January 7, 2009 · 9:00 PM

‘Gillian’ Auditions Announced

gillian-cover1THIS WEEK, Mesquite Community Theatre announced auditions for their upcoming production of To Gillian On Her 37th Birthday by Michael Brady.  Directed by Brad Stephens, auditions will be held over two evenings in February at the Mesquite Arts Center.

DAVID is in perpetual mourning for his wife, killed two years ago in a boating tragedy on her birthday.  Retiring to his summer cottage in Nantucket with his teenage daughter, David prepares to spend a weekend celebrating Gillian’s life on the anniversary of her death.  Joining them is Gillian’s sister, brother-in-law and a woman from David’s past.  But while his family hopes to lure him out of his grief, David has resurrected his wife in his mind, sinking ever deeper into his fantasies and further from those who care for him.

The character breakdown is as follows:

  • DAVID, age 37, a college professor, temporarily retired
  • RACHEL, age 16, David’s daughter
  • CINDY, age 16, Rachel’s friend
  • PAUL, age 38, David’s brother-in-law, married to Esther
  • ESTHER, age 39, David’s sister-in-law, a psychologist, married to Paul
  • KEVIN (female), age 28, friend of Paul and Esther, recently divorced
  • GILLIAN, age 35, David’s former wife who died in a sailing accident two years prior to the events of the play; Esther’s sister

Please use the above as a guideline as the director is casting characters rather than ages.  Anyone even remotely close to character descriptions are encouraged to attend the auditions scheduled at 7:00 PM on Monday, February 9 and Tuesday, February 10, 2009.

The Mesquite Arts Center is located at 1527 N. Galloway Avenue in Mesquite, one mile South of Highway 80 on Galloway at Range Drive.  Auditions will consist of cold readings from the script.  No appointment is necessary. Bring head-shot and resume if available.  Interested parties are encouraged to RSVP on FaceBook by clicking this link.

Rehearsals will run Monday through Thursday from 7:00 PM to 10:00 PM beginning Wednesday, February 18, 2009.  Performances begin April 10, 2009 and run through April 25.  Please visit the Mesquite Community Theatre website for more information or call 972-216-8126.

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January 1, 2009 · 12:00 AM

Happy New Year, 2009

In Memoriam A.H.H.

by Lord Alfred Tennyson

 

 Ring out, wild bells, to the wild sky,
     The flying cloud, the frosty light:
     The year is dying in the night;
Ring out, wild bells, and let him die.

Ring out the old, ring in the new,
     Ring, happy bells, across the snow:
     The year is going, let him go;
Ring out the false, ring in the true.

Ring out the grief that saps the mind
     For those that here we see no more;
     Ring out the feud of rich and poor,
Ring in redress to all mankind.

Ring out a slowly dying cause,
     And ancient forms of party strife;
     Ring in the nobler modes of life,
With sweeter manners, purer laws.

Ring out the want, the care, the sin,
     The faithless coldness of the times;
     Ring out, ring out my mournful rhymes
But ring the fuller minstrel in.

Ring out false pride in place and blood,
     The civic slander and the spite;
     Ring in the love of truth and right,
Ring in the common love of good.

Ring out old shapes of foul disease;
     Ring out the narrowing lust of gold;
     Ring out the thousand wars of old,
Ring in the thousand years of peace.

Ring in the valiant man and free,
     The larger heart, the kindlier hand;
     Ring out the darkness of the land,
Ring in the Christ that is to be.

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December 31, 2008 · 12:00 AM

Goodbye and Farewell, 2008

A Song for New Year’s Eve

 by William Cullen Bryant

 

Stay yet, my friends, a moment stay-
     Stay till the good old year,
So long companion of our way,
     Shakes hands, and leaves us here.
          Oh stay, oh stay,
One little hour, and then away.

The year, whose hopes were high and strong,
     Has now no hopes to wake;
Yet one hour more of jest and song
     For his familiar sake.
          Oh stay, oh stay,
One mirthful hour, and then away.

The kindly year, his liberal hands 
     Have lavished all his store.
And shall we turn from where he stands, 
     Because he gives no more? 
          Oh stay, oh stay,
One grateful hour, and then away.

Days brightly came and calmly went, 
     While yet he was our guest;
How cheerfully the week was spent! 
     How sweet the seventh day’s rest! 
          Oh stay, oh stay,
One golden hour, and then away.

Dear friends were with us, some who sleep 
     Beneath the coffin-lid:
What pleasant memories we keep 
     Of all they said and did! 
          Oh stay, oh stay,
One tender hour, and then away.

Even while we sing, he smiles his last, 
     And leaves our sphere behind.
The good old year is with the past; 
     Oh be the new as kind! 
          Oh stay, oh stay,
One parting strain, and then away.

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December 25, 2008 · 12:00 AM

‘The Christmas You Get You Deserve’

For those of you who care enough to follow this blog, here are a few gifts I would like to share with you on this most extraordinary of holidays.

First, if you haven’t yet read my previous post, The Music of the Light, I invite you to do so.  What began as a rant against ugly Christmas decorations morphed into heartfelt joy for this season.  As I am exhausted after a long Ebenezer Scrooge run, I don’t think I can put words to my feelings as effectively as I did there.

Recently I heard a song called I Believe In Father Christmas.  I don’t know why I had never heard this song by Greg Lake of Emerson, Lake & Palmer until a couple of weeks ago on XM’s Classic Vinyl channel, but it instantly struck a chord with me the moment I became aware of it. 

Here is a version by U2 for your enjoyment:

Here are the lyrics:

They said there’ll be snow at Christmas
They said there’ll be peace on Earth
But instead it just kept on raining
A veil of tears for the Virgin’s birth
I remember one Christmas morning
A winters light and a distant choir
And the peal of a bell and that Christmas Tree smell
And their eyes full of tinsel and fire
They sold me a dream of Christmas
They sold me a Silent Night
And they told me a fairy story
‘Till I believed in the Israelite
And I believed in Father Christmas
And I looked at the sky with excited eyes
‘Till I woke with a yawn in the first light of dawn
And I saw him and through his disguise

I wish you a hopeful Christmas
I wish you a brave New Year
All anguish pain and sadness
Leave your heart and let your road be clear
They said there’ll be snow at Christmas
They said there’ll be peace on Earth
Hallelujah Noel be it Heaven or Hell
The Christmas you get you deserve.

— I Believe In Father Christmas by Greg Lake

I understood the message decrying the over-commercialization of this sacred holiday, how its meaning is lost on those of us who focus on what we want over what we wish to give, and our culture’s slipping grasp of the true power of this season.  A little research turned up some interesting interpretations but here’s what Lake has to say about his song:

I find it appalling when people say it’s politically incorrect to talk about Christmas, you’ve got to talk about ‘The Holiday Season.’ Christmas was a time of family warmth and love. There was a feeling of forgiveness, acceptance. And I do believe in Father Christmas.

I thank you, Mr. Lake, for using your gifts to bring us such a wonderful song as only you could have produced.

Lastly, here is a little bit of my childhood I carry with me in adulthood especially at this time of year:

May the true Spirit of peace on Earth and goodwill toward Man be present in your heart today.  And may we all be blessed with a Christmas better than we deserve!

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December 24, 2008 · 1:33 AM

‘Ebenezer Scrooge’ Takes Final Bow

The Pocket Sandwich Theatre has closed the doors on Ebenezer Scrooge for the 2008 season completing a very successful run of 23 performances to sold-out crowds.  I had a great time with the entire cast and I can easily say it was one of the highlights of my career.  Hopefully, I can compose a better farewell at a later time but I am very sleepy now.

To the cast, crew, director, waiters, cooks and staff at Pocket Sandwich, I send you many thanks and wish you all a Merry Christmas.  God bless us, every one!

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December 15, 2008 · 11:00 AM

Few ‘Scrooge’ Seats Remain

David H.M. Lambert as ScroogeWith only one more week of shows left, reservations for Ebenezer Scrooge have just about been filled.  As of this moment, there are seats left for the Tuesday, November 15 and Wednesday, November 16 evening performances.  I have a report that a few seats remain for Monday, November 22 show but those will go fast.

The Christmas classic ends its 27th season on December 23, 2008.  Call and make your reservations now!

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December 9, 2008 · 12:00 AM

I’m Sleeping with Satan

Arlette MorganAlthough Arlette Morgan is part of a cast of fourteen undoubtably gifted performers, I simply cannot help but single her out as exceptional.  She is remarkably talented, preternaturally beautiful and the warmest of souls.  And the most amazing and joy-inducing fact about Arlette for me is this — she is my wife.

So I look forward with great delight to seeing her perform this weekend in Stolen Shakespeare Guild’s From the Beginning to the Nativity running at the Fort Worth Arts Center.  Despite the organization’s name, this will not be a production of one of the Bard’s works; rather, it is a medieval mystery play.  What is a medieval mystery play?  Glad you asked!

Medieval mystery plays began in the 10th century as serious church performances and developed into colorful and theatrical spectacles involving the whole community. Our concept for this show borrows from both the ancient and the modern. We have chosen to perform these plays as Shakespeare might have seen them as a boy, with Elizabethan costumes and settings, but with a contemporary holiday twist. We hope that these plays will be as silly and as moving as they were hundreds of years ago.

Plays being presented are The Creation, Noahʼs Flood, The Procession of Prophets, Josephʼs Trouble About Mary, The Salutation of Elizabeth, The Offering of the Magi, The Flight into Egypt, The Slaughter of the Innocents, and The Purification of Mary.

— from a Stolen Shakespeare Guild press release

Arlette will be portraying a number of personas in this production, the most notable being that of Lucifer — that highest of created beings who grew prideful, rebelled against God and became Satan.  Hence the title of this post.  I have to make this clarification lest she go medieval on my ass.Stolen Shakespeare Guild

If you enjoy the opportunity to see a true professional actress practice her craft, then I highly reccommend you come out and see Arlette’s show.  Tickets can be purchased online at www.stolenshakespeareguild.com, by calling Theater Mania at 1-866-811-4111, or you can buy your tickets at the box office starting one hour before show time.

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December 7, 2008 · 10:45 PM

16 ‘Scrooge’ Performances Left

Tonight, the Pocket Sandwich Theatre played host to one of our most special audiences.  A foster care organization bought out the theater and brought in some of the children for whom they care.  Most of them had never seen a stage production before.  Some were experiencing Charles Dickens’ classic tale for the very first time.

After the final bow, we were greeted with hugs and smiles.  While they expressed gratitude for our performance, we were the ones who were treated with one of our best audiences so far.  Thanks to everyone who made this evening possible.

Two weekends of performances are now behind us.  However, we’re only getting started.  We start up again on Tuesday and over the next two weeks we’ll put on 16 performances, concluding our run on December 23.  The shows are packed and selling out early so make your reservations soon before this year’s production becomes little more than legend!

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December 4, 2008 · 3:30 PM

The Music of The Light

I’m driving through my neighborhood a few nights ago and come to realize that Christmas is upon us.  Given that I had been in rehearsals for six weeks and now perform in a stage production where Christmas is tossed around more often than the F-word in a Tarrantino movie, perhaps I should be troubled that I am only now coming to that realization.  But not as troubled as when witnessing the awful carnage of holiday tradition littering my neighbor’s front lawns.  Achmed sings 'Jingle Bombs'Seriously, my street looks like Achmed the Dead Terrorist  detonated in the seasonal aisle at Wal-Mart.

Let me clarify: I’m no Scrooge (no offense, David Lambert).  I appreciate the expression of joy my fellow homeowners display during this time of the year.  Furthermore, I share that joy myself and would never intend to discourage others from demonstrating it.  Having said that, while the expression of such joy is always legitimate, the execution is often less so.  It’s like when your four year-old brings you their latest artistic achievement in crayon.  You love it, it is beautiful, you proudly display it on your refrigerator.  Well, that’s my neighborhood at this time of year — one big, ugly refrigerator.

So, burdened with the conflicting joy of the Christmas Spirit coupled with the dreadful, can’t-take-your-eyes-off-it fascination one experiences driving past auto accidents, I pull into my garage, say a little prayer as the door descends and enter my home content in knowing there is love in the world even if it is not always pretty.

Then my friend Steve Lindsey posts this on Facebook:

Vodpod videos no longer available.
 
 
Perhaps some people find this a bit excessive and maybe it is.  However, I find this to be leaps and bounds above the thoughtless acquisition of inflatable snow-globes, chaotic light strands and holographic Rudolfs with big, undulating backsides (I kid you not; there’s one three doors down).  Clearly this is the product of a very intelligent and creative individual who engages all his energies when expressing his Christmas joy.  This remarkable display is a reflection of its creator who, in turn, is a reflection of his own.  This is an example where the beauty of expression comes close to unifying with the glory of its Inspiration.
 
As we go through the holidays, let us remember there is a Music underneath our celebrations that goes deeper than our ears can hear.  Our eyes can’t see it; our hands can’t touch it; our minds cannot fully appreciate it.  It is something or Someone in whom only our hearts can feel and our souls rejoice.
 
This holiday season, my wife and I, from our heart and soul, wish you a merry Christmas.
 

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November 28, 2008 · 2:14 PM

‘Ebenezer Scrooge’ Opens!

David H.M. Lambert as ScroogeAfter several weeks of rehearsals, the actors are ready.  Last night, we performed to a preview audience of friends and family.  Tonight, we take to the stage in front of a sold-out crowd eagerly awaiting this year’s installment of a wildly popular Christmas tradition: Ebenezer Scrooge.

Presented for the 27th consecutive holiday season at Pocket Sandwich Theatre, this musical adaptation of Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol is the house’s biggest draw of the year.  Judging from the preview audience reaction, this year’s production promises to be one of the best yet.  As performers, we had a blast playing to the crowded room.  There was laughter, there were tears, there was singing both on stage and off.

I’m privileged to be working with such a young, energetic cast of 27 actors performing 50 roles!  This has been a fun rehearsal process and the show looks great.  I hope you find time during your hectic holiday schedule to come, sit down, relax and enjoy the show.

Directed by Jeff Vance and with David H.M. Lambert starring in the title role for the 15th year, Ebenezer Scrooge runs for 23 performances beginning tonight through December 23.  Food and beverage service available before all shows.  Reservations are strongly recommended.  Box Office: (214) 821-1860.

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