ACT's Moonlighting: A Night of Magical Theatre!

Ashland Contemporary Theatre opened their annual Moonlighting Series this last weekend with this year's rendition, Moonlighting 2017: Go Rogue.  Go Rogue features short plays from the Rogue Playwright's Circle, three of which are fully produced and three of which are staged readings.  The playwrights of such plays are Mark Saunders of "Playthings", Cynthia Rogan of "Give", Jeannine Grizzard of "Emmeline Pankhurst", Bob Valine of "The Other Side", David Copelin's "Quite Contrary", and Molly Tinsley of "It Is What It Is."

The short plays are directed by Cat Gould, Jeannine Grizzard, Michael Meyer, and Peggy Rubin and have an ensemble cast with ACT alumni, Karen Douglas, Cat Gould, Jeannine Grizzard, Michael Meyer, Mabrie Ormes, and Judith Rosen, with ACT fresh faces, Alex Bringer, Nicholas Madtson,  Russell Mitchell, and Elizabeth Suzanne.  The show also features narration by Lia Rose Dugal, also an ACT alumni.

The show starts with the adorable "Playthings".  Nicholas Madtson gives a spot on performance of GI Joe and binds the show and the other characters helping to sustain the strength of the story.  Alex Bringer sparkles on stage as Babs while Mabrie Ormes warms our hearts as the lovable Teddy.

Give is the next story to unfold with a thought-provoking and motivational story.  The cast, Alex Bringer, Karen Douglas, Cat Gould, and Elizabeth Suzanne, each give strong, passionate, and honest performances which heightens the interest in the story and characters.   Elizabeth reveals an honest and heart-wrenching performance and Karen brings an air of the comedic honesty to this raw story. It is Cat who shines with a riveting performance, the connecting force that guides the other characters through the story.

Jeannine Grizzard's "Emmeline Pankhurst" is a powerful message of eternal perseverance in fighting for one's cause.  Grizzard gives a truthful solo performance and shines beautifully under the stage lights.    It is clear that she cares deeply for the character as well as the message.

Bob Valine's "The Other Side" is brought to life beautifully by the excellent talents of both Jeannine Grizzard and Elizabeth Suzanne.  Jeannine brings a sense of comedy to the story which helps Elizabeth's character learn to trust again.  Elizabeth moves the house to tears with her honest portrayal of her character, which may be to date this actress's best Rogue Valley performance.  She is both truthful, brave, and real, which helps the powerful message of love everlasting become more tangible for the viewers.

Next up is David Copelin's "Quite Contrary".  ACT newcomers Russell Mitchell and Nicholas Madtson play off each other well with honest comedy and both appear to truly understand their characters.  Its Judith Rosen and Michael Meyer who carry the story forward through their exchange ranging from comedic repartee to pathos.  The show ends with a beautiful prayer sung over the audience.

The last show is Molly Tinsley's "It Is What It is" starring Karen Douglas and Mabrie Ormes. Once again, Karen Douglas gives a heart-felt, truthful, and sometimes comedic performance but this time its Mabrie who shines in her role.  Mabrie's work is both surprising in its moving simplicity and a touching performance, which is one of the finest of Ormes roles to date.

Moonlighting has one final weekend.  Friday at 3 pm at Grizzly Peak Winery in Ashland, followed by a Saturday evening show at 8 pm at the Ashland Community Center, and a closing matinee Sunday at 2 pm at the community center as well.

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7 Days of Gratitude, Day Four

7 Days of Gratitude, Day Four

1.) oddly enough for my sleep-deprived, foggy brain for its an exercise in focus & endurance & because it came about as an example of my knowledge of self-care

2.) for the roofers banging on my roof, distracting & frustrating to me, they deserve some love~for their efforts & for the very fact that they are a cause of such annoyance without really meaning to (they are just doing their job) & I am sure I will be very thankful for their work done later on, especially during the rainy season

3.) for my friend, Ruth Wire, because she's epic & because at her glorious advanced age she is still trying to better herself as a person and an actor/writer

4.) for my very talented, self-directed boyfriend, Michael & for watching him film his final scenes last night.  It was epically beautiful.

5.) for the new friends I met through that experience the last few nights

6.) for black Virgin Marys & other inside jokes, with new friends, random people & old friends

7.) for Tinseltown because they show Doctor Who

8.) for how amazing it is that Doctor Who is a world-wide phenomenon & a cult-icon & for Stephen Moffat  because I personally think he is amazing & he needs some love & doesn't get it

9.) for writers because if we didn't have them the world wouldn't exist

10.) for auditions, which are the equivalent of job interviews for normal people (See: Muggles), but an extremely more gut-wrenching & emotionally charged

11.) for genuine people who say what they mean, mean what they say

12.) for good healthy partners of my friends who treat them how they should be treated

Tansy's Trek

...Or How I Found Myself...

My name is Tansy Mae Winters.  I am 15 years old and I live in the swampy backwoods of the Louisiana Bayou with the shadowy figure of Jacques Devereaux.  He has some secret past that he is hiding from, I pay no mind to this, after all don't we all have something to hide? He gives me place to live while I help run errands for him.

One day while exploring and playing in the Bayou with my bird, Marigold, I come across some outsiders.  At first, I am instantly fearful of being discovered, made fun of, or worse, rescued and put into a foster home.   I like my life the way it is because it is my choice to live this way, and with my past history of abuse, I'd rather make my own way.  (Ultimately, I'm afraid of change and being hurt, but aren't we all?)

But then I see Jason and have a Miranda experience, a la The Tempest, "O Brave New World that have such creatures in it'---

In fact, in a very real way, I am a mixture of Miranda and Caliban.  In a sense, most of the other characters see me as the latter but to Jason I am Miranda and that is all that matters.  To be fully seen as beautiful and special is what changes me and helps me to accept the person I am inside and meant to become.  Even, in a sense, my relationship with Jacques, albeit abusive at times, is a lot like that of Prospero and Miranda.

The other people that come into the Bayou for the trek and that I meet later on are Beau Douville, Karen Moore, Tina McCourt, and Bobby Robiere.  At first, I am scared of each of them, especially Tina because I am sure she will make fun of me.  Beau and Karen may decide they have this "pressing need" to rescue me, so that makes me weary.  Of all of them, Bobby seems the most benign and thus the most trustworthy.

Through the meeting of each of these people, I discover my equality with others and even though I appear different I can still be one of them, am like them, and can help them 'save the day'.  In the end, I find my own personal power and pursue my destiny.

After the trek comes to a close, not only do I stay together with Jason but Tina and I become friends and she helps me to fit better with society and I help her become more comfortable with her true self, not worried about the opinions or judgments of others.  For example, she helps me learn about hair-care and other beautifying tips and I open her eyes to a world outside herself, a world more focused on the spiritual not the temporal.

Even though Jason and I stay in the Bayou, like he says, we still spend a lot of time in the town.  We both enroll in the local high school and get part time jobs.  He starts working at a garage where he learns about the trade of being a mechanic.  I get a job at a drugstore and soda pop shop.  In addition, I get a tutor to help bring myself up to grade level.

We stay in touch with Bobby, who with Beau's help, finally gets to be on the football and track team.  Tina becomes my pen-pal and after graduation when I receive a full scholarship to NYU, the two of us become room-mates.

At NYU, I study literature and English and hope to become a writer.  My first novel is about my experiences living in the Bayou, with an absent mother, and life with the infamous Jacques Devereau. Later on, I attend graduate school and receive my Ph'D in English literature.

Jason and I initially break up when I leave for college but years later while in my first year as a professor, we reunite, fall back in love, and marry.  We now have one son and another on the way.

Trek of the Catahoola Kids is a radio play written and produced by Ruth Wire.  It is currently in production but will aired later this year on a local Jackson County radio station.  It is co-directed by Jonathan Pratt and Michael Meyer, with Joshua Hendrickson as assistant director.  The play also stars Michael Meyer as Jacques Devereau, Christopher Horton as Beau Douville, Ceara Hays as Karen Moore, Tim Kee as Jason Meredith, Krystal Brewer as Tina McCourt, Jesse Lawson as Bobby Robiere, Catherine Hansen as both Mrs. Meredith and Mrs. McCourt, and Joshua Hendrickson as Mr. Robiere and my bird, Marigold.