October 19, 2006 Issue

Wait a second as I think I’m a virtual Bill Campbell this issue. Where’s my wine?

I can’t remember when I saw my first play, but I do remember being hooked from that time on. In high school I was one of the back stage drones helping with costuming, sets, and makeup. It was fascinating to watch my classmates transform themselves into characters and go out on stage and perform. Since that time, I have gone to plays whenever my pocketbook and time allowed.

I mention all this because for a small spit of a community, we are truly rocking and rolling in a cultural sense. Not only do we have ballet, but we are also able to attend performances of no less than three symphony orchestras, and we have a professional theater group and a community theater group, plus touring performances at Okaloosa-Walton College.

While live music, orchestral or otherwise, is wonderful, for me it doesn’t hold a candle to live dramatic performance.

In the next several weeks, two plays will be offered to local thespian lovers. Because of the publishing schedule of this newspaper, reviews will be impossible, but I am willing to go out on a limb and tell you that you won’t be sorry if you buy a ticket to both of them.

Coming up in Seaside beginning tonight is the annual fall playwright festival. This year David Mamet’s Oleanna is featured. One of the best hallmarks of the Seaside festival, besides the quality of the performances, is that the offerings are decidedly adult. Last year’s production of Edward Albee’s Who’s Afraid of Virginia Wolf was so awesome in its realism my brother was overwhelmed and had to leave. The year before the troupe knocked ‘em dead with Cat on a Hot Tin Roof by Tennessee Williams, which I missed because I was feeling under the weather. Every one I know says I missed out on one of the great productions.

One of the best features of the Seaside venue is its intimacy. They have what is known as a “black box” theater—small, very dark, and with seating that puts the audience very close to the stage. You can see them sweat, literally. Since discovering the existence of Seaside Repertory Theatre, I have missed few performances. With the exception of a couple of productions, I have enjoyed each and every play I saw there. The ones I didn’t like had nothing to do with the production or the performances, but everything to do with my personal taste.

The playwright festival runs through Oct. 28 and I encourage you to get yourself to Seaside to experience theater in a way you might never have before. Tickets are $24 for Seaside members and $29 for non-members. Call 231-0733 for reservations.

Community theater doesn’t get much more enthusiastic than the Stage Crafters group. Since seeing my first play there and reviewing it for another newspaper several years back, both the choices of plays and the players have improved dramatically. When doing musicals, the singers can sing and the dancers can dance. More dramatic renderings feature performances well above average for non-professionals.

Beginning Nov. 2, Stage Crafters will be gifting us with the Sanders Family Christmas, a follow up to Smoke on the Mountain, a production about the same family from last year. I’m a sucker for blue grass and folk inspired music and this production promises to be a toe-tapping good time. Watching Jim Garrett is worth the price of admission, which is only $15. Tickets available at all Century 21 locations and other outlets. Take a gander at Sidewalk Surfing for the full list of ticket outlets.

I am happy to report I have found a new home and I am very excited about it. I’ll be moving in two weeks to a sweet little yellow house in Fort Walton Beach where my dog will have a big fenced yard and I’ll have more room than I need. I’ll be closer to the venue for Stage Crafters performances, but further away from Seaside. No matter, I have a car and I’m not afraid to drive it. Hope to see you there.

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