No time like the present

JONATHAN CHARLES FOX
Posted 6/21/17

Regardless of how frequently I remind myself to stop and smell the roses, more often than not they bloom while I am racing past them at lightning speed, on my way to a play, a concert, a gallery and …

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No time like the present

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Regardless of how frequently I remind myself to stop and smell the roses, more often than not they bloom while I am racing past them at lightning speed, on my way to a play, a concert, a gallery and a street fair. The plethora of artistic offerings that entertain us all in the Upper Delaware River region is truly dizzying, and I feel fortunate to call the Catskills my home… but just as summer arrives, I fear that it will fly by on gossamer wing. Even the universe pauses from time to time, so I should take the hint, be present and follow suit.

That’s right, the solstice has already occurred. Somewhere between the first show of the season (www.fbplayhouse.org) in Forestburgh, Elaine (www.delawarevalleyartsalliance.org) Giguere’s retirement party in Narrowsburg, the Father’s Day extravaganza (www.Facebook.com/Kauneonga-Block-Party) in Bethel, and the time this paper went to press, the sun (it’s that big yellow ball in the sky) stopped for a brief shining moment to reverse course—or anyway, that’s how the event appeared to the ancients. The term “solstice” is derived from the Latin (“sol” means “sun” and “stitium” means “stoppage”). It happens in our hemisphere when the north pole is pointed most directly at the sun; when it starts pointing away again the days start growing shorter (already?), marking the beginning of summer and my swift and personal descent (mad dogs and Englishmen notwithstanding) into crazytown.

The award-winning gardens at the Forestburgh Playhouse (FP) are already in full bloom, but I was running (as usual) and neglected to stop and smell before taking my seat for the theatre company’s first offering: “Baskerville: A Sherlock Holmes Mystery.” The “reimagined” (yep, it’s a word-I looked it up) play is fairly new, and I had no idea what to expect, other than assuming that it was/is based on Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s 1902 crime novel “The Hound of the Baskervilles”—not historically known for its comic undertones. Among the notes that I jotted in my program while literally laughing out loud, I deciphered words like “hysterical,” “riotous,” “farcical,” “humorous,” “witty” and “droll,” none of which are enough to describe what we, the audience, were experiencing. The two-act romp that was a delightful surprise. If “Baskerville” is any indication of what the FP season has in store, I recommend making reservations for what is likely to be a memorable summer. Under Trent Blanton's inspired direction, the cast (Jeffries Thaiss, Scott Evans, Michael Stewart Allen, Buddy Haardt, and Liane Zielinski were clearly having a blast, playing multiple characters with such zeal that their performance was as good as it gets.

Aaron Turestky’s scenic design was perfect, Kevin Semancik’s sound design was (dare I say it?) flawless, Todd Lloyd’s lighting wonderfully executed and Ashleigh Poteat’s Herculean task of creating a never-ending array of lightning-fast costume changes downright inspired. There are no “stars” in this production, for it is an ensemble in the truest sense of the word, but… Zielinski’s myriad of wildly creative characters deserves a shout-out. It left me breathless with laughter, gasping for air as she careened across the stage with insane abandon, swiftly exchanging wigs and gowns, pants and hats, accents and shoes while winking at the audience as her fellow cast mates kept up with equally astounding verve and wow-factor talent. Let’s just say that I kinda liked the show. Next up is “Funny Girl,” playing now and running through July 2. Check the website for times and tickets.

It was beastly-hot inside The Narrowsburg Union last Saturday night, partially due to the temperature, but mainly because approximately 400 of DVAA co-founder Elaine Giguere’s most ardent fans packed themselves into the gymatorium to celebrate her astounding contributions to the arts in Sullivan County. Through videos, speakers and multiple toasts reflecting on Elaine’s sparkling career spanning four decades, there were nods to the past and peeks into the future, but Elise Freda’s commentary on Giguere’s incredible, indelible legacy summed up the present state of affairs.

“I grew up here in the ‘60s and ‘70s,” she said, addressing the SRO crowd, “but left for a while, lamenting the lack of an active arts community. When I returned in ’93 it was like arriving on a new planet, with an artistic life-force hitherto unprecedented in the county, that simply wasn’t there before.” The reason for the change? Freda fondly recalled, “One word—Elaine!”

Giguere graciously acknowledged the hundreds of people who have played a vital role in making it all happen, and will continue to do so in the future. She was clearly moved by the waves of admiration and visibly stunned at the unveiling of a bronze plaque that revealed 37 Main St. in Narrowsburg, NY will now be known as “The Elaine Giguere Arts Center.” Her contributions to the past are nothing short of inspiring and the future of the DVAA looks bright, but it’s the here and now that matter most, for Elaine Giguere’s many gifts are a present to us all. IMHO.

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