Hot Rods, Muscle & More

August 24, 2024 — In spite of its name, Hot Rods, Muscle & More, this show is heavy on hot rods and muscle but not a lot of More. The show is dominated by hot rods, muscle and racing cars and customs. Nothing at all wrong with that. Those classes are the primary interest of the show's sponsor, New England Racing Museum in Loudon, New Hampshire, an excellent museum of racing cars, history and memorabilia based in the New England area.

But it's not my primary area of interest. I'm a photographer leaning more toward brass era antiques and unmodified cars of the '40s and '60s. It's a hoods-up show, required for judging, and most owners throw their hoods up upon arrival and leave them that way for the duration of the show. I understand why that's necessary, but I think it's a poor way to photograph cars.

The museum is fascinating. I recommend a visit. I'm happy with the photos I got. The cars are very colorful. Hope you enjoy them at this link:

 https://www.linwoodstreet.com/hotrodmuscle24/

Cruisin' the '50s

August 8, 2024 — It had been a rain-soaked week along the Eastern Seaboard, part of it due to hurricane "Debby" which had been battering Florida and the Carolinas and was about to begin its journey all the way up to New England. I didn't want to miss the show called Cruisin' the '50s in Newburyport, Massachusetts, for the second year in a row. It was held in the rain last year, but I didn't think that would be much fun, so I stayed home.

It's a 5-8 p.m. evening show, and there was a break in the rain during the day of the show, but a chance rain could resume late in the evening. Exactly how late, meteorologists couldn't agree on. I decided to take a chance they could get the show in before rain began and headed for Newburyport.

Participation is invitation only for a limit of 250 cars. It looked like they filled the limit. No limit on spectators and they converged on the show in huge numbers, making photography challenging as each and every car was surrounded by admirers. The show is held in the city center on three long thoroughfares and a couple of parking lots and everywhere you went the crowd was so dense we were jostling each other.

In spite of the threat of rain, many chose to put the tops down on their convertibles, even though we could feel a sprinkle now and then. The show featured many high-quality cars. It always does, being invitation only. Cruisin' the '50s organizers are discriminating.

I got a pretty good collection of photos. I could have gotten more, but rain began in earnest at about 7 p.m. and many cars were making a hasty departure. I had no protection for myself or my camera, so I chose to join them. I ended up with more than 50 photos and a video, not bad considering the conditions. You can view them at this link:

https://www.linwoodstreet.com/newburyport24/

 

Heritage Day Car Show

August 3, 2024 — Another weekend, another 90-degree car show. That's been the story of this summer, but the Friends of the Kingston Historical Museum Heritage Day Car Show completed their event under muggy cloud cover before predicted rain moved in.

A relatively small show (I ended up with only one page of photos), I'm glad I was there. The collection of vehicles was varied and interesting. I fell in love with the beautifully restored 1949 Chevrolet 3600 stake body. It's now one of my PC wallpaper photos.

Take a look. You can get through it in less than five minutes. You'll find it at:

https://www.linwoodstreet.com/kingstonheritage24/

"La Cage aux Folles"

August 1, 2024 — Female impersonators, terrific song and dance numbers (just enjoy them, don't get hung up on which ones are real girls), a gay couple, winner of six Tony Awards, a cast of at least 17, banned in Tennessee, Montana and Florida! What more do you need to recommend a play?

La Cage aux Folles (The Bird Cage), with book by Harvey Fierstein, music and lyrics by Jerry Herman, was directed for the Winnipesaukee Playhouse ("The Winni") in Meredith, New Hampshire, by Clayton Phillips. Judy Hayward was music director and Danny Durr the choreographer. John Beltre handled costume design and Melissa Shakun designed the set.

This musical, which opened on Broadway in 1983, was another significant achievement by the Winni, whose production teams have demonstrated a high degree of skill in staging high-quality shows over and over again, supported by strong talent in actors, singers, musicians and dancers.

This is a tough one to review. Francis (Robert Hooghkirk), the frenzied, hyper-active stage manager, gets the show rolling. Georges (James A. Skiba), manager of a night club specializing in drag entertainment, and Albin (Larry Buzzeo), Georges' flamboyant star attraction and romantic partner, find their stock-in-trade being challenged by an ultra-conservative politician, M. Renaud (Pat Cogan), head of the "Tradition, Family and Morality Party." He's also the father of Anne (Drea Campo), fiancée of Jean-Michel (Nick Rossi), only child of Georges, all unknown to Renaud. Got all that? Things get complicated when Anne's parents want to meet her future in-laws.

I have to mention Larry Buzzeo's other role as Zaza, Georges' star female impersonator, in her (his) night club act. In wig, gown, eye liner and lipstick, he interacts with the audience, flirting and teasing those in the first row (glad I was in the second).

This play is primarily a musical with an unconventional love story that leads to both hilarious and poignant consequences. The songs are still running through my mind. Congratulations, Winni, on a stellar production.