A Gershwin Get-Together

Penny Masouris presented a delightful oral and video presentation about George Gershwin's life and music, highlighted by her playing and singing more than twelve of his show tunes.
Penny's obvious enthusiasm toward Gershwin's music rubbed off on the Fine Arts audience and the guests, enticing several to join in with the singing.
This wonderful program provided a fitting kick-off to the second season of Chamber Music at The Playhouse concerts.

Quatuor Nouveau of Detroit

Joseph Deller, Judith Teasdle, Jessica Zelinski and Brandon Cota are congratulated and thanked for bringing their wonderful musical talents to The Playhouse for the season finale of Chamber Music at The Playhouse.
Their first piece, the seldom heard String Quartet in G major by C.G. Reissiger told us that the music of this composer should be reintroduced to the modern repertory. It was beautiful!
Next our interest was piqued by the varying treatment given to a Russian folk theme by eight different composers.
And last, but certainly not least, was the incredibly soulful, beautiful playing of Borodin's String Quartet in D Major. In this case, Borodin proved the experts wrong in the common saying that the minor is richer than the major. Every movement was a gem played with heartfelt devoltion to the music and the composer. (Did I hear Baubles, Bangles and Beads in there?)

The MSU Graduate Brass Quintet

The April 12th Chamber Music at The Playhouse concert was another smashing success, filling The Players Founders Room with beautiful people and with even more beautiful music! Mark Flegg and David Turrill (Trumpet), Michael Rieg (Horn), Simeon Stoyanov (Trombone) and Clinton McCanless (Tuba) are all to be thanked and congratulated! From their opening with Canona Bergamasca to their closing with That's a Plenty, The MSU Graduate Brass Quintet's music was fascinating and entertaining to all. This concert was a great change-of-pace for our Chamber Music at The Playhouse series. In their own words, a brass ensemble is not the typical chamber music offering. But the group was up to the task of presenting an interesting array of music, from Renaissance to Ragtime, to a discerning audience.
Click on Chamber Music at The Playhouse for information on the next concert by Quatuor Nouveau of Detroit in May.

The Absence of a Cello

Director John Diebel and Producer Norma Eschenberg gave Fine Arts audiences a wonderful weekend with this poignant comedy by Ira Wallach.
Andrew Pilgrim (Rob Green), a world-renowned physicist needing money, decides to turn to the corporate world.
He accepts help from Perry Littlewood (Charles Davis) in fitting the 'corporate mold'.
While sister Marian Jellicoe (Sue Owens), wife Celia (Laurie Striebel) and nosy neighbor Emma Littlewood (Karen Quarnstrom) look on, Andrew endures the first awkward meeting with the corporate rep Otis Clifton (Rick Christenhusz).

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As it turns out, Marian and Otis get a thing going,

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while daughter Joanna (Sharron Nelson) and Perry do the same.

Of course, Andrew has to carefully evaluate every question before deciding his future,

And after a loooong night out by Marian,

and Perry trying his hardest to be helpful,

Andrew finally says 'FORGET IT!!'

The Day After The Fair

Another successful Fine Arts weekend was experienced with the presentation of Frank Harvey's The Day After The Fair. Director Steve Shrader, Producer Lee Peters and their cast of Laura Bartell (Edith), John Denler (Arthur), Joann Koch (Letty), Laura Ver Beek (Anna), Shaun Day (Charles) and Gina Telford (Sarah) can be proud of their efforts.
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In the turn-of-the-century love story, Anna, a servant befriended by her mistress, meets an attractive stranger at the country town fair. A second meeting leads to not unexpected amorous consequences. Charles, a budding barrister, returns to London, but initiates a series of love letters between the two. Edith, the not happily married mistress, assists Anna with her letters, which eventually lead to a proposal of marriage and a rather surprising ending.
The play is true to the short story On the Western Circuit by Thomas Hardy.
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The set, based on a design by Darryl Clement for Theatre Britain was marvelous, giving the illusion of a carousel, which plays an important part in the telling of the story.

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The period costuming, by members Laurie Striebel, Sharon Conti and Norma Eschenberg was breathtaking. A number of the dresses were pulled from our storage, patched, pinned, repaired and otherwise adjusted to put the characters into not only the right time period, but more importantly the right frame of mind.
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Numerous period props were collected and manufactured by Geri Day and her crew, including a Halma board. What's that, you say?
Check out http://www.tradgames.org.uk/games/Halma.htm
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And the music between scenes provided a continuity to keep the audience spellbound throughout the evening. It was composed, performed and recorded by Christopher George and kindly supplied for Fine Arts' enjoyment by Theatre Britain http://www.theatre-britain.com/
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Jan Robb displayed an array of beautiful pottery pieces in The Founders Room during the pre-show wine reception and intermission.
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The evening was topped off by a delectable "light supper" served to us in their usual style by The Gourmet? Group.

And true-to-form, the last to leave The Playhouse were (you guessed it) Grete & Peter Rettig and Patti & Bob Phillips.