for this show. As usual, there were many Model A Fords, and a variety of other models, including a row of military vehicles.

The show is sponsored by the Atkinson Lions Club and the Atkinson Fire Association. Vehicles were spread out over Dow Common, the fire department and Atkinson Historic Association properties, and lined up along Academy Avenue. It's all free, but donations are encouraged. All proceeds from donations and food sales go to local charities.

The show broke up early. It officially ended at 2 p.m., but cars were beginning to leave around noon, some even earlier, probably because of the heat, which got to be overwhelming in a short time. However, I had time to get photos of all the vehicles that interested me, and I hope you as well. You can view them at this link:

https://www.linwoodstreet.com/atkinson18/

Cruising Downtown

September 1, 2018 — The annual car show called Cruising Downtown in Manchester, New Hampshire, was a great success again. Most of Manchester's downtown area, including the main business district on Elm Street, Victory Park and several side streets are closed to all traffic except show cars. Spectators are free to walk the streets. The show goes on from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., a generous length of time as car shows go. There are many food trucks parked along the streets, besides permanent restaurants.

The show isn't what it used to be because of a decline in participation by city government, civic groups and armed services that were once heavily involved in the show. It's now basically just a car show, albeit a big one. Two live bands perform, spaced far enough apart so there's no conflict.

On this particular day, coming at the end of a period of near record heat and humidity, it was thankfully cooler, in the 70s rather than 90s, and much less humid, but cloudiness persisted most of the day, somewhat dulling photography. Still, I came away with over one hundred photos and a video which I feel are pretty respectable. You can see them at this link:

https://www.linwoodstreet.com/cruising2018/

"Sexy Laundry"

August 30, 2018 — For the next to the last play of their 85th season, Peterborough Players in Peterborough, New Hampshire chose "Sexy Laundry" by Michele Riml. Kenn McLaughlin directed this production for the Players. Scenic design was by Ryan McGettigan and costumes by Bethany Mullins.

Alice (Bridget Beirne) has bought the book "Sex for Dummies" and has booked a room at a swank hotel for herself and her husband, Henry (Tom Frey), hoping to rekindle the romance in their 20-plus-year marriage. The setting is a hotel room dominated by a huge bed. The language gets pretty salty and some of the action more than a little suggestive, giving the play an adult rating, but the laughs are non-stop in this well-acted presentation by two of the Players' best actors.

Early in the play, Alice urges the reluctant Henry to try out various scenarios and fantasies described in her heavily bookmarked copy of "Sex for Dummies" designed to bring back the excitement in a marriage of middle-aged couples for whom the spark has gone out. The dialog is hilarious and the situations ridiculous. The play becomes a bit more serious as it progresses, as each partner blames the other for the boredom in their marriage.

Are these common problems for long-married couples? Many critics say Riml hits the nail on the head. When she wrote the play, she was much younger than her characters. Asked how she accomplished such an accurate portrayal of middle-aged couples, she said "I'm married. I can project." Project she did, with delightful results.

"Western Civilization! The Complete..."

August 28, 2018 — For the final show of its 88th season, The Barnstormers Theatre in Tamworth, New Hampshire presented a musical comedy with the ungainly title "Western Civilization! The Complete Musical (Abridged)" by Reed Martin, Austin Tichenor, Nick Graham and Dee Ryan. This production was directed for the Barnstormers by Blair Hundertmark with musical direction by Tommy Iafrate. Sarah Rozene designed the set and Mary Selvoski the many costumes.

Three actors carried the frenzied show, Rachel Alexa Norman, Cheryl Mullings and Jordan Ahnquist. Going through 1,000 years of history in 90 minutes, the show turns sexism, racism, bigotry and hypocrisy into catchy tunes and laughs. There's interaction with the audience, and in one scene we're sprayed by water guns.

Through many amazingly quick costume changes, the actors take us through a series of historical epochs, from the dark ages to the modern information age. Each epoch is introduced by an off-stage voice describing highlights of that particular period, every one ending with the same line, "And the world is under the control of a small group of rich white males."

The three actors play many roles, utilizing their various costumes and different accents. Songs with titles such as "History Ain't What It Used To Be" and "Flush Your Troubles Away" and a love duet featuring Adolph Hitler and Genghis Kahn are just a small sample of the cutting satire. There's also a generous amount of slapstick and sight gags that would make the Marx Brothers envious.

This audience-pleasing production was a great ending to the Barnstormers' summer season, which I can't believe has ended. It seems as though it just started!

Bean Pot Summer Show

August 26 — The Boston Northeast Region of the Antique Automobile Club of America presented the Bean Pot Summer Show on the property of Melmark New England which provides services for children with autism, in Andover, Massachusetts. The show was sponsored by East Boston Savings Bank.

A relatively small show, it featured a number of cars of exceptional beauty. I photographed some of the best, and you can see them here:

https://www.linwoodstreet.com/beanpotsummer/

Skip's Mega-Cruise 2018

August 25, 2018 — Skip's Snack Bar in Merrimac, Massachusetts has four or five cruise nights a year, but the one they call Mega-Cruise is the biggest of their summer season. It begins at 2 p.m., two hours earlier than the others, and for the 14th time featured North Shore Acappella, a five-man group that specializes in golden oldies and doo-wop.

Skip's serves a wide variety of quality fast food, and the Mega-Cruise draws a horde of spectators. Picnic tables are arranged under shade trees, and show cars fill a large field behind the restaurant, this year numbering over 400, not their largest show ever, but more than a respectable number.

You can view my coverage of the event in photos and video of the cars, singing and action inside Skip's busy restaurant at this link:

https://www.linwoodstreet.com/megacruise2018/

North Shore Motor Sports Museum

August 24, 2018 — I just learned about the North Shore Motor Sports Museum from an article in Thursday's Union Leader of Manchester, New Hampshire. The subject of the article was a 1906 Stanley, on loan to the museum. The photo and description looked exactly like the Stanley I photographed at the 2013 Bonny Eagle Car Show. The boiler had failed and was scheduled to be replaced while the car was at the museum.

I decided I had to see the car and confirm it was the same one I saw at Bonny Eagle, so I headed for the museum on Route 106 in Loudon, New Hampshire, near the New Hampshire Motor Speedway. Upon seeing the Stanley up close, I was even more convinced it was one and the same. I opened my 2013 Bonny Eagle page on my iPhone and showed it to a museum official, and he confirmed it was indeed the one. He also identified my photo of the owner, taken in 2013, as Coburn Benson. After boiler replacement, Benson would be invited to take it for a few laps around the track.

I found the museum fascinating, even though race cars are not my primary interest. All the cars crowded into the museum had a New England connection, and details about the cars, owners, drivers and racing history were posted at every car. There was also lots of other racing memorabilia, such as trophies, uniforms, photos, etc.

A trip to the museum will be rewarding for any motor sports enthusiast. You can see my photos at this link:

https://www.linwoodstreet.com/motorsports/

"Murder for Two"

August 23, 2018 — What can I say about "Murder for Two?" It's a murder mystery comedy set to music. I had no idea what to expect when I took my seat in the New London Barn Playhouse, wrapping up its 86th season with this production, directed and choreographed for the Barn by Anthony C. Daniel. Book and music are by Joe Kinosian and book and lyrics by Kellen Blair.

Two actors in a manic 90-minute presentation chew up Vincent Gunn's scenery at an exhausting pace. Brandon Lambert is Marcus, a detective (maybe), and Kyle Branzel plays nine suspects, male and female, without costume changes, but just using different voices, accents and mannerisms, occasionally donning glasses as the victim's wife. His tall, gangly frames makes him all the more hilarious, especially as the ballerina. The two actors alternate between playing the same piano, sometimes both at the same time, and acting out the various roles.

When Arthur Whitney (not seen) arrives for his surprise birthday party, the lights go out, shots ring out, and he ends up dead on the floor. All the action takes place with Whitney's body (imaginary) lying on the floor. This first night performance with its complicated choreography, piano playing, and Branzel's show-stealing multiple roles went off without a hitch. That may be due to the fact both actors played the same roles previously. Lambert had to suppress his own laughter a few times, but I have to wonder if that was deliberate, a way to draw laughs from the audience. If that was the case, it wasn't necessary. The play was uproariously funny all the way through.

Salute the Troops

August 18, 2018 — Anheuser-Busch Brewery in Merrimack, New Hampshire hosted a car show honoring the Armed Forces and veterans. Though small, the show featured a wide variety of vehicles, thanks to the inclusion of some large military trucks and transports. There was also a good mix of antiques, late models, standards and customs.

Photos of the event can be seen at this link:

https://www.linwoodstreet.com/salutetroops/

Cruisin' the '50s

August 16, 2018 — I've grown to like these in-town car shows, like Cruising Downtown in Manchester, New Hampshire, coming up September 1, and the Massachusetts shows, Marlborough Main Street, Carriagetown in Amesbury, and the most recent, Cruisin' the '50s in Newburyport. The disadvantages are no designated parking, you have to find public lots or park on the street if available, much of it metered, and difficulty moving about in a crowd of spectators within the confines of a downtown area, particularly challenging for photographers.

But they have a festive atmosphere and most offer a variety of good restaurants, especially Newburyport, which also offers a nice public park and a scenic waterfront. In spite of the challenges, I came away with a pretty good assortment of photos and one brief video. You can see them at:

https://www.linwoodstreet.com/newburyport18/

"And Then There Were None"

August 14, 2018 — In 2005, The Barnstormers Theatre in Tamworth, New Hampshire presented Agatha Christie's "Ten Little Indians." Last night, again at the Barnstormers, Christie's "And Then There Were None" was staged with a fine cast of eleven, directed by Barnstormers' artistic director Robert Shea with a sumptuous living room set designed by Sarah Rozene and costumes by Mary Selvoski.

I've long been a fan of Dame Agatha's work, and was delighted when I learned there was yet another of her plays I hadn't seen, "And Then There Were None." But as the play progressed, it was looking more and more familiar. I soon realized this was the same play presented in 2005 under the title "Ten Little Indians." That was a slight disappointment. I felt I had been deceived. But I had forgotten much of it, and I had no recollection of how it ended with another of Christie's patented surprise twists. And the acting was first-rate, so by the end I decided this was an evening well-spent after all.

When I got home, a Google search confirmed my conclusion that the two plays I saw were one and the same. Originally written as a novel, with a title that contained a racial slur I will not repeat here, the title was changed, eliminating the objectionable slur, and was changed a few more times throughout its history. Christie even changed the ending when it was re-written as a play.

To sum up this baffling play, eight individuals have been invited by a Mr. Owen to a resort on an isolated island reachable only by boat, each one lured by offering something of interest to their particular occupation or position, a doctor, a police officer, a judge, a spinster, etc. A butler and his wife are already there, having arrived earlier with an offer of employment. They inform the others Mr. Owen hasn't arrived yet.

Having a conversation after dinner the first evening, the group is interrupted by a recording accusing each and every one of causing the deaths of others under varying circumstances. The butler, who had no idea what it contained, said Mr. Owen left him orders to play it. Then, over the next couple of days, the guests start dying one by one, some by poisoning, some by particularly gruesome means. They first suspect Mr. Owen, whoever he is. But when a search of the premises and island turns up no Owen and no possible hiding place, they conclude Owen is one of them. But who?

Finally, there's a tense confrontation when only two remain alive, each believing the other is the killer. But are they really the only two? Remember what I said about Dame Agatha's surprise twists.

Appearing in this production were most of the Barnstormers' regulars at the top of their games. They were Doug Shapiro, Anne-Marie Cusson, William R. Johnston, Madeleine Maby, Robert St. Laurence, Buddy Haardt, George F. Piehl, Dale Place, Jean Mar Brown, Robert Bates and Jordan Reeves. The audience was delighted with the play, and so was I. I got over the resentment over being fooled into thinking it was a play I hadn't seen. It had been thirteen years, and I had forgotten enough so I could enjoy it all over again.

61st Annual Antique and Classic Car Meet

August 11, 2018 — After 60 years in Stowe, Vermont, the Vermont Antique Automobile Enthusiasts (VAE) were forced to leave Nichols Field in Stowe after a developer purchased the property. This year's show was held for the first time at Farr's Field in Waterbury, Vermont, ten miles south of Stowe. The logistics of organizing a car show, and this is one of the largest in the East, are enormous, especially for a new, untested location. In spite of this, the three-day show was highly successful, with only a few unforeseen problems.

The field in Waterbury is larger and flatter than the one in Stowe, but similar in its setting, surrounded by Vermont's Green Mountains. VAE has managed to retain the same look and feel as the old location, and it all seemed familiar to long-time attendees of the show. There's more space for show cars, car corral and flea markets. Spectator parking is plentiful, but complicated. Parking areas are divided up into several sections, somewhat circular rather in straight rows as they were in Stowe. Many, including myself, had trouble finding their cars when it came time to leave. Leaving on Saturday turned into a huge bottleneck, taking nearly a half hour from parking space to the exit onto Route 2. That's one thing organizers should concentrate on improving for next year.

On Saturday, as always, show cars leave the field at 3:30 p.m. and drive into town for a car parade. In Waterbury, a larger town than Stowe, busier with more traffic, cars paraded by the 1875 railroad station, one at a time. Waterbury's Main Street is busy Route 20, too vital to be closed to traffic as Stowe's was. In Stowe, after the parade, dozens of antique cars parked on Main Street on both sides, backed into the curb at an angle, giving the town the look of an earlier era. Townspeople showed more interest in Stowe, coming out in droves to line the streets and roam among the cars. That may improve as Waterbury becomes more aware of the show in the future.

Street dancing Saturday night has long been a feature of the VAE show. A disc jockey played '50s rock and roll and dancing townspeople of all ages filled the street in Stowe until after sunset. When the music was struck up in Waterbury, no one came out to dance during the half hour before I left. What happened after that I have no way of knowing.

Summing up, the car show, corral and flea markets are already well organized and felt right at home. The in-town activities Saturday night were a bit disappointing. Waterbury lacks the small-town feel and intimacy of Stowe.

Happily, photography was no problem on the bright, sunny day. You can see the results at this link:

https://www.linwoodstreet.com/vermont18/

Kingston Days

August 5, 2018 — The week-long Kingston Days celebration in Kingston, New Hampshire always ends with a car show on its final day sponsored by the Olde Tyme Cruisin' Auto Club, and it's one of the best shows in New Hampshire. This year's show was held during a continuation of the hot, humid weather that's been entrenched since the first of August, but that didn't seem to bother anyone. The section of the Kingston Plains occupied by carnival rides, food concessions and arts and crafts booths were all doing a booming business, and the live musical acts were drawing large crowds.

Over 70 car photos and a brief video of other activities and the doo-wop group known as The Bel Airs can be seen at this link:

https://www.linwoodstreet.com/kingston18/

"The Drowsy Chaperone"

August 2, 2018 — The Peterborough Players in Peterborough, New Hampshire, is not generally known for big, dazzling musical extraganzas. Drama, comedy, the best of Coward, Shaw, Moliere and occasionally Shakespeare, in some of the finest productions in the Northeast, yes. But with "The Drowsy Chaperone" they've come up with a winner in the music and dance genre.

Directed by Players artistic director Gus Kaikkonen with choreography by Kirby Ward, music direction by Thomas R. Martin, scenery by Charles Morgan and costumes by Betsy Rugg-Hinds, this production rivals the best you'll see in Boston or New York.

The amazingly energetic Kraig Swartz, who seems to be in just about every Players production this season, is the "Man in the Chair." Seated at one end of the stage beside a phonograph with several vinyl LP albums, lamenting the decline of big Broadway musicals which he adored, he places "The Drowsy Chaperone" album his mother gave him on the turntable and proceeds to play it as the cast acts it out on-stage. He continues to control the action throughout, critiquing it as it goes along with his amusing commentary.

Several Players regulars surprised me with their singing and dancing talent in roles the likes of which I've never seen them in. Others, like Jack Koenig, a fine dramatic actor, as Feldzieg, reminded me of another actor with virtually no singing and dancing experience, Robert Preston, in the 1962 movie, "The Music Man," who is remembered as a great song and dance star when he did little more than talk to the rhythm of the music and mastered a few fundamental dance steps.

Kathy Manfre as Mrs. Tottendale and Will Champion as Underling, her butler, start the action rolling. Robert Martin (Joe Bigelow) is engaged to be married. His betrothed, Janet Van de Graaf, is played by Elyse Collier who is also one of the dance captains, along with Emily Grace Tucker who appears in the dance ensemble. Collier is the most polished song and dance performer in the cast. Tom Frey is a scene-stealer as Aldolpho, the vainglorious lothario. Bridget Bairne, a versatile actress with a talent for accents, is the boozy Drowsy Chaperone. Kirby Ward as George is a superb tap dancer. Rebecca Brinkley, seen for the third time this season, is at her winsome, sexy best as Kitty. Ryan Alexander Jacobs and Troyer Coultas are gangsters posing as pastry chefs. Mikaela Edelman is Trix the Aviatrix, not seen much, but she has a pivotal role at the end. Sean Casey-Flanagan has a brief role as the building superintendent.

High energy, lots of laughs, Broadway-class song and dance numbers make this one of the best shows of the summer season. "The Drowsy Chaperone" with music and lyrics by Lisa Lambert and Greg Morrison and book by Bob Martin and Don McKellar opened on Broadway in 2006 and was nominated for thirteen Tony Awards and won five.

A Summer Weekend

July 30, 2018 — Spent a
pleasant weekend with relatives I don't see enough of any more since they moved out of state, along with old friends. It was a couple of very relaxing days of conversation, good food, and perfect weather.

As usual, I can't seem to get away from antique cars, and I got a series of photos and videos of my nephew's 1973 Mustang Mach 1. That became this weekend's "car show," and I posted the results at:

https://www.linwoodstreet.com/mustangmach1/

Misselwood Concours d'Elegance

July 21, 2018 — The 9th Misselwood Concours d'Elegance at Endicott College in Beverly, Massachusetts may have been the best yet. This antique and classic car show, held on the northern Massachusetts coast with views of the sea from high cliffs, has had its scenic setting partially spoiled with cloudy conditions, drizzle and a couple of rain-outs in its relatively short history. In fact, this year's show was moved from Sunday to Saturday after dire forecasts for all-day rain on Sunday.

But Saturday was a perfect day with abundant sun, moderate temperature and low humidity. The good weather brought out a large variety of cars, maybe not the highest number they ever had, but some of the most interesting, especially among the classic '20s and '30s models. As usual, Bella Sera Bridal held a fashion show in conjunction with the car show.

This is one of the best shows in the northeast in terms of quality of cars and its picturesque setting, in spite of unusually bad luck with the weather. However, I'm disappointed with their treatment of general admission ticket holders, who enjoyed lunch at individual tables with white tablecloths in the early years. Then we were moved to a smaller area, but still on the estate grounds. Last year we got street food off trucks in a lot next to the estate. This year, the food trucks were across the street in a parking lot with no seating. This might be expected at a cruise night, not a Concours d'Elegance charging $20 general admission. VIP tickets, now up to $80, entitle attendees to better accommodations.

In spite of this complaint, I still think it's the best show in New England. My photos of this year's show, with links to the fashion show which I've placed in separate pages, can be seen at:

https://www.linwoodstreet.com/misselwood18/

"An Inspector Calls"

July 19, 2018 — The Peterborough Players in Peterborough, New Hampshire, is presenting J. B. Priestley's most famous play, "An Inspector Calls." Many are familiar with this play, but I had never seen it, nor did I have any knowledge of the plot, staged so many times since it was written in 1944-45.

Priestley set his play in 1912 when he was a teenager. Before the outbreak of World War I, many believed the world would see no more wars. In the beginning of Act I, bombastic Arthur Birling (Jack Koenig), presides over a happy celebration of the engagement of his daughter, Sheila (Rebecca Brinkley) to Gerald Croft (Marc LeVasseur), son of a business rival of Arthur's. The men are in black tie and tails and the women in their finest attire, magnificently designed by Anthony Paul-Cavaretta, gathered in a fine drawing room designed by Charlie Morgan and Gus Kaikkonen, all very British.

Priestley's intention may have been to illustrate how dangerously wrong we can be when predicting the future with the words he put in Arthur's mouth. Arthur reassures the gathering the forecasts of war are being spread by fear-mongers. Germany really doesn't want war, the great inventions of the early 20th Century will assure prosperity for all time. Why, just look at the automobile and aeroplane, and England has built a huge passenger liner that can take you from London to New York in five days, and it's unsinkable! Arthur's wife, Sybil (Dee Nelson, excellent as always) and Gerald back him up. The Birlings' youngest, a son, Eric (Alex Carr) is unimpressed.

This joyful occasion is interrupted when the maid, Edna (Anna Rock) announces a visitor who identifies himself as a police inspector. Upon entry, the inspector, Goole (Gus Kaikkonen) informs the group a young woman has died, in pain and agony, at the infirmary after drinking disinfectant in an apparent suicide. Everyone is properly horrified over the death of this poor girl, but what could it possibly have to do with them?

The rest of the play holds the audience transfixed as the inspector's relentless questioning of everyone present, one at a time, in a sort of Agatha Christie style, gradually breaks down and divides the family. Happiness is turned to acrimony and loving relationships are torn asunder. Oh, but there are still a few good laugh lines. Direction by Keith Stevens and fine performances by all the actors keep the audience engrossed as the play moves to its unpredictable finish.

Clark's Trading Post Car Show

July 15, 2018 — Clark's Trading Post, Lincoln, New Hampshire, one of the state's most popular tourist attractions with its trained bears and circus acts, water slide, train rides, the Wolf Man, Segway rides, gift shops, etc., put on a car show. I heard it wasn't the first, but no one could remember when they had their last one. It was a relatively small show, but featured some exceptional vehicles.

It was another hot, humid day, common so far this summer. Hot enough to discourage me from sticking around for the award presentation after walking around the complex for about four hours. But I got photos of all the cars I found most interesting, along with some shots around the Trading Post attractions. They're all posted at this link:

https://www.linwoodstreet.com/clarks2018/

Tamworth History Center Car Show

July 14, 2018 — I was in Tamworth, New Hampshire, Thursday evening for a show at The Barnstormers, when I just happened to walk by the Tamworth History Center property and spotted a sign promoting a car show Saturday. The show hadn't been listed on any of the usual internet car show schedules, and I had never heard of a car show being held in Tamworth before. So just on a whim, I returned to Tamworth Saturday to see what they had to offer.

What they offered were six cars. But three of those cars were so unique they created endless photo ops. I ended up with a couple of dozen photos and a few minutes of video, mostly of just three of the six cars. Those three were 1916 and 1923 Pierce Arrows and a 1923 Rolls Royce, all in nearly original condition, all operational. They were coming and going all day carrying delighted spectators on rides around the surrounding area of farmland and country roads. I had a ride in the Rolls Royce and interviewed the driver as we were underway. I captured it all in a video.

Overall, the show was a pleasant surprise. I took some photos around the picturesque town to fill out the series. Tamworth was also observing Farmers' Market Day, selling all manner of farm goods, arts and crafts. My photos and a video can be seen at this link:

https://www.linwoodstreet.com/tamworth/

"We Have Always Lived in the Castle"

July 12, 2018 — For the second play of their 88th season, The Barnstormers in Tamworth, New Hampshire, presented "We Have Always Lived in the Castle," a play adapted by Hugh Wheeler from the 1962 novel by Shirley Jackson. A family living in isolation after a sensational mass murder consists of Constance Blackwood (Angela Hope Smith), her younger 15-year-old sister, Mary Katherine, also known as Merricat (Miranda Reilly) and brother Jonas (Connor White), nearer 12. (I apologize if I misspelled his name. It has two "n's" in the program, one in his profile.)

The parents of the three siblings and several other family members were poisoned by arsenic in the sugar some years ago. Constance survived because she didn't use the sugar, Merricat and Jonas weren't present for the dinner. Constance was charged with the murders, but was acquitted at trail. No one else was ever charged. Townspeople still believed Constance was responsible and treated the family with such abuse and disdain, they were driven to a life in isolation. Only Merricat ventured into town for shopping.

Senile, wheelchair-bound Uncle Julian (Pat Tierney), who used the poisoned sugar but survived, is writing a book about the family at the time of the murders, but his memory is vague and his raving about the time is incoherent. But in his replaying of the incident over and over in his mind, his thoughts and memory are beginning to come together with renewed clarity.

Further complicating things, Charles Blackwood (Buddy Haardt), a cousin, arrives unexpectedly, unemployed and broke. He and Constance immediately become romantically attracted to one another, but Merricat believes he's only there for their money. Uncle Julian is extremely hostile to Charles, but is completely won over by him when he brings Julian a pencil sharpener to replace the one he lost.

Miss Clarke and Mrs. Wright, played by Barnstormers veterans Jean Mar Brown and Penny Purcell, provide some comic relief in an all-to-brief visit. The play would have benefited from larger roles for them.

The audience has no idea where all this is headed, and that's what builds tension. But some of the acting was a bit flat, livened up only by Uncle Julian's ranting, sometimes comical, sometimes a little scary. Tierney put in the best performance of the evening.

This production was directed by Blair Hundertmark, with an ingenious set complete with operational dumbwaiter, designed by Baron E. Pugh. This was a first-night performance. A few of the actors need to put a little more energy into their roles to keep the audience engaged.

Bay State Antique Auto Club Car Show

July 8, 2018 — It was the second day in a row of perfect weather for the 47th annual Bay State Antique Auto Club Car Show at the Endicott Estate in Dedham, Massachusetts. This show often hosts over a thousand cars, and I would estimate this show was close to that number. Every type of car was represented, from custom jobs and street rods to brass era relics from the 20s. It's a photogenic venue, with the mansion as a centerpiece and cupolas placed here and there. Shelter is always nearby from hot sun or a sudden rainstorm.

My only criticism of the show is the hours, 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. That's a relatively short time for a one-day show that attracts such a large number of vehicles. The car corral alone may have 200 cars. That leaves little time to cover the entire field. The 7 a.m. start is too early for those who may have to travel an hour or two to get there. More than that and an overnight stay the night before the show would be mandatory.

But for my needs, the time was sufficient. I had time to photograph all the cars I was interested in. You can view the results at this link:

https://www.linwoodstreet.com/endicott2018/

Annual Castle Car Show

July 7, 2018 — After the heat and oppressive humidity of last weekend's Carriagetown Car Show in Amesbury, this Saturday's show at Castle in the Clouds in Moultonboro, New Hampshire, was about as good as summer weather gets in New England. The day started off with temperature in the 60s, but warmed to the low 80s by late morning. The most important factor was the total absence of humidity. As you'll see in my photos, skies were completely cloudless most of the day. Those are perfect conditions for comfort, but high summer sun is not the best lighting for photography. Photos appear rather flat because of absence of shadows. The shadows of spring and fall give better definition. But total perfection is hard to achieve. Saturday was almost as close to it as we can get.

The weather brought out the crowds and a large number and good variety of cars. I ended up with an even 100 photos. You'll find them all at this link:

 https://www.linwoodstreet.com/castle2018/

"The Skin of Our Teeth"

July 5, 2018 — This play delightfully breaks all the rules, from actors addressing the audience directly, to expressing reluctance to even being in the play, and lamenting the fact they don't understand the play (neither does the audience at times). At one point, an audience member runs noisily from the theater. Was this part of the play? At the first of two intermissions, the audience sat motionless for several minutes, unsure whether this was really an intermission or another trick of this unpredictable play.

Written by Thornton Wilder and first performed in 1942 at the outbreak of World War II, "The Skin of Our Teeth" won the Pulitzer Prize for Drama. This production at the Peterborough Players in Peterborough, New Hampshire, was directed by Players artistic director Gus Kaikkonen. Charles Morgan's always excellent scenic design provided the clever trickery this play's scenery required, and Lisa Steett-Liebetrau designed a stunning number of costumes for the huge cast.

The play is grounded, more or less, by two of the Players' finest actors, Jack Koenig as George Antrobus, and Dee Nelson as George's wife, Maggie. Tess Borsecnik and K Cody Hunt are their children, Gladys and Henry. But for me the real star was Rebecca Brinkley as the maid, Sabina, in Acts 1 and 3, and Sabina in the person of a beauty queen in Act 2. The energetic Kraig Swartz, just off his stint in a one-man show as Truman Capote, has a smaller but not insignificant role in colorful gypsy drag as a fortune teller.

In Act 1, Sabina, in her brief maid's uniform, dusting the furniture in George and Maggie's modern Excelsior, New Jersey home, lays out the characters' roles in her monologue. George has invented the wheel, alphabet and multiplication tables. An encroaching ice age is threatening to wipe out life on earth. In Act 2, the world has survived the ice age, and George has been elected president of an order of mammals. Sabina appears as a beauty queen intent on separating George from his family. But all this becomes unimportant as the world is now threatened with a biblical flood.

Finally, in Act 3, the world has survived a devastating war. Sabina is now in a sort of military uniform and packing a pistol. Maggie and Gladys emerge from a bomb shelter. Gladys is holding a  baby. Their home is in ruins. George and Henry appear. George and Maggie have now been married 5,000 years. George feels defeated. He can't save the world by the skin of his teeth another time. He has a violent fallout with his son, Henry.

There's much more to this play than I've described here. There are backstories. Henry was originally named Cain. He had killed his brother, George's favorite son. This complex play with its cast of over thirty was a remarkable achievement for the Players.

I won't give away the ending. There is no ending. It comes around full circle, like James Joyce's Finnegans Wake which the play has been compared to. Sabina, back in George and Maggie's apartment in her maid's uniform, dusting the furniture, will tell the audience when they may go home.

Mayor Gray's Carriagetown

July 1, 2018 — I've passed up many car shows because of bad weather, but that usually means rain. In fact, I've even seen a few snowflakes at early spring or late fall shows. But for the first time I was having second thoughts about attending Mayor Gray's Carriagetown Car Show in Amesbury, Massachusetts because of the heat forecast. Meteorologists were predicting temperature in the 90s, with high humidity making it feel like 100 degrees or over. This was the beginning of a withering heat wave that would continue for a week.

But I went to the show, and amazed myself at my own stamina. The show was held in hilly downtown Amesbury with cars scattered over closed streets, parking lots, coves and every place where they can fit a few cars. You're constantly walking up and down hill and you have to be careful not to miss any of the hidden pockets.

In spite of the heat, the show drew well over 200 cars and was swarming with spectators. I arrived before 9 a.m. and stayed for the trophy presentation at 1:30 p.m., with one brief, restorative break for lunch at air-conditioned Flatbreads. Pictures are slightly dulled by heat haze, but take a look. There were some outstanding cars and a few scenes around the attractive Amesbury downtown:

https://www.linwoodstreet.com/carriagetown2018/

Hemmings Great Race

June 27, 2018 — The 2018 Hemmings Great Race is being
run from Buffalo, New York, to Halifax, Nova Scotia, a distance of 2,300 miles in nine days. I caught them at a lunch stop at the Owls Head Transportation Museum in Owls Head, Maine. One hundred and fifty cars arrived over a period of about two hours. This is the third time I've been present at a Great Race, once at the end of the race, once at the beginning and this time for lunch.

This is the ultimate car show, with a stunning variety of cars of all ages (they're required to be 1972 or earlier), colorful and plastered with decals. Driver-navigator teams, some beginning to show signs of fatigue, all hungry, are mobbed by spectators as soon as they arrive. Oldest cars I noticed were three 1916  models. There were many from the '20s and '30s. They stick around for a couple of hours, so there's ample time to admire the cars and talk to the teams. Crowds of spectators make photography a bit challenging, but I've had plenty of experience with that.

As always when I travel to Owls Head and stay overnight in neighboring Rockland, I take some photos around picturesque Rockland harbor, then at Owls Head I always walk through the museum in case something new has been added since my last visit. You can see all this, the cars, and a video montage of activities at:

https://www.linwoodstreet.com/greatrace18/

Medfield on the Charles

June 24, 2018 — This show in Medfield, Massachusetts, was
formerly held in Wellesley as Concours on the Charles. Wellesley was a better venue in my opinion. The sprawling grounds featured beautiful gardens, trees, statuary, quiet places to sit, and it attracted very high-quality antique automobiles.

In Medfield, equally sprawling but without the amenities of Wellesley, the character of the show has changed with the location. Muscle cars and street rods now dominate, and not to keep harping on my objection to raised hoods, it seemed to be the preferred way of displaying cars at this show. This tells me its primarily a show for engine and power lovers, not that there's anything wrong with that, but as a photographer, I prefer to see cars with their beauty unobstructed by hoods in the air.

In any case, I photographed all the best I could find. You can view them at this link:

https://www.linwoodstreet.com/medfield/

Sunapee Lions Antique Vehicle Show

June 23, 2018 — The Sunapee Lions Club 20th Antique & Collectibles Motor Vehicle Show at the Sunapee Resort in Newbury, New Hampshire, was frankly a disappointment this year through no fault of their own. The day was cool and damp with occasional drizzle and more rain in the forecast. This kept attendance well below average for this popular show. Another problem, for my purposes, was an unusual number of vehicles with their hoods raised, which makes for a poor picture. I felt as though I were walking around a field of gaping alligators.

The officials require hoods to be up for judging, but if owners would raise their hoods as the judges come around, then lower them after judging is complete, I'd be happy. But many owners tend to keep hoods raised all day. Personally, I'm not a gearhead. I appreciate the beauty of automobiles, and have less interest in engines and power.

Anyway, now that I've given vent to my pet peeve, I'd like to invite you to view a mere thirty-two photos, close to the minimum number I consider for a web page. The collection does include some very nice motorcycles:

https://www.linwoodstreet.com/sunapee2018/

The Dingman Collection

June 22, 2018 — Some of the finest antique automobiles I've seen were on display on auction preview day at RM Sotheby's in Hampton, New Hampshire Friday. The auction was to be held Saturday and Sunday. On the block was the collection of Michael Dingman, a former Ford Motor Company director, so there was a predominance of Ford products. Also included were many other automotive items.

The photos may seem a bit repetitious as there are many Fords from the thirties and forties, but these are beautifully restored specimens, and most of them were on display outdoors on a perfect sunny day. I photographed many of the cars from several angles, as well as inside. Besides the Fords, there were two rare 1942 Lincoln Continentals and a few offerings from other manufacturers.

Take a look. If you love cars, you'll be dazzled by this fine collection:

https://www.linwoodstreet.com/dingman/

"Tru"

June 21, 2018 — Since witnessing Kraig Swartz as flamboyant writer Truman Capote, I've watched several interviews and late night show appearances on the internet by the real Capote, and I can say without hesitation that Swartz's portrayal was dead-on. The only difference is that Swartz, out of necessity, had to amplify his voice by a few decibels above Capote's pinched nasal twang in order to be heard by the entire theater. But Swartz captured Capote's speech cadence and mannerisms perfectly in a bravura performance.

The title of the play is "Tru" by Jay Presson Allen. It was staged at the Peterborough Players in Peterborough, New Hampshire, directed by the Players' long-time artistic director and actor Gus Kaikkonen, who was also responsible for scenic design. Swartz was the only actor appearing on stage. Tess Borsecnik, Patti Hance, Taylor Dobbs and Joanne Stevens were voices on the phone. Swartz, a Players veteran, has appeared in many comic roles, and I've always considered him one of the funniest men in New Hampshire theater, along with Doug Shapiro and Scott Severance. As Capote, Swartz was both funny and pathetic, addressing the audience directly through much of the play, bringing this complicated, troubled, important literary figure to the stage 34 years after his death.

Now in its 85th year, the Peterborough Players has brought high-quality theater, acting talent, direction and stage craft to New Hampshire.

"Camelot"

June 19, 2018 — Observing its 86th year, the New London Barn Playhouse in New London, New Hampshire, is the state's oldest continuously operating summer theater and is included on the state's Register of Historic Places. If you love rusticity, and I do, you'll love the Barn, in spite of a few challenges. Two heavy wooden posts partially block the view of the stage from some seats, a couple of thinner metal posts four rows down are slightly less obstructive but can be annoying if they're directly in your line of vision. The edge of the low-hanging balcony, which was converted from a hayloft (yes, this was really once a barn), can hide the heads of tall or elevated performers from the back rows. The ancient floorboards are well-worn and the floor has a few waves in it. They ring cowbells to signal the start of the play and return from intermission. You can rent a pillow for 5 cents, the proceeds going to scholarships

On this night, the Barn Playhouse staged Lerner and Loewe's "Camelot" for the fifth time in its history. The Barn has a record of attracting great musical talent and is especially good at producing musicals. This particular production was not the best I've seen at the Barn. That distinction belongs to Sigmund Romberg's "The Student Prince" in my opinion, staged by the Barn a few years ago. But  "Camelot" was still an evening well-spent.

Many in the 18-member cast wore head microphones, something I find annoying. It takes away from the naturalness of the performance, but I suppose they're needed by those whose voices aren't strong enough to cover the entire theater. Carly Valancy as Guenevere did not wear one and her fine soprano voice reached the farthest corners of the theater effortlessly without electronic assistance. Fred Rose as King Arthur did wear one, but that's not a criticism. With or without the mic, his strong baritone was a delight to listen to. In fact, all the singing talent was first-rate. The band, while very good, was a bit uneven in volume, but to be fair, the acoustics in the old theater-in-a-barn can be challenging.

I won't attempt to name all members of the fine cast, but those who stood out, besides the aforementioned Valancy and Rose, were Andy Tighe as Lancelot and Gabriel Florentino as Mordred. Adam Zeph played the dual roles of Merlin and Pellinore.

Russell Garrett directed "Camelot" for the Barn. Brad M. Carlson was responsible for scenic design, Emily Kimball costume design and Ben Montmagny sound design. Cecilia Durbin (www.durbinlighting.com) was lighting designer.

"Miss Julie"

June 14, 2018 — Interpreting this 1888 play by August Strindberg is a bit much for me to get into. Suffice it to say it's about class and gender and jealousy, all taking place in the kitchen of a manor house in Sweden. I'll just concentrate on the excellent performances by three actors.

This adaptation of "Miss Julie" by Howard Brenton was directed for the Winnipesaukee Playhouse in Meredith, New Hampshire, by theatre KAPOW co-founder Matt Cahoon. A valet at the manor, Jean, was played by Nicholas Wilder. Rebecca Tucker appeared in the title role. The other theatre KAPOW co-founder, Carey Cahoon, who once played Miss Julie herself, in this presentation had the rather understated role of Kristin, a housekeeper. Of course, any role would have seemed understated compared to Wilder and Tucker's scenery-chewing performances, or in the case of Tucker, near destruction of the scenery late in the play.

Jean is a valet to the earl of the manor. Kristin is referred to as his fiancée, but their relationship is strangely lacking in affection. Miss Julie is the daughter of the count who owns the estate. Her relationship with Jean is unmistakably passionate, but with dire consequences. Much is open to interpretation, or can be what you want it to be. That's why I'm not commenting on it. My take on it could be very different from someone else's. You have to see it.

In about 75 minutes with no intermission, the play gathers emotional momentum as it progresses. Wilder gave one of his patented over-the-top performances. I love watching him. Tucker had the fieriest role I've ever seen her in. These two actors were mesmerizing. Cahoon, a versatile actress I've seen many times in a variety of parts, had the least time on-stage and the smallest amount of dialog, but her facial expressions and body language said volumes.

Andrew Stuart's set design,  Lori McGinley's sumptuous costumes, Tayva Young's lighting and Neil Pankhurst's sound and a well-placed chorus enhanced the performances.

Heritage Museums & Gardens Annual Car Show

June 9, 2018 — It was my second time at the Heritage Museums and Gardens in Sandwich, Massachusetts, but the first at their annual car show held outdoors. There were many exceptional cars, but too many for the size of the field, and they were packed in like sardines. A high turnout of spectators added to the difficulty in photographing individual cars. I commend them for moving their rarest cars off to the side where they had some space, among them a 1931 Duesenberg once owned by actor Gary Cooper. Inside the J. K. Lilly Automobile Museum was an exhibit of race cars going back to 1911.

Whenever at the Heritage, a walk around the grounds rewards one with photogenic flowers, trees, the towering flume fountain, a windmill and an adventure park featuring a zip line. Speaking of the windmill, it had lost its blades since the last time I saw it. They had to be removed for safety reasons because of their rotted condition. A GoFundMe page has been set up to fund their replacement.

In spite of the crowded conditions, I came away with over ninety photos of some really exceptional cars, along with the race cars and a few shots around the grounds. You can see them at this link:

https://www.linwoodstreet.com/heritage2018/

Berwick Car Show

June 4, 2018 — It was the first time I had seen this car
show in Berwick, Maine, hosted by the American Legion. Held around Berwick Town Hall in Sullivan Square and spread out along a street closed to traffic, it exceeded my expectations. I estimate there were more than 200 vehicles, up from 150 last year. Many of them were very high-quality restorations, along with some all-original specimens, and the usual customs, street rods and a small collection of motorcycles.

Highlight of the show for me was a trio of 1948 convertibles, a Mercury, Buick and Studebaker, parked side-by-side, all observing their 70th birthday, all beautifully restored. A bright red 1947 Cadillac sedanette also stood out.

Photos of this show can be seen at:

https://www.linwoodstreet.com/berwick2018/

Budweiser Clydesdale Hitch Team

June 3, 2018 — I left the Goffstown car show early to
get to the Anheuser-Busch Brewery in Merrimack, New Hampshire in time to see harnessing up and hitching up of the huge Clydesdale horses in an eight-horse team to pull the famous Budweiser wagon, like the ones seen in their commercials. The wagons, made by Studebaker, weight 7,200 pounds empty.

Getting the harnesses and ornate collars on the eight horses, one at a time, took almost an hour. Once each horse was harnessed up, it was hitched to the wagon. These giant beasts are the most docile, patient creatures I've ever seen. None could move until all eight horses were hitched up. One gentleman sat on the wagon holding the reins just to keep them still. Once all the horses were hitched, he was relieved by the two official drivers, and they could finally move, much to the delight of the large crowd of spectators that had gathered.

They made several laps around a large field, then finally stopped for picture-taking. Here again the horses remained still for about a half hour as spectators took photos and had their own photos taken by an official Budweiser photographer. Following that, there were a few more laps, then they finally headed for the stables, almost three hours after being harnessed.

You can see the majestic Clydesdales in a video and a handful of photos at this link:

https://www.linwoodstreet.com/clydesdales2018/

Goffstown Rotary Car Show

June 2, 2018 — The Goffstown Rotary Car Show in Goffstown, New Hampshire, only in its fifth year, has been growing rapidly in popularity and participation. This year's show featured a good mix of classic, standard, custom and muscle cars, old and nearly new. Standouts in my opinion were a 1959 Oldsmobile 98, a 1921 REO, and a mint condition 1964 Studebaker Daytona convertible once owned by Andy Granatelli.

I had all the pictures I wanted by 11 a.m., so I left to head for the Budweiser Brewery in Merrimack, a half hour drive away. They were having a demonstration by an eight-horse team of Clydesdales pulling the famous Budweiser red wagon. I'll be reporting on that in my June 3 blog. Meanwhile, you can see my photos of the Goffstown show at this link:

https://www.linwoodstreet.com/goffstown2018/

Spring Fling All-Corvette Show

May 27, 2018 — It's been two years since I last attended the Spring Fling All-Corvette Show at the Anheuser-Busch Brewery in Merrimack, New Hampshire, and the weather conditions at this show were nearly identical to the earlier one. It was cool, only in the '50s, with overcast skies, an occasional raindrop, more like early April than late May.

But in spite of the weather, the show drew a large number of Corvettes, mostly late model, and lots of enthusiastic spectators. For some reason, the show doesn't attract many classic Corvettes from the '50s and '60s. The two oldest cars at this show were a '58 and a '62. There were a few from the mid-'60s and '70s, but a vast majority were 2000 and later. I regularly see more older Corvettes at shows open to all makes.

Conditions weren't the best for photography, but I came away with almost sixty photos that Corvette enthusiasts, or just car lovers in general, might enjoy scrolling through at this link:

https://www.linwoodstreet.com/springfling18/

Cruisin' the Tree

May 23, 2018 — I had just learned of this cruise night,
purported to be one of the largest in New England. I discovered Cruisin' the Tree at Liberty Tree Mall in Danvers, Massachusetts was indeed larger than many of the big weekend shows in number and variety of vehicles. The downside is that it's on a paved parking lot, not the best venue for photography, and it appears to be a staging area for school buses which line one whole side of the lot. Keeping those buses out of my pictures proved challenging, and I wasn't always successful.

But if you just like to see cars and are not too distracted by cluttered surroundings, I have a collection of 95 photos for you, and one video of the mass evacuation at the end of the show when some very powerful cars go roaring out, some doing burnouts which apparently are not discouraged at this show.

You can see it all at:

https://www.linwoodstreet.com/libertytree/

Bow Rotary Car Show

May 19, 2018 — It looked like the entire weekend was going to be a wash-out, with rain all day Saturday and showers Sunday, based on forecasts. But when I arose Saturday, there were streaks of blue in the otherwise overcast sky, and the sun peeked through occasionally. So I decided to head for the Bow Rotary Car Show in Bow, New Hampshire, only a 20-minute drive away, one of the earliest shows of the season around these parts.

When I arrived at the show grounds, clouds had begun to break up and sun was getting stronger. But the number of cars and spectators was below average for this show, no doubt because of the unfavorable weather reports. They missed a good thing. It was sunny and warm throughout the show. Rain was moving up from the south, but they got the whole show in before it arrived.

The Bonny Eagle show in Maine was being held on Sunday, but forecasts were still sticking to their predictions for unsettled weather continuing. This show was almost a two-hour drive away, so I decided not to risk the trip only to be rained out. But Sunday also remained rain-free, so I could have gone. It just goes to show a bad forecast can ruin an event just as easily as actual bad weather.

You can view my photos of the Bow Rotary event at this link:

https://www.linwoodstreet.com/bowrotary18/