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ARTS+LEISUREJanuary 30, 2020The Addison Independent

Divas divide the stageMIDDLEBURY COMMUNITY PLAYERS PRESENTS A HILARIOUS FARCE FEB. 6-9 AT TOWN HALL THEATER

SEE STORY ON PAGE 2

Carol Reed portrays stage legend Sarah Bernhardt

in “The Ladies of the Camellias,” which will take

the stage in Middlebury on Feb. 6-9.

INDEPENDENT PHOTO /

STEVE JAMES

PAGE 2 — Addison Independent | ARTS+LEISURE | Thursday, January 30, 2020

ouldn’t it be great if you could stave off the winter doldrums this year? Um, yes! Instead of letting the cold, dark and grey weather of mid-winter get you down, mark your calendars to go to “The Ladies of the Camellias” presented by Middlebury Community Players

on Feb. 6-9 at the Town Hall Theater in Middlebury.

“This hilarious farce imagines a meeting in Paris, 1897, between the most famous and temperamental divas of the age, Sarah Bernhardt and Eleonora Duse,” reads MCP’s synopsis of the play. “The two actresses are scheduled to perform back-to-back productions of the play ‘The Lady of the Camellias’ by Alexandre Dumas at Bernhardt’s theater. Their leading men, Dumas, and the theater manager wait nervously, expecting huge fireworks between the two grand dames when they finally leave their dressing rooms and meet on stage for the first time. Into this

tense situation comes Ivan, a young Russian anarchist who takes the two divas hostage and threatens to blow up everyone in the theater unless his comrades are released from prison.”

This show, directed by Middlebury’s Kevin Commins, is anything but dull — a great way to bring laughter and a fun night out into February.

“MCP discovered a number of years ago that our February show works best if it’s a comedy,”

Commins said. “People need something to laugh at when it’s dark and gray and cold.”

Commins directed the comedy “Boeing Boeing” a few years ago and got a terrific response. He said he’s excited to bring that level of humor back to the stage.

“I think ‘The Ladies of the Camellias’ is as funny as ‘Boeing,’ but there’s one crucial difference: ‘Boeing’ was funny but there was absolutely no point to it; it was written just to make audiences laugh. ‘Camellias’ has that same high level of comedy, but actually has some pretty interesting things to say about the culture of art, celebrity, media frenzy, social inequality, class and the opiate of entertainment, all of which resonates with the world we live in today. You can’t understand how you got somewhere until you know where you came from. My hope is that audiences will laugh themselves silly during the show and then start the thought process in the car on the way home.”

“Kevin is just a walking ball of talent,” said producer Maria Lourdes Stockman who lives in Addison. “For Kevin there has to be intelligence

WELSIE LYNN PARINI

BY

‘The Ladies of the Camellias’ CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

Learn to craft handmade love notes that pop

Wondering how to make Valentine’s Day a little more personal this year? Check out the two upcoming Valentine card-

making workshops on Saturday, Feb. 8 at Tandem in Bristol and Sunday, Feb. 9 at the Sheldon Museum in Middlebury.

Come make pop-up Valentine’s Day cards at the Sheldon on Sunday, from 1-2:30 p.m., with Sheldon Museum trustees Liz Markowski and Danielle Rougeau. Participants will have a choice of several card designs to assemble and decorate. The activity will involve detailed scissor cutting. All necessary materials will be provided. Appropriate for age 7 and up accompanied by an adult. Cost is $10 per child. Space is

limited. Reserve and pay in advance by calling the Sheldon at (802) 388-2117. (FYI: The museum will be open especially for this workshop as the Sheldon Museum, Research Center, and store are currently closed through March 30.)

Tandem will host a more free-form card

making workshop for Valentine’s Day on Saturday, from 11 a.m.-3 p.m.

Looking for something fun to do with your sweetie? Tandem’s hosting a pop-up Valentine’s

Day market and izakaya on Thursday, Feb. 13. What’s an izakaya? Good question. It’s an informal Japanese bar that serves alcoholic drinks and snacks. Come see some beautiful things made by local makers and enjoy some refreshments. First come, first served on Thursday, 5-8 p.m.

Here’s an example of the type of pop-up Valentine cards that could be created at the Sheldon Museum’s workshop on Sunday, Feb. 9. Cost is $10 for those ages 7 and up.

SEE DIVAS ON PAGE 3

“PEOPLE NEED SOMETHING TO LAUGH AT WHEN IT’S DARK AND GRAY AND COLD... MY HOPE IS THAT AUDIENCES WILL LAUGH THEMSELVES SILLY DURING THE SHOW.” — Kevin Commins

Addison Independent | ARTS+LEISURE | Thursday, January 30, 2020 — PAGE 3

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DIVASCONTINUED FROM PAGE 2

in the comedy — it’s more than just clever words… It’s been very interesting learning from him.”

Joining Stockman and Commins, are stage manager Tom Noble of Bridport and costume designer Gretchen Beloin of New Haven. Together this foursome pulled together a cast and crew in the first week of December, broke for the holidays, and is managing to put up a full-length production by the second weekend in February. That’s fast.

“The short rehearsal time span has been a challenge,” Noble admitted. “Though I think that is hardest on the actors.”

“It’s amazing we managed to pull this all together so fast,” echoed Stockman, who’s relatively new to Vermont (2013) and MCP (she acted in her first role in 2017). “It’s a lot of work, but we do it because we love it… I like standing off to the side and watching the magic happen, and being there to encourage everyone. There’s the spirit of getting this done as a collective — no one person is more diva than the other. It’s all about bringing this to our community… I love that spirit of camaraderie.”

Speaking of getting work done behind the scenes, let’s talk about the costumes for this turn-of-the-century period piece for a minute. Who makes all of those elaborate, elegant duds? Beloin, that’s who.

“I was a professional seamstress for 23 years, first as owner of a tailoring shop in Vergennes, followed by eight years of creating custom-made interior design products for firms all over the Northeast,” Beloin said. “In 2000, I was hired by François Clemmons to design and sew primarily the jackets he wears for performances, although I have made multiple ensembles and jewelry pieces for him as well.”

Since 2016, Beloin “retired” from sewing, enrolled at the University of Vermont and received her bachelor’s degree in Human Development and Family Studies in 2018. She now works at the Addison County Parent-Child Center… and sews for MCP.

“The costumes for this show are a collaboration of input from Kevin and the actors’ ideas about how their characters would dress,” Beloin explained. “I have a very clear vision of what I want on stage, such as silhouettes that are accurate for the period, and I like to make a statement with interesting prints, textures and details… Although MCP has an extensive costume collection, Kevin has come to know me as someone who will likely construct a piece to get it just right. That is the case for the costumes

worn by the women in this show, each playing an actress with her own style and manner of dress: Bernhardt is bold, Duse is grave, and the Girl is a work in progress. I think you will see how I use my talents to push boundaries while still honoring the unique character each actor has worked so hard to create.”

Beloin enjoys sewing for MCP and has been doing so since 2015. But, she said, there was another motivation for her joining the group too.

“It is to mentor interested individuals to take on leadership production crew roles,” she said. “As a professional educator, I recognize the potential community theater has, as an inclusive group, to motivate people to join and to learn or practice a skillset. For MCP’s spring musical, I will step back and Kaley Sunderland will run the costuming. Kaley started with MCP in 2015 as a high schooler by assisting with costumes and hair design for ‘The Nutcracker.’”

That gets at the heart of community theater, doesn’t it?

“We cannot say it enough,” Noble agreed. “Community theater is of, by and for the community. It has been said that you don’t need any talent to be in community theater, but that means everyone is welcome to join and find out where they fit on stage or behind the scenes. We are always looking for new people of all ages to work and play with us in giving the gift of live theater to ourselves and our

community.”

But let there be no mistake, talent abounds in this (and every other) MCP production. Come feel the warmth and power of community, while rolling in your seats with laughter as six Frenchmen and women, two Italians and a Russian tell the tale of “The Ladies of the Camellias.”

Tickets are available through the Town Hall Theater Box Office. Show times are ($13) Thursday, Feb. 6, 8 p.m.; and ($20) Friday-Saturday, Feb. 7-8, 8 p.m.; and Sunday, Feb. 9, 2 p.m. For more information visit middleburycommunityplayers.org.

Christopher Ross as Ivan, a Russian anarchist, threatens a couple of theater folk in the play-within-a-play, (L) James Peacock, a Middlebury College student, and (R) Lonny Edwards of Lincoln. Ross is a reporter for The Addison Independent. INDEPENDENT PHOTO / STEVE JAMES

PAGE 6 — Addison Independent | ARTS+LEISURE | Thursday, January 30, 2020

CALENDAR WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT

JAN. 30-FEB. 9, 2020

WHAT YOU WANT TO DO

THURSDAY, JAN. 30POETRY OUT LOUD IN BRISTOL. Thursday, Jan. 30, 6:30-8 p.m., Lawrence Memorial Library, 40 North St. Join 5 Town Friends of the Arts and Lawrence Memorial Library for their winter gathering. Bring poetry or short, short stories to read aloud or recite — or just come to listen and enjoy.

TRAVEL TO IONA, SCOTLAND, IN STARKSBORO. Thursday, Jan. 30, 7-9 p.m. Starksboro Public Library, Route 116. Go to Iona, Scotland without leaving the library. Donna Lescoe and Dr. Patrick MacManaway will explore Vikings, Celts, Picts, St. Columba, The Abbey, the corn crake, puffins, ancient rocks, and the stories that make Iona a special place to visit.

ROOMFUL OF TEETH AND THE DUBLIN GUITAR QUARTET IN MIDDLEBURY. Thursday, Jan. 30, 7:30 p.m., Robison Hall, Mahaney Arts Center, 72 Porter Field Rd. The Grammy-winning vocal project Roomful of Teeth will join the acclaimed Dublin Guitar Quartet for a collaborative concert, featuring Vermont-born composer Nico Mulhy’s “How Little You Are.” Performance presented with sign language interpretation. Tickets $30 general public/$25 Midd faculty, staff, alumni, and emeriti/$10 youth/$6 Midd students, available at 802-443-MIDD (6433) or middlebury.edu/arts.

SATURDAY, FEB. 1HILL COUNTRY HOLIDAY PARADE IN LINCOLN. Saturday, Feb. 1, 11:30 a.m., downtown. This year’s theme is “Love Your Library” in honor of the Lincoln Library celebrating 20 years in its current location. New route: vehicles assemble at the pallet mill at 11:15 a.m. and walkers will lineup at Burnham Hall. The vehicles will start the parade and walkers will join in as the vehicles pass by and continue along River Road to the library. Be on the lookout for the famous preschool parade song and skit at the library. After the parade, lunch and various activities will be offered at the library.

PORGY AND BESS LIVE IN HD IN MIDDLEBURY. Saturday, Feb. 1, 1 p.m., Town Hall Theater, 68 S. Pleasant St. One of America’s favorite operas takes the big screen on Feb. 1. James Robinson’s stylish Met production transports audiences to Catfish Row on the Charleston

waterfront, vibrant with the music, dancing, emotion, and heartbreak of its inhabitants. Tickets adults $24/ Student $10 plus fees, available at 802-382-9222, tickets@townhalltheater.org, or at the box office Monday-Saturday, noon-5 p.m.

HILL COUNTRY HOLIDAY VARIETY SHOW IN LINCOLN. Saturday, Feb. 1, 7 p.m., upstairs at Burnham Hall. You don’t want to miss this always-fun and funny event.

JAMIE MASEFIELD AND TOM CLEARY IN BRANDON. Saturday, Feb. 1, 7:30 p.m., Brandon Music, 62 Country Club Rd. An evening of diverse music mixing classical composers Samuel Barber and Bela Bartok, with jazz heroes like Horace Silver and Ralph Towner and soft rock’s pastoral landscapes like Neil Young. Pianist Cleary teaches in the UVM and FlynnArts jazz programs and Mandolinist Masefield is known for his groundbreaking group The Jazz Mandolin Project. Tickets $20. Pre-concert dinner available for $25. Reservations required for dinner and recommended for the show. Venue is BYOB. More info at 802-247-4295 or info@brandonmusic.net.

PAUL ASBELL IN RIPTON. Saturday, Feb. 1, 7:30 p.m., Ripton Community Coffee House, Route 125. “A genre-blurring, virtuosic waltz through the deep heritage of American folklore, where styles of Robert Johnson, Doc Watson and Dr. John rub elbows with those of Joe Pass and Bill Frisell.” — The Flynn Theater. Doors open at 7 p.m. 7:30-open mic followed by featured performers Admission at the door, $10 general admission/$15-$20 generous admission.

SUNDAY, FEB. 2SHAPE-NOTE SINGING IN MIDDLEBURY. Sunday, Feb. 2, 1-3 p.m. Mitchell Green Lounge, McCullough Student Center, Old Chapel Rd. Sing early American tunes from The Sacred Harp song book. The music is traditional, a cappella, 4-part community harmony singing. Free and open to all ages, all voices, and all levels of musical experience.

CHORAL EVENSONG IN MIDDLEBURY. Sunday, Feb. 2, 4 p.m., St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church, 3 Main St. The choir will sing “The Magnificat” and “Nunc Dimittis” by Thomas Tomkins (1572-1656) and an anthem, “Set Me As A Seal” by René Clausen. Free. All are welcome.

TUESDAY, FEB. 4COMMUNITY CHORUS IN MIDDLEBURY. Tuesday, Feb. 4, 7-8:30 p.m., Mahaney Arts Center, Room 221. Join the chorus at a special rehearsal location as they prepare for the spring concert season. This spring celebrates Jeff Rehbach’s 20 years as Middlebury College Community Chorus conductor. Open to all, high schoolers and adults, who love to sing. Info: rehbach@middlebury.edu or 989-7355, or go.middlebury.edu/communitychorus. More dates in Ongoing Events—Music, Arts, Dance.

WEDNESDAY, FEB. 5“AMAZING GRACE” ON SCREEN IN MIDDLEBURY. Wednesday, Feb. 5, 1, 4 and 7 p.m., Marquis Theater, 65 Main St. The latest film in Middlebury Showing Up For Racial Justice film series features this live concert by Aretha Franklin. $10 suggested donations support Middlebury SURJ projects.

“WHEN THE BICYCLE CAME TO VERMONT” IN MIDDLEBURY. Wednesday, Feb. 5, 7 p.m., Ilsley Public Library, 75 Main St. UVM professor Luis Vivanco explores the early history of the bicycle in Vermont, an invention that generated widespread curiosity when it arrived in the 1880s — helping spark important changes in industrial production, consumerism, road policies, gender relations, and cultural ideas.

THURSDAY, FEB. 6“THE LADIES OF THE CAMELLIAS” IN MIDDLEBURY. Thursday, Feb. 6, 8 p.m., Town Hall Theater, 68 S. Pleasant St. A farce based on the imagined meeting of the world’s two greatest actresses — Sarah Bernhardt and Eleonora Duse — in 1897 Paris at Bernhardt’s theater. The clash between these two powerful divas is complicated when a Russian anarchist arrives to hold the two theater companies hostage. Tickets $12, available at 802-382-9222, tickets@townhalltheater.org or at the box office, Monday-Saturday, noon-5 p.m.

FRIDAY, FEB. 7STUDENT ART SHOW OPENING IN BRANDON. Friday, Feb. 7, 5-7 p.m., Brandon Artists Guild, 7 Center St. Come see the annual show of new artwork by local students from grades K to 12.

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Addison Independent | ARTS+LEISURE | Thursday, January 30, 2020 — PAGE 7

Free and open to all. The show runs through March 1.

“THE LADIES OF THE CAMELLIAS” IN MIDDLEBURY. Friday, Feb. 7, 8 p.m., Town Hall Theater, 68 S. Pleasant St. See full listing on Thursday, Feb. 6.

COMEDIAN KRISH MOHAN IN MIDDLEBURY. Friday, Feb. 7, 8 p.m., Marquis Theater, 65 Main St. Described as “dangerously perceptive,” nationally touring Indian comedian Mohan uses his unique brand of comedy to talk about socio-political issues like organized religion, late-stage capitalism and the class system, along with stories about India. $5 suggested donation.

SATURDAY, FEB. 8“JUNK IN THE TRUNK” IN MIDDLEBURY. Saturday, Feb. 8, 10 a.m.-2 p.m., Ilsley Public Library, 75 Main St. Find out if your trash is really a treasure. Appraisers Brian Bittner, Lori Scotnicki and Greg Hamilton will be on hand to provide a verbal estimates of the value of your items: toys, furniture, art, glass, jewelry, china, books, military items, ephemera and more. Limit of 4 items per person. Free. More info call Renee at 802-388-4095.

ST. VALENTINE’S DINNER DANCE IN BRANDON. Saturday, Feb. 8, 6:30-11 p.m., American Legion, Route 7 South. Hosted by Ladies Auxiliary Post 55. Meal of stuffed chicken breast, mashed potatoes, vegetables, rolls/butter and dessert/coffee. Music by “Legends” Meal 6:30 p.m., music and dancing 8-11 p.m. Tickets, meal and dance $20, dance only $10.

CONTRADANCE IN CORNWALL. Saturday, Feb. 8, 7-9:30 p.m., Cornwall Town Hall, Route 30. Featuring Adina Gordon calling to live banjo and fiddle music by Red Dog Riley. $5-10/person (sliding scale). All are welcome. No experience

or partner necessary. Questions? 802-462-3722.

AMERICAN LEGION AUXILIARY ST. Valentine’s Day dance in Brandon. Saturday, Feb. 8, TBD, Brandon American Legion, Route 7 South. Meal and dance $20. Dance only $10. More info at 802-247-5709 or Post55VT@gmail.com.

LC JAZZ WINTER THAW CONCERT IN VERGENNES. Saturday, Feb. 8, 7:30 p.m., Vergennes Opera House, 120 Main St. For more than 25 years, LC Jazz has raised and donated thousands of dollars to area students in pursuit of their musical education. Suggested donation at the door of any amount. 100 percent of the proceeds go to the LC Jazz Scholarship.

MELISSA D AND FRIENDS IN BRANDON. Saturday, Feb. 8, 7:30 p.m., Brandon Music, 62 Country Club Rd. Although classically trained, Melissa quickly fell in love with rock and roll and folk music and from time to time dips her toes into Country. She sings with a distinctive smoky voice in the style of Karen Carpenter with whisperings of Melissa Etheridge. Tickets $20. Pre-concert dinner available for $25. Reservations required for dinner and recommended for the show. Venue is BYOB. More info at 802-247-4295 or info@brandonmusic.net.

“THE LADIES OF THE CAMELLIAS” IN MIDDLEBURY. Saturday, Feb. 8, 8 p.m., Town Hall Theater, 68 S. Pleasant St. See full listing on Thursday, Feb. 6.

SUNDAY, FEB. 9THE MNFF VERMONT TOUR IN VERGENNES. Sunday, Feb. 9, noon-6 p.m., Vergennes Opera House, 120 Main St. The Middlebury New Filmmakers Festival (MNFF) presents two of their top films from the 5th

Annual Festival. “Ernie & Joe: Crisis Cops” will screen at 1 p.m. and “The Dog Doc” will follow at 3:30 p.m. Jenifer McShane, director of “Ernie & Joe: Crisis Cops,” will be at a reception at noon and give an extended introduction of her film prior to the screening. “The Dog Doc” screening will be followed by an audience discussion. Tickets $12 for each film or $20 for both, available in advance online at VergennesOperaHouse.org or at the door day of show.

POP-UP VALENTINE CARD WORKSHOP IN MIDDLEBURY. Sunday, Feb. 9, 1-2:30 p.m., Henry Sheldon Museum, 1 Park St. Creative Sheldon Museum trustees Liz Markowski and Danielle Rougeau will lead this workshop for ages 7 and up. All necessary materials will be provided. Cost is $10 per child. Space is limited. Reserve and pay in advance by calling the Sheldon at 802-388-2117.

“THE LADIES OF THE CAMELLIAS” IN MIDDLEBURY. Sunday, Feb. 9, 2 p.m., Town Hall Theater, 68 S. Pleasant St. See full listing on Thursday, Feb. 6.

picktopJAZZ THINGS UP AT THE ANNUAL LC JAZZ WINTER THAW CONCERT

ON SATURDAY, FEB. 8, 7:30 P.M., AT THE

VERGENNES OPERA HOUSE. ADMISSION BY

DONATION.