(l-r) Karen Baker, Marketing Director, The Colonial Theater, Frank Winkler, Board of Trustees Vice President and Groton Utilities Economic Development Manager & Spokesman, and Shawn Dufault, Secretary, Board of Trustees, stand by the set for Shakepeare’s “The Two Gentlemen of Verona” that took place in Westerly’s Wilcox Park.
story & photo by Tony Schillaci and Don Church
Beautiful Wilcox Park, Westerly, served as the outdoor setting for William Shakespeare’s “The Two Gentlemen of Verona” this summer.
Presented by the Colonial Theatre and directed by Harland Meltzer, the comedy hit great high spots with the appearance of the two funniest characters, ‘Speed’ (Jimi Egan) and ‘Launce’ (Paul Romero). These Actor’s Equity Actors (AEA) knew full well how to make Shakespeare’s old English language both understandable and laugh-out-loud funny. When the two of them shared the stage, each tried to scene-steal the other, with riotous results.
Dragging a stuffed dog beside him on a noose-like leash, ‘Launce’ got the most out of the sight gag of talking to the silly looking inanimate bulldog. (Director Harland’s solution to the town’s ordinance against ‘performing animals not allowed in the park’ was the brilliant introduction of a stuffed animal!)
The set, by Mary Myers, was perfect, simple, and had enough doors, stairs and balconies to satisfy all the action. Added to the built set, the wooded areas surrounding the stage were put to perfect use by the director and stage manager, Sarah Tschirpke. If bandits were required to be in a forest, well, in a forest they were!
The story, an Elizabethan melodrama/soap opera, is as silly as can be – love letters intended for the wrong recipients, a woman disguised as a pageboy, lost loves, and royal banishment and reconciliation that could only come from the antiquated pen of Shakespeare. But this production, fast-paced and broadly acted, overcomes all of the Bard’s endlessly long wordy speeches, and uses body language and pratfalls to explain the text to those unfamiliar with the play.
Fine performances by Enrique Bravo as Proteus, LC Kirk as Lucetta and veteran actor Edward Franklin also helped to give clarity and reality to the play.
Be sure to get your blanket and lawn chair ready for next season’s production. Go to www.thecolonialtheater.org, and mark your calendars!
Telecommute CT will work with qualified employers and employees to set up ‘at home’ telecommuting offices to “be prepared” for employee absenteeism due to the predicted fall swine-flu pandemic.
by Tony Schillaci and Don Church
Employers in Southeastern CT are being offered an opportunity to “be prepared” for employee absenteeism due to the predicted fall swine-flu pandemic. They are strongly urged to take advantage of a free contingency plan offered by the State of CT’s Telecommute CT (www.telecommuteCT.com).
Telecommute CT will work with qualified employers and employees to set up ‘at home’ telecommuting offices. A representative who is an information technologies (IT) specialist will go to the qualified employee’s home to set up an efficient and time-managed home office. They will recommend specific software and hardware applications based on each business’ exact needs, reconfigure office footprints, and allow employees to remotely continue their daily activities in the safety of their own homes.
By preparing now, employers would be able continue or restart this telecommute program in the event of severe weather, transportation disruption, or other health emergencies; key personnel could stay-at-home to work, keeping the business continuity going.
Currently, the Center for Disease Control (CDC) is meeting to consider taking a public stand in favor of telecommuting, based partly on the evidence presented by the World Health Organization that the H1-N1 swine flu virus will cause major outbreaks this fall.
In only one week in July, Britain reported 100,000 new cases. A sign of what could be coming as new cases are reported daily throughout the US.
Jean Stimolo, Program Manager, Telecommute CT, recommends, “Connecticut employers would benefit greatly by planning ahead so that they are ready with a telecommuting option and are not caught off-guard when an employee’s access to the office is blocked or limited.”
Helene Kelly, Marketing Consultant, CT Economic Resource Center, Inc., advises that the key to successful integration of telecommuting into any continuity planning effort is preparation. The recent recession, combined with escalating gas prices dictated that many employees could work at home a few days a week, saving both time on the road, and money for the employer. Once gas prices reduced, many employers and employees chose to continue their company’s newly initiated telecommuting programs.
For assistance in developing a telecommuting option into your business, contact Telecommute CT at 1.800.255.7433, or tct@telecommuteCT.com.
Sierra Morgan, 14, enjoys being a volunteer leader in the children's summer camp program at William Seely School in Groton.
story and photo
by Maren Schober
If it is a summer week day between 8:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m., you will find Sierra Morgan, 14, busy with a group of five to eight year olds at summer camp in Groton.
“Children’s summer camp in Groton is held at three different school locations,” Scot Johnson, director of the Leader-In-Training program, tells me. “The schools are William Seely School, Claude Chester School and Cutler Middle School. The children range from ages three to twelve. I give the leaders training in management, CPR and First Aid.”
Sierra is a volunteer leader in the program at William Seely School.
“My day with the kids starts real early,” explains Sierra. “The first thing I do is help serve the children breakfast. The rest of the day the children have arts and crafts sessions, games in the gym and outdoor games like soccer, dodge ball and the playscape. We also have lots of field trips. We go to Eastern Point Beach, Roger Williams Zoo and the Galaxy Roller Rink. When I was rollerblading at the Roller Rink, one of the little girls pointed to me and said, ‘You do a very good chicken dance on roller blades! I wish I could do as well as you.’”
“I am learning a lot here,” Sierra continues. “ I am learning not to shy away from children and to help the children become confident in themselves. I don’t like to just tell the children what to do and then watch them. I really love to do hands-on things with the children to show them I care about them. Through the babysitting I do, I know that I love to be with children.”
Sierra attends Fitch High School in Groton. “We moved to Groton one year ago from Kings Bay, GA. I enjoy playing soccer and softball at the high school.”
The children at the summer camp are fortunate to have such a caring leader.
(l-r) Andy Stoddard, Commodore, Mystic River Mudhead Sailing Association, presents the Harvey N. Mallove Memorial Trophy to Peter Bergendahl, One More Time, and Peter Ross, Tynaje and their crew members: Bill and Suzie Canning, Bruce Oakes, Ann Bergendahl and Ben Wilkinson.
One-hundred-and-twenty boats and over 300 sailors participated in the 20th Anniversary Hospice SECT Regattas on July 15 and July 18, 2009 at the Stonington Dinghy Club, Thames Yacht Club, Niantic Bay Yacht Club and Mystic River Mudhead Benefit Regatta. From one-man crew Optimists to 40-foot boats with crews of eight, there was racing all along the Eastern CT shoreline to raise funds for Hospice SECT.
The winners of the Harvey N. Mallove Memorial Trophy are Peter Bergendahl in One More Time (Racing Class) and Peter Ross in Tynaje (Cruising Class).
Area sailors have raced for 20 years in support of the non-profit, community-based Hospice SECT. Funds raised allow the organization to continue to provide compassionate care to patients with life-limiting illnesses regardless of their age, disease or inability to pay.
A 20th Anniversary Celebration Cocktail Party will be held on September 26. For more information, call 860.848.5699 or email lcrider@hospicesect.org.
