TWO PLANKS THEATER MONROE CONNECTICUT: TOWARD A PROFESSIONALLY MODELED LOCAL THEATER.

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THE PLAY’S THE THING

Please excuse me if I beg the following question: Why is Two Planks Theater in Monroe Connecticut in a league of its own as a Local Theater? It is not an easy question to answer unless you have seen one of their Main stage Productions. What is revealed by such a viewing are a group of extremely good actors making intelligent and believable choices in bringing to life their respective characters. What is revealed are actors who have been involved in theater, film and television (even in one case the Circus), for decades. The emphasis here is on the art and while other production values are breathtaking (sets and lighting for example), the work being presented is first and foremost given paramount treatment. The play selection also sets Two Planks apart.  Plays dealing with contemporary issues in society are often among the selections. There are Community  Panel “Talk Back” sessions following certain productions after the performance. In those sessions, one or more of the issues dealt with in the play are explored in a panel format with audience participation. Recently the issue of addiction was explored and prior to that trans-sexual and transgender issues.

GOOD THEATER IS A MAGNATE FOR ATTRACTING GOOD TALENT ON AND OFF STAGE.

Good actors, directors and production personnel gravitate towards projects that have other good people already involved or who intend to become involved. When, dare I say, ‘A’ list actors are involved it makes other ‘A’ list actors want to be a part of the production. Amazingly, it seems that the casts, heretofore assembled for Two Planks productions, are often as good, if not better than, a cast culled out of an NYC all day call.

THE PERFORMANCE SPACE “OUR FATHER.”

The Company performs in the United Methodist Church in Monroe but one would never know it was a Church from sitting in the theater (also known more commonly as “The Sanctuary”). The entire space is converted into a multi-level platform stage. In their most recent offering, August: Osage County, there were 3 or four levels.

CONSISTENT LEVELS. A Professional Model.

Traditional Community Theater productions suffer from major levels of qualitative disparity when it comes to the acting ability of various cast members (smaller roles being played by those less experienced hence the production as whole suffers in quality). Two Planks doesn’t appear to suffer from this malady. Now don’t get me wrong, there are other ‘local’ theaters similarly situated I just happen to be writing about this Theater. Also, a community theater in its pure form is a place where less experienced actors can learn and grow. Thus, such Theaters fail to achieve consistent performance levels across the entire cast. At Two Planks, they have managed to attract quality performers and production people across the board owing to word of mouth among the Connecticut Community Theater “first string”, the selection of quality plays and a sort of rebellious attitude concerning marketing. Theirs is a marketing campaign built on reputation. They don’t tell you they are good, they show you. So, as the whispers become louder, their place in the Connecticut theater scene grows exponentially.

Mr.Ponzini has appeared in Two Planks productions. He is solely responsible for the content herein and speaks only for himself, not for any group or association.

THE FUNKIEST THEATER IN AMERICA

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JOHN LINO PONZINI

The Funkiest Theater in the U.S.A.

Pioneer Playhouse Danville Kentucky Circa 1971 Pioneer Playhouse 

840 Stanford Road Danville, Kentucky 40422
pioneerplayhouse@att.net
1-866-KYplays (1-866-597-5297) | Local: 859-236-2747

Dateline Danville Kentucky 1971 or thereabouts: Picture this in the moonlight: dinner under the stars, an outdoor amphitheater adjacent to a reproduction of old Danville, complete with replica buildings and a Stage Coach: all for the price of a ticket. Oh, and a campground to boot so bring your RV. You have landed at the Pioneer Playhouse, State Theater of Kentucky-a summer Repertoire company where the resident actors spend a summer performing in one show after another. At night, on stage. During the day, rehearse for the next show for about two weeks.  It is Kentucky’s oldest outdoor theater (founded in 1950)- a huge distinction if you know anything about outdoor theaters in Kentucky. Suffice it to say Kentucky practically invented the outdoor theater experience in this Country. Now don’t go thinking this is some small time Community Theater. It isn’t. It is an award winning professional theater. Lee Majors passed this way, as did John Travolta and Robbie Benson.

As for the staff, some of the directors at the time were from College Theater Departments. I met Dr. Gerald Honaker at The Playhouse in 1971. He was the head of the Catawba College Theater Department, and he recruited me to attend Catawba College on a full acting scholarship. The College tuition, room and board then was around $3,500.

There was Paul the costume designer from Greenwich Village (not that there’s anything wrong with that) and Lou, an assistant director/choreographer who was in the original West Side Story. There was a hussy of a house manager from New York who was fired for inappropriate behavior. Many of the actors were from New York (they still audition in New York City to this day) A few actors were from Kentucky and various other places. Victor Gross was there from Hazard Kentucky. He was a genuine Hillbilly with removable teeth. He was in his twenties. He could throw a knife 20 feet and stick it in a tree trunk. Jim Varney was there. A great actor who went on to Hollywood fame with his “Ernest” movies and as Jed in The Beverly Hillbillies. He actually taught Victor how to throw that knife. They warned me if I ever tried walking down the main Street in Hazard with my long hair, I wouldn’t make it 20 feet before the boys would be holding me down while cutting my locks. Sadly, Jim passed away. He was one of the best Shakespearean actors I’ve ever seen. He could muster up a soliloquy on the spot. Just tell him the play and he would perform it for you. He also knew more about Shakespeare’s works than many college literature professors.

Then there were the apprentices, twenty or so boys and girls living in a dorm like setting above the old West shops. When I was apprenticing there over 40 years ago it was pretty rustic. Doors nailed together and braced separated the sleeping quarters. Spiders? No problem. Make a cheesecloth tent over your bed. Food? Barbecue chicken with assorted other dishes- it was finger licking good. Things haven’t changed much since then. Their website describes the dorms as “rustic”. My mates were Billy from Texas, C.J. from Kentucky, Danny from Oklahoma and John Boy from Texas. For 10 weeks we were a band of brothers. We attended classes, worked on scenes and built sets. Ballet, acting and costume design were required classes everyday. For ballet, we all had to wear leotards.

Play selection back in the day: Blithe Spirit, Boeing Boeing, an original musical, Fire on the Mountain- to mention a few. As for the audiences: sometimes 4 or 5 people, sometimes twenty or more. Sometimes a full house. Not to worry, the show always went on no matter the audience number.

The founder: Colonel Ebin Henson. A real Colonel? An honorary title bestowed by the Legislature. He certainly was a really unique character and really a Pioneer. He made tremendous contributions to the arts in Kentucky and in Danville. Danville is known for a number of things, for example the prestigious Center College and where Raintree County was filmed. Montgomery Cliff and Elizabeth Taylor starred in this Civil War Era epic. The film used townsfolk as extras. There are several documentaries about the whole Danville Kentucky experience as a result of the film. A large welcoming party (3,000 people) complete with a brass band and majorettes heralded the film cast and crew’s arrival. Hollywood comes to Mayberry. It was also where Montgomery Cliff was nearly killed in a car accident and Elizabeth Taylor collapsed on the set resulting in hospitalized.

 

These days the Playhouse is run by the entire Henson family headed by the gracious Matriarch, Charlotte Henson. It is a great place to have dinner and see a show, under the stars and in the moonlight. If you’re lucky, Charlotte will play her guitar for you.

COMMUNITY THEATER CRISES REVISED

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Plays I just Don’t Like and I Don’t Know Why. Little Help Here People!

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1. Our Town.(Been played to death)

2. Arsenic and Old Lace. (It’s black humor without the humor)

3. The Sound of Music. (This is a syrup, honey and molasses cocktail)

4. Blithe Spirit (In fact anything by Noel Coward.)

5. Funny Girl. (Corn on the Cob)

6. Plaza Suite. (Dated back to the Neanderthal period. Plus, Neil Simon is contemptuous of Community Theater)

7. Barefoot iin the Park. (Wake me when Jane Fonda leaves NY for her pow wow with the Viet Cong)

8.  I Love you, You’re Perfect blah blah (This show is unwatcheable)

9.  The Iceman Cometh (You’ll need it to stay awake for this boring tome)

10.The Crucible (I love Miller to death but this play’s symbolism is just too obvious to be compelling.)

THE CONNECTICUT COMMUNITY THEATER CRISIS

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What is the Connecticut Community Theater crisis? In a word, excess. There are just too many community theaters in Connecticut. This is resulting in a watering down of talent to the point where the posting of additional auditions being announced for productions is commonplace. Compounding this problem is the emphasis of many Community Theaters on the production of musicals. This is further draining the talent pool and resulting in the Redundance Factor: defined as the same musical being done sometime simultaneously by two were three theaters in Connecticut. Look over the list of plays from 2014 produced by Community Theaters in Connecticut. How many of those plays were Pulitzer Prize winners from the last 50 years of American theater?

MY SOLUTION: In a word, collaboration. Community Theaters in Connecticut should seek to band together and coproduce some of their productions. Perhaps this will even lead to the merger of smaller community theaters. Community Theater producers have a responsibility to do justice to the works they placed before the public. This cannot be accomplished without the proper resources, attractive venues, talent and money. Collaboration and merger- two concepts whose appearance on the Community Theater stage is coming to a Town near you in the near future.

MAKING IT: SCOTT HOLMES USED HIS STRENGTHS-YOU SHOULD ALSO.

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scott holmesMore images

  1. Scott Holmes
    Television actor
  2. Scott Holmes is a retired American actor, best known for the role of District Attorney Tom Hughes in the CBS soap opera As the World Turns, a role he played from 1987 through ATWT’s 2010 cancellation. Wikipedia
  3. Born: May 30, 1952 (age 62), West Grove, PA
  4. Education: Catawba College
  5. TV shows: As the World Turns, Ryan’s Hope
    BROADWAY CHE EVITA, GREASE,THE RINK, BEST LITTLE WHOREHOUSE
    So how do you get to Broadway?  You go all in. No falling back. No nets and no escape hatches. Doesn’t mean you can’t get a degree. Doesn’t mean you can’t develop other marketable skills. Becoming a professional actor is a long-term project. I keep repeating that because most people who want to make a career as an actor fail to appreciate the length of the road they will need to travel. It also helps if there is something that you do exceptionally well. Anything from ballet to tap dancing and everything in between. There are a lot of doors you can open that may not lead immediately to your objective but will at least get you in the house. Scott has a singing voice that makes you sit up and take notice. It is unique in its sound. As for television work, his Rock Hudson like good looks and a very natural acting style made him a desirable daytime Star. What if your strengths aren’t as mainstream as Scott’s? Well, when you’re evaluating yourself, don’t ignore obvious talents, even if they are outside the box. If you’re good looking, use it. If you’re not, use it. If your 6 foot 7 or 5 feet even, use it. When you’re assembling auditioning materials see if you can combine you’re out of the box talent within the context of a traditional piece. You will have to judge whether that would be appropriate for any particular audition. I always hid the fact that I played the accordion until a summer theater of some repute needed someone to play an accordion playing character. I got the part. It wasn’t much of a contest as I was the only actor who played the accordion at the auditions. The play: “Dark of the Moon” starring Scott Holmes.

Catherine Russell: Setting Records

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REPRINTED ARTICLE

It’s been a long journey from the New Canaan High School stage to New York City and a record setting career.

Coffee and prayer: Actress shares secrets to nearly 30 sick-free years

Susan Donaldson JamesTODAY contributor

Nov. 3, 2014 at 9:21 AM ET Catherine Russell says she doesn’t smoke or drink, but that’s not why the 59-year-old off-Broadway actress has gone nearly three decades without missing work. No illnesses, no flu, no colds have kept her from the stage.

“I have been healthy for so long, I take it for granted,” Russell told TODAY.

Catherine Russell

Todd Cross
Catherine Russell credits her positive attitude for her good health.

What’s her secret?

Since 1987, Russell has held the Guinness World Record for the most performances in a role — more than 11,000 to date in the “Perfect Crime,” at New York City’s Snapple Theater, where she is also general manager. Her workload also includes teaching English at New York City’s Baruch College and NYU. As theater manager, she sells tickets at the box office and has even been known to repair a toilet in the bathroom.

Russell’s long-running good health earned her the title “Cal Ripken of Broadway” by People magazine, because the baseball legend held the record for consecutive games played.

“We had a very interesting conversation,” she said after meeting Ripken in 2011. “He said he feels the same thing I do: You get up and go to work every day.”

Russell stars in “Perfect Crime,” now the longest running play in New York City’s history. “I have to kiss two middle-aged men on stage every night,” said Russell. “I get slapped and kissed by them and it’s wonderful, but I never get sick.”

She’s only taken a vacation four times in nearly three decades: the last time in 1995 to attend her brother’s wedding. “I was in the wedding party so couldn’t get out of it,” she said.

Russell shares her keys to good health (in no particular order):

LOVE

Catherine Russell

Todd Cross / Todd Cross Photography
Catherine Russell has lived with Patrick Robestelli for 20 years. “Having a partner helps you stay healthy,” she says.

Russell said she has lived with the same man for 20 years — Patrick Robestelli, who left school at 13 and runs several restaurants and businesses in the city. “He’s totally street smart,” she said.

“Having a partner helps you stay healthy,” Russell said. “Coming home at night to someone you love makes you happier. If you get sick, they make you feel better.”

She and her boyfriend keep putting off getting married. “He said once we’ll go to City Hall one day and go to the Palm for lunch and then go back to work.”

She regrets never having children, but concedes she avoided the germs that inevitably come with the territory.

GOOD GENES

Russell’s mother and maternal relatives all lived to almost 90 or older. Research suggests genes are mostly responsible for our longevity and good health.

Surprisingly, her fondness for Snickers bars and a generally lackluster diet hasn’t hurt. In fact, she says it’s her unfailingly positive attitude that keeps her going: love your job and your life.

COFFEE

Black coffee on wooden table; Shutterstock ID 188572103; PO: today.com

Shutterstock
Russell starts her day with coffee. “I don’t have the luxury of feeling tired,” she says.

Russell’s day begins at 5:30 a.m. with coffee, catching up on the computer and reading the newspaper. She teaches mornings, then runs off to the theater.

“Basically, I work all day and then am on stage at night and go home,” said Russell. “I don’t have the luxury of feeling tired.”

STAYING ACTIVE

“At 8 in the morning when I get on the subway car and go to teach, I ask my students, who looks happy to be going to work?” Russell said. “I am happy to be here and on stage. Never once in my life have I said, ‘damn, I have to go to work.’”

Above all, Russell said healthy people have “balance” in their lives. “People who live only for love or only for work are not complete,” she said. “You need both things.”

FAITH

Russell, who is a Christian Scientist, credits her faith with much of her good health.

“Christian Science tries to see the good in people and see the self as whole and healthy,” she said. “I really don’t let getting sick into my thinking.”

“When I get sick, I pray, but there is no rule that says I can’t go to the doctor,” Russell said. “A lot of friends ask me to pray for them and they have done studies that prayer does help — and it can’t hurt.” Her biggest health challenge came when Russell has an ovarian cancer scare in her 40s. Before going into the operating room for exploratory surgery, Russell prayed.

“They had a nun who said she wanted to pray with me,” said Russell. “When I woke up in the recovery room, I looked at the clock and I remember my sister said, ‘You are perfect. There is nothing wrong with you.'”

Her surgery was on Tuesday, her day off. The next day, she was back at work, said her publicity manager Daniel DeMello, “feeling fine.”