Aviation Museum & Wrenn Memorial

July 17, 2021 — With showers and thunderstorms in the forecast once again in this already rain-soaked July, I risked venturing out to the first of two car shows. The first was at the Aviation Museum in Londonderry, New Hampshire. Skies were overcast and humidity was high but no rain was falling when I left the house. Turnout was good at the show, not as high as last year, but there may have been 200 cars and plenty of spectators to admire them.

Around mid-morning, rain began and quickly turned into a deluge. Fortunately, this was one of those shows where spectators can park near the show field and I didn't have too far to run for the shelter of my car. I waited out the downpour in my car and it was over in about 15 minutes. Everyone returned to the field, no cars had left and the show resumed.

Around noon I left for the Norm Wrenn Memorial car show at Lee Raceway in Lee, New Hampshire. Wrenn, who had recently passed away, was a supporter of many charities and local children and the car racing community. A feature of the show was a burnout contest on the race track. Screeching tires, screaming engines, lots of noise and smoke made from some pretty good video, even through a chain link fence. There was no more rain.

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

https://www.linwoodstreet.com/aviation2021/

For video and photos from the Lee show, click here:

https://www.linwoodstreet.com/wrenn/

British Car Day

July 11, 2021 — The Larz Anderson Auto Museum in Brookline, Massachusetts, was lucky to get one of the few dry days in this rain-soaked July for its British Car Day. I've been to the Larz Anderson many times. Besides the museum, they have several shows a year on their broad lawns, usually dedicated to one category, nation or brand of cars. I was stunned when I walked onto the field. It was the biggest show I can ever remember on the museum's property. There was virtually no space left on the main lawn, and cars were filling up another lot across the road.

The cars were all of British manufacturr. There were a few I never heard of, such as a Bowler and several Caterhams. I could have gotten a lot more pictures than I did, but I went for variety rather than quantity, selecting the best examples (in my opinion) of the many models, and avoiding a lot of repetition. There are also photos taken inside the museum of some new acquisitions since I was last there. You can see the results of my efforts at this link:

https://www.linwoodstreet.com/anderson21british/

"A Chorus Line"

July 6, 2021 — For my first time in an indoor theater since March 15, 2020, I traveled to Meredith, New Hampshire, where I had a reservation for A Chorus Line at the Interlakes Summer Theatre. To their credit, Interlakes is not dropping their COVID guard completely. They ask, but don't require, patrons to wear masks. The audience is separated into well-spaced groups to achieve social distancing. As a group of one, I was surrounded by empty seats. I never had so much space to enjoy in a theater, except that the Interlakes rows are so narrow I didn't have room to stretch my legs and sat sideways in my seat for most of the performance.

One of the most successful shows ever produced, originally directed and choreographed by Michael Bennett with music by Marvin Hamlisch and lyrics by Edward Kleban, A Chorus Line is an ambitious challenge for small summer theater companies. I saw it once before at the Eastern Slope Playhouse in North Conway, New Hampshire, ten years ago. I gave it a good review for its multi-talented, mostly young cast, and great song and dance numbers. This Interlakes production was equal in every way if memory serves me. The show demands singing, dancing and acting talent, a tall order this cast achieved for the most part. The Interlakes production was directed and choreographed by Gustavo Wons with music direction by Spencer Stern and costume design by DW Withrow.

A Chorus Line plays out on a bare stage. In the Interlakes production a mirror covers the entire back of the stage, visually expanding the dance numbers. It's covered by a curtain at times when the effect is not needed. Zach, a choreographer, needs to select four men and four women out of seventeen applicants for his planned musical. Along with their talents, each of the applicants is asked to give personal details about themselves, their family history, hopes and aspirations. They comply with song, dancing and monologue, often accompanied by the entire company. This takes up most of just over two hours of the play. They have markedly different personalities and backgrounds and a hodgepodge of attire. A few spice up their monologues with salty language and sexual references.

Finally, Zach makes his decision on his eight dancers. The final scene is food for thought for the more thoughtful in the audience. Is this what these eight very different people from different backgrounds, with high hopes for stardom, really wanted? A Chorus Line doesn't answer this question, in case the question even occurs to us. Some of us may see it as simply great entertainment with dazzling, energetic dance numbers, pretty girls in skimpy costumes, a fine orchestra, moments of comedy and poignancy, and it's all of those.