We're Flying!

 

Come fly to the world of pure imagination!

I did not intend to be in this show. But here I am. I got a text in mid-Febrauary asking if I could fill in as Grandpa Joe. I wasn't sure, but they sold me when they said I didn't have to dance.

Joining the cast? One of the best decisions of my theater career!

I highly encourage you to come out and see this big, fantastic, enjoyable show!

It may be the biggest cast I've performed in, with close to fifty performers! Community theater fills many vital functions, but one of its best is large productions where many people can experience what theater is like, and whole families can get involved! Like the amazing Mr. Salt and his Oompa Loopa daughter, Ross Bedford and Alary Bedford! Or the accomplished Mrs. Bucket, her son playing Charlie, and another son playing an Oompa Loompa, Angi Helms, and her two boys, Noah and Micah!

I'd love to brag on every member of this cast and crew - it really takes a village to make a production as outstanding as this one.

I do have to mention Taylor Hereford as the perfectly quintessential Willy Wonka. His performance is Broadway quality and is the second time he's played the character at WACT. 

And it's been hard for me to stay in character with Liv McConney and Gabrielle Walker playing Augusta Gloop and Mrs. Gloop. They are brilliantly funny!

Charlie, played by Noah Helms, proves that the W.C. Fields quote - "Never work with children or animals," is absolutely wrong*. Noah has been a joy to work with and a true star performer (in his first performance with lines!). I also want to thank those who have helped me onstage so much, including Cole Hendley and Angi Helms, Mr. & Mrs. Bucket, and the Choral Director, Kathy Cox, for helping keep this "man without rhythm" on track!

The director, Jenny Varnadore, has been very supportive and kind to me and everyone else. It's hard to keep a ship this big on course, but she has done so in first-rate fashion.

Please come out! This is not just to support one of the longest-running theater groups in Georgia but also because this is a darn fine show, and you will have a blast watching it!

The wonderful world of Willy Wonka awaits you!

*well, I'm still not sure about the animal part!

Hop On Over to Harvey this Weekend!!!

You'll believe a giant rabbit can be your best friend!

This marvelous classic is being performed to perfection by WACT (Waycross Area Community Theatre). Its final weekend is this Thursday, Friday, and Saturday night, wrapped up with a special Sunday matinee!

The show's first weekend lost two performances over cautions concerning Hurricane Ian. Although, in the end, Ian missed us, causing virtually no problems, the theatre canceled the first two nights under the philosophy "better safe than sorry." WACT was not alone as school, and most planned events were canceled or delayed. To make up for this, WACT added a matinee for Sunday, October 9th.

The show is filled with laughs, sweet sentiments, and top-notch acting. Director Danny Godwin has done an awesome job assembling and fine-tuning a gifted cast who fit their parts to a tee.

 Meet the cast of WACT's upcoming production of "Harvey": Colby Eggleston, Kayla Dixon, Ethan Mitchell, Jay Butler, Amy Worthington, Elizabeth Godwin, Liv McConney, Jaela Rogers-Undercuffer, Tom Strait, Barry Lyle.

One of the best decisions Danny made was to move the show from black and white to color. By that, I mean he moved Harvey from its original 40s setting to the present. It gives the play an extra jolt of vitality and vigor. Language is somewhat altered, but mostly it is done through costuming and characterization.

The most significant and most effective transformation comes with the character of Myrtle Mae (Elwwod's niece, Veta's daughter). In the original, she is a somewhat mousy, reserved character who unsuccessfully rebels against her mother's domination. In her current version, as portrayed by the very talented Jaela-Rogers Undecuffer (whom I last performed with in The Addams Family as Morticia), she is much more sassy and intelligent, costumed in a very modern/hip fashion, with multi-color hair and vibrant makeup. In the original, her character almost fades into the background. In this version, she is front and center, one of the show's most interesting and entertaining characters.

Elwood, played by Colby Eggleston, is also updated, wearing an AC/DC t-shirt, current hair styling (including parts that don't need hair styling), and some piercings. He is very relaxed and charming, and however you feel about the rabbit, he rarely fails to charm and wins people to his side.

Veta, played by one of my favorite WACT actresses, Kayla Dizon, is a bundle of anxieties and brings the part to life. It is a great pleasure to act opposite her, as I can depend on her reactions and timing to be impeccable. She is equally talented onstage and off and is one of WACT's premiere backstage talents, including directing and stage managing.

Always a fan favorite, Ethan Mitchell plays Dr. Sanderson, bringing another somewhat bland character to roaring life with his brilliant portrayal.

Barry Lyle plays Dr. Chumey, bringing the character through a fantastic journey from stuffed shirt skeptic to wild-eyed acceptance.

Duane Wilson, the gruff sanitarium attendant, played by Jay Butler, accents his part with just the right amount of resistance and charm (well, at least to Myrtle Mae). And Nurse Kelly is delivered with expertise and vitality by Elizabeth Godwin, who, like many nurses, has to weave between the behavior lines of arrogant and intense doctors.

Playing two parts each, Amy Worthington and Liv McConney, are four extraordinary characters that give depth and humor to this wonderful show.

I'm in it, too, playing the same part as I did in 9th grade, elderly Judge Gaffney. Same part, less makeup. I'll let you decide whether I'm any good. Recently, someone asked me if I was a "method actor."  Nah.  Nothing like that. I try to follow the "method" that Spencer Tracy said once "Say your lines and try not to run into the furniture."*

Please come out and see this show! They deserve your support, and you will not be disappointed - you will be massively entertained!

What a start to a 50th season!

*well, he said something like that. I think.  

Theatrical Wednesday Wanderings

For some, hobbies seem to come and go. They have a passion, and it flairs strongly for a while, only to be eventually replaced by something else. Alison's hobbies have varied through the years - antiquing, scrapbooking, jewelry making, and now crochet.

There's nothing wrong with that. There's a lot to be said for experiencing a variety of interests throughout your life.

For others, like myself, hobbies remain relatively consistent. Comic books, reading, writing, an interest in politics - all have been with me since I was very young, continuing even to the present.

One of those foundational hobbies has been theatre. I have been performing in plays all my life, from being Hansel in Hansel & Gretel in second grade at 7 to the present at 67 in Harvey.

Harvey was the first play I performed on a stage (as opposed to the classroom or cafetorium). I was a High School Freshman. I had tried out for the JV Football team and found the initial practices chock full of cross country running. I didn't mind sprints (my best position was halfback), but I found running for long periods exhausting and tedious.

There was a poster for play tryouts, and I thought, what the hay, let's give it a whirl. There has to be less running; besides, everybody knows, chicks dig actors!*

To my surprise, I got a part! I was cast as a very elderly Judge in the comedy Harvey, about a man whose best friend is an invisible six-and-a-half-foot tall rabbit. I hammed it up and became completely addicted to the theatre when I heard the swell of applause as I came out for curtain call.

And now, 53 years later, I am reprising the role of Judge Gaffney in WACT's upcoming production of Harvey. The major differences between my performances? A lot less makeup. and I don't have to work so hard at pretending to be old.

This season represents WACT's 50th season, an incredible milestone for any community theatre. They have been producing quality plays for a half-century!

I am proud to have been a part of HALF of those fifty years, my first production with them in 1997, playing Scrooge in A Christmas Carol. There are a couple others who, if they perform in any show this season, can say they've been performing longer than I have, but we are a fairly exclusive club.

Some have shined brightly for a while and then moved on to other things. But some of us've been bitten by the acting bug and just can't let it go.

So, yeah. As long as there are parts I'm qualified for  (plays where the oldest characters are in their thirties or younger, seem out of reach for me), as long as I have enough brain wattage to memorize lines, I'll be performing.

So, with luck and good fortune, WACT, here's to looking forward to performing in your 75th season!

Salute!

* yes, I was actually that stupid that I believed that student theatre acting would lead me to be more popular with girls than playing football.

Have Yourself A Very Many Christmas Stories!

Do you like the Carol Burnett Show?  Saturday Night Live? Second City Televison?

 Then you do not want to miss this show!

This is not your typical Christmas show.  But it is first-class sketch comedy.  It does breeze through every Christmas Story Ever Told (well, a good chunk) and does it at break-neck speed.

Some Christmas stories are mashed together, weaving a hilarious comedic blend.

The most outstanding part of this show is the acting.  When you only have three people on stage, they better be darn good to hold your attention.  And the three fine thespians here do that, turned up to 11!

All three are outstanding.  Caleb Boatright is a bright highlight, a physical comedian gifted at pulling the audience in. Alexandria Weekley is the intense, sincere center of the play, the "Straight Man" whom nothing else works unless she is spot on.

Kayla Dizon is a tour de force, one of the most dazzling performances I have ever seen.  The sheer volume of dialogue she has - you're barely conscious of it because she blasts through it with such perfection and force.  Every. Single. Word. She Utters...LANDS!  She varies her voice and mannerisms to a multitude of characters.  She pronounces strange, foreign words from a host of countries, all as if she were a native.

There is an interactive element to the show, so be prepared for that.  It's not too involving.  You won't have to jump off a scaffold. But you might have to answer some questions.

I love A Christmas Carol.  It's the one show I could do over and over again.  I've played Marley's ghost once and Scrooge twice.  It's a powerful story and holds significant meaning to me.

There is some fun made in the play about how A Christmas Carol is overdone.  Maybe.

I will say this. I see variations of A Christmas Carol being performed more often than the traditional telling. So why do writers, performers, and theatre-goers keep coming back to the same remarkable story and plotline if it's overdone?

Give yourself an extra special Christmas Present!

COME SEE THIS SHOW!!!

FALLing Behind Again

 Oh, I know.

I'm falling behind again.

This is only my fourth post in October.  And I'm not even sure of the theme of this one.

But do not despair, my tiny band of blog fans!  There is some hope on the horizon.

I have some changes coming soon that should enable me to write more.  It won't be strictly writing for The Strait-Line, but it will be writing nonetheless.

One of those changes will come about because the play is ending.  Gilligan's Island was tremendous fun, but as all plays, they are very time-consuming.  I have two more performances, tonight and tomorrow night, and then I will be able to set that aside.

If you read this before the 17th and have not come out to the play, I encourage you to do so.  It's not a deep play, but it is hilarious and spirited.  The cast is spot-on in the portrayal of their iconic characters. All are very good.  Michelle Lagoueyte as Ginger is amazing, a tour de force of singing, dancing, and comedic skills. The Skipper is the closest member of the cast to portraying how their character sounds in the TV show and is a marvel of exasperation in dealing with the goofy Gilligan, performed in all his silly glory by Micah Smith (who is also a top-notch singer).  Megan Hendley conveys Mary Ann's sweetness and spirit perfectly, and Trey Carter is terrific as the intellectual Professor.  Trey has two singing numbers that are inspired singing monologues -  how he learned all those words is very impressive to me.  And we have an alien played by Danny Godwin, who is out of this world entertaining.

Special thanks to Nikki Spivey, who plays Mrs. Howell to my Mr. Howell, and for putting up with me and my nonsense.  She is a consummate actress with great comedic timing.  It is crucial for any comedy duo to enhance and heighten each other - actions and reactions are what sell comedy, and she was the perfect person to act opposite.  

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The COVID cases in our area are starting to decline.  We're not out of the woods by any means, but we have at least passed the peak of the current wave.

Will there be another wave?  I don't know.  Vaccination rates are slowly rising.  We've had so many in our area contract COVID; they probably have at least a temporary immunity. However, that may not help them in the next wave or if the virus mutates again.

As of writing this, at least 340 people from the two counties I live and work in have died from COVID.  Our populations are not that big, about 56,000 in the two counties combined, so most of us know of a family that has been affected by this.

And yet...we still have many who poo-poo this whole thing.  I can't make sense of them.  And it breaks my heart.  The supposition is that although the people around here are very conservative politically, they are actually caring and decent on a personal and community level.  Yeah.  I'm having a harder and harder time seeing that.

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I really haven't said much about the movies and TV I watch and the books and comics I read.  We'll see.  Maybe I'll say more in the future about it.  Or maybe not.

I'll only say that we have not watched The Squid Game. And those who have seen it and are trying to tell me all the little details about it  - STOP SPOILING IT FOR ME!

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I've decided not to put an image at the top. Instead, this one is for true fans of the blog - who don't need clickbait to be brought in.

I love you all, and I promise changes are coming that should smooth out my writing efforts.

Until next time,

T. M. Strait

Just Sit Right Back and You'll Hear a Tale! Here on Gilligan's Island!

 Just sit right back and you'll hear a tale*

A tale of a fateful trip

That started from this tropic port

Aboard this tiny ship!

Five passengers set sail that day 

For a three hour tour

A three hour tour**

This is one trip you won't want to miss!

A stellar cast and crew transport you to this uncharted desert isle!  The first-rate cast brings this popular 60s comedy to life with first-rate performances.  Director Pam Fields has the uncanny ability to cast just the right person for each part (as she did in The Addams Family), and these familiar characters will come to life before your eyes!

So get your reservations and come out to the Ritz!  I encourage you to follow your personal safety protocols - it's best to be vaccinated, and it's good to wear a mask.  This area has been through a rough time, with a terrible Delta variant surge, but although not out of the woods, numbers are declining and the edge of the forest is in sight.

*At the Ritz. Just sit right back and hear the tale from your cushy seat at the Ritz. Plenty of delicious refreshments will be available!

**the above lyrics are stolen straight out from the opening song.  What you may not expect about this show is all the wonderful music and dance.  When I tried out for this play, I thought it would be mostly a straight play, with maybe a couple songs here and there. But, no, it's not - it's a full-scale musical, with fun and funny songs, filled with movement and spirit!

Though Winds May Blow

 Meet the cast of our upcoming production of "Gilligan's Island The Musical"! Micah Smith (Gilligan), David Butler (Skipper), Tom Strait (Mr. Howell), Niki Spivey (Mrs. Howell), Michelle Lagoueyte (Ginger), Trey Carter (Professor), Megan Hendley (Mary Ann), Danny Godwin (Alien). Directed by Pam Fields and assisted by Cole Hendley.

I've been in a lot of shows.  A hundred or more.  And let me tell you, believe it or not, with just over two weeks to go before opening night, this show is about as far along at this point as any show I've ever been in.  

There have been a good number of plays/musicals that have adapted popular television shows or movies to the stage. Unfortunately, many of them fail to capture the true spirit of the original material.  This one does not fail.  It succeeds remarkably in highlighting the very best of the popular TV show.  The music is spirited and charming, the dialogue is snappy and funny, and you know, as with any production directed by Pam Fields, the dancing will be first-rate and entertaining*.

The cast is stellar.  Just like WACT's The Addams Family, this musical has been cast to perfection.  Each cast member is doing a superlative job in portraying the essence of what makes each character unique and memorable.  Anyone familiar with the 60's tv show will not be disappointed,

It is true that these have been difficult times for this area.  The Delta Variant has been particularly virulent and dangerous here.  The Director has encouraged our small cast to be as safe as we can.  I have worn a mask throughout practices.  I am fully vaccinated, but I am concerned about protecting others - just in case I get an asymptomatic case that I hardly know I have, and inadvertently pass it on to someone who is not vaccinated. I did remove my mask for the picture above, but I had it on both before and after the picture.

It will probably be best to see this play if you are vaccinated.  I encourage you to wear a mask at the performance.  If there is a way to socially distance, please do the best you can.  I don't believe that WACT will place any requirements on attendance, so please note this is just advice from me to you.

THe COVID cases numbers in our area have peaked and are starting to go down a bit. We're not out of the woods by any means.  But there is hope that we'll be in a less dangerous place by the time of the performances, the first of which is Thursday, October 7th.

So, I hope you will be able to come out, to sit back and hear our tale, a tale of a fateful trip, of five passengers and two crew who set sail that day into weather that started getting rough, and gets stranded on an uncharted desert isle - FOREVER!

* it's true.  I am the left shark of the production.  But if anyone can get the best out of my feeble dancing skills, it's Pam Fields.  You can be sure I will do my very best to be my very best.

On the Bench

 

I have not seen this yet, but I can attest this is a great play, a fun delight.  I base this on having been in it before, and the cast that I see is in it now.  I hope to go this weekend, although it may be all the way to the last night.

When I go, I will ensure that I am sitting socially distanced (I'm sure that WACT is taking measures for this as well).  I may wear my mask if I feel it is necessary.

I miss performing in theatre.  I have had to pass on the first two plays that WACT has cast.  It is not easy for me, as I wanted to be both in this production and the upcoming Elf the Musical.  

I've been contacted by both people from both plays, wanting me to try out, or even offering specific parts.  It's been very hard for me to pass, but I have felt it necessary to do so.

I'm a card-carrying old person now (yep, I've got my Medicare card in my wallet), and because of my age, hypertension, and prediabetes, my risk is slightly higher than others.  I have always had an excellent immune system, with only one major flu/virus in the last twenty-five years. I'm blessed but not superhuman.  More importantly, I have to consider others in my life.  Alison's parents both have conditions that put them at great risk if they contract the virus.  Benjamin has asthma.  So, I have reasons to be cautious.

I can't judge what others are doing.  I'm sure WACT is doing everything they can to make it as safe as they can.

I look forward to returning to the theatre.  It is in my blood - I love to perform.  I miss my fellow thespians.  I know my age and weight limit the roles I qualify for, but I still would love to contribute where I could.

WACT is one of the longest-running theater groups in the state.  Let's do what we can to support them, even in these tough times.  Even if you are not ready to see a play yet, please become a member and support their efforts.

Post Play Tuesday Tidbits

Ah, yes!

That delightful period after the play when you realize that all the fun is over and that you are really just a semi-retired CPA and not a professional actor.


The glass up above was real sweet, probably the best play souvenir I've ever gotten.  Well, at least since I took home the water tower from the Superman musical I did in high school.

I want to thank Kayla Dixon and Mamie Jackson for giving me the opportunity to do the entertaining part of Constantine Bouc.  It was a fun part, and they let me fly my hambone high.  You are extraordinary Directors, and you helped compile an amazing stage crew as well.

My ending was abrupt...I went to Fernandina for a brief vacation with the family, leaving Saturday night right after the play - Alison and Benjamin were already down there, with Alison's mother and family friend Anita.  I did not participate in cleanup on Sunday afternoon and the cast party.

We are already back from our little beach trip, and my usual post-play depression has not been too high as I have not been back to work yet.  I night go today. Or maybe tomorrow.  Yeah, tomorrow sounds better.

I don't think it spoils much to tell you what my favorite lines of the play are.  They are said by the detective Hercule Poirot:

No, it is not!  It is not that time!  I have never in my life turned my back on the law!  Do you understand that, Colonel?  The law must be obeyed or we become barbarians!  It is 1934, Europe is changing and there will be chaos! There will be nothing left of us and we will have to start again!  I cannot support this!  I cannot agree to this!

Yeah, Monsieur Poirot.  I kinda know how you feel.

Slowing My Roll Wednesday Wanderings

That's me trying to smooth some riled passengers of the Orient Express, Trent Dixon as Hector MacQueen, and Levi Herrin as Samuel Ratchett.

Oh, oy.  Is my mind cloudy this morning!

First, let me confirm.  This is Wednesday, right?

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Ok, unless my phone and calendar are wrong, this is indeed Wednesday.

I'm not sure how that happened, but ok, I'll go with it.

I slowly roll into the week, with three more performances starting tomorrow.  If you haven't seen the play (which is all but about 100 of you), you really need to check it out.  It's a fun, fast-moving play.

My thanks to Julianna Lacefield and Kimberly Beck for coming to see it, and for the positive feedback about it,

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I can see from the picture above that I am a big boy, weight-wise.  Sigh.  Hard to change much at my age, but I'll see what I can do.  The foot pain has started to recede, so maybe I can resume a more rigorous exercise routine.  Which, of course, if I overdo, it will cause the foot pain to come roaring back.

Sigh.  What a mess.

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My fiction writing, particularly on The Extra Credit Club, has come to a crashing halt.  It's a shame, as the first draft is about 95% complete.  Somehow, once and for all, I need to restructure things so that I have a routine fiction writing time.  I don't know why that is so difficult.

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I have not done a TV Fall preview like I usually do.  It's hard to tell what a new season is anymore.  Everything is so scattered.  I have sampled three new broadcast network shows, each with letter grade - Emergence (B), Perfect Harmony (B), and Evil (C).  The Good Place is my favorite returning show.

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Obligatory political part that my Trumpeteer friends wince and skip (or decide to unfollow or unfriend me) - I would argue, of course, that he committed a lot more impeachable offenses than just the Ukraine thing, but it is easily understandable, already well-evidenced, and something the Trump side can not deny, only obfuscate.

The idea that the President and associates can simply refuse to cooperate with the impeachment inquiry is patently ridiculous, and a cause of grave constitutional crisis.  You really think Trump is right in refusing to cooperate?  How would you have reacted if the Obama administration completely stonewalled the Benghazi hearings?  What if, instead of being mercilessly grilled for 11 hours, Hilary Clinton simply refused to show up?

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Wanderingly Yours,

T. M. Strait

Hell Week Complete: Monday Musings

My character, Constantine Bouc, tries desperately to absorb information from the highly intelligent superstar detective, Hercule Poirot, played with superb flair and confidence by Eli Varnadore.

Hell Week!

It's the pleasant little nickname that community theatre people have for the week when dress rehearsals blend into performances.  Dress rehearsals Monday-Tuesday-Wednesday nights, followed by performances Thursday-Friday-Saturday nights, topped with a Sunday matinee.  Whew!  Since many of those involved have busy day jobs, it can be quite exhausting to follow up daily work with busy late nights at the theatre.

Why do we do it?  The love of putting together something special for the whole community, of sharing our creative talents of spending time in another time and place, transported from our everyday lives. That, and the craft table*.

Some are old hams like myself, addicted to performing.  It's been a delightful contrast to my accounting work, and yes, the applause is a large part of it.  Some love the backstage aspect - getting the train to run on time, and keeping everything on track.  Some are brand new, getting involved in the theatre experience for the first time.  In this play, all the newcomers (or relative newcomers) are doing extraordinarily well.  I hope we will see them all back again soon!

As outstanding production as this is, and as good as many recent productions have been from different theaters in the area, it is getting where fewer and fewer people attend.  Times are changing, and theatre attendance is fading.  I don't know what can be done about it.  I pray that it revives. I cannot imagine community life without local theatre.

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Atlanta United finished second and will be in the MLS playoffs!  For their last game, they had Josef Martinez back (who scored) and beat the New England Revolution 3 to 1.  First team they face in the playoffs?  The New England Revolution.  Sometimes it just works out that way.

I guess the Atlanta Braves are in the MLB playoffs.  I think they're playing the St; Louis Cardinals.  Sadly, I've sort of lost track of baseball.  

The Atlanta Falcons scored 32 points...and lost, the other team scoring 53.

The Michigan Wolverines beat Iowa 10-3.  Iowa was ranked ahead of Michigan, so I guess that was a good outcome.  I'm not sure how I feel.  They won't be National Champions.  They won't get in even if they win out and beat Ohio State.  They'll put in three SEC teams before they put in Michigan.

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Not much to say on the Trump mess.  If you're still on the Trump trail, you need to check your moral compass.  It's broken and needs repairing.

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Until next time,

T. M. Strait

It's Murder on the Train!

It's murder on the train!

One of Agatha Christie's most popular mysteries comes to the WACT stage starting Thursday, October 3rd.

Yes, Waycross, train central for most of the Southeast, will be performing Murder On the Orient Express...

With a train onstage!

Featuring Agatha Christie's famous Belgian detective, Hercules Poirot played with aplomb, style, and skill by Eli Varnadore.

I will be playing Monsieur Bouc, a friend and fellow Belgian of Poirot, who runs the world-famous train company, Wagon-Lit.  At times, I get to put on my ham socks and let-er-rip, Tom Strait style.

First-timers! 

Trent Dixon will make his WACT debut as Hector MacQueen, the personal assistant for the thuggish American, Samuel Ratchett.  Trent is a great guy, a friend of Benjamin who showed his writing and acting skills at Pierce County High School, writing a skit that Benjamin performed in that was a fantastic tour de force.

Duke Nanan, playing the conductor Michel, is new to WACT, but not to theater.  He put in a five-star last year as the Cheif in Purlie Production's One Flew over the Cuckoo's Nest.  It is a pleasure to work with him again.

Tracy Saussy, a first-timer to ANY stage, makes her sparkling debut as Princess Dragomiroff.

The play is also blessed with the incredible talents of Bethany Mercer and Dylan Lawson, playing the young duo of Colonel Arbuthnot and Governess Mary Debenham, with a romantic flair.

Brittany Boatright, part of my daughter brigade (one of the many young actresses in the theatre community who has been my daughter in one or more plays - in Brittany's case - Dearly Beloved), plays the Countess, with a great accent and cool aplomb.  I like her part.  She is strong and takes no guff from anybody.

Part of my girlfriend" brigade is Crystal (Thrift) Soto, plays Mrs. Hubbard.  She played my romantic interest in the female version of The Odd Couple, and now she is back flirting with me again in this show.  Okay, her colorful character is flirting with more than just me, but you get the drift.  She is very entertaining and a real highlight of the show.

Emma Varnes is a Flying Dragon graduate who really steps into her own as Greta Olsson in this play.  The children's theater. Flying Dragon, was a real gift to this community. and I have seen so many of her alumni achieve so much!

Meet the talented cast of "Murder on the Orient Express": L-R (front) Trent Dixon, Bethany Mercer, Tom Strait, Eli Varnadore, Lake Larisey, Crystal Thrift, Emma Varnes, (back) Megan Hendley, Duke Nanan, Dylan Lawson, Levi Herrin, Brittany Boatright, Tracy Saussy, Danny Godwin

Over the next week, I will be highlighting more cast members.  It is a very talented cast and crew, and they are all working hard to bring you a high-quality and entertaining show.

All Aboard!

Paddling in the Wednesday Wandering River

Okay, that's not actually a river.  That's our neighborhood lake a few months ago when the dam had broken, and most of the water had drained out.  It's fixed now.  I think.  I haven't looked at it today.

I did go out for a walk, but I took a route that did not take me next to the lake.  My walk was shorter than usual.  I'm still trying to recover from recent foot pain, and I'm slowly building my exercise back up.

I don't know if the lake has a name.  Let me check with Alison.

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She don't know, but she suggested I use Googly Maps.

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I did that, and the name of the lake is Lakeview Country Club Lake.  Boy, the lake name is almost longer than the lake. 

Googly maps knows where I live.  That's kinda scary.

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We don't live in a country club.  That is the golf course on the other side of the lake.  It's a public golf course.  I don't play golf there.  I don't play golf anywhere.  I really haven't tried golf since Goliath swallowed the golf ball.

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I'm in the substitute teaching phase of my work year.  I have to know there is an assignment pending to come in.  It's about the lightest time, so maybe I can write more fiction, and also do more audio work.  We'll see.

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I have to be honest and say I really don't like being as heavy-set as I am.  Yes, I should just be concerned with being healthy (better diet and more exercise), but I cringe when I see pictures of myself.  I've always known I am stocky, and I can handle that, but I can't stand the stomach pooch.  It's too much, but nothing I do seems to make much progress on it.  I do think if I made it the ONE THING I could make progress, but as much as I hate the weight, I still have a hard time making it my exclusive focus. 

Some of my small band of loyal readers get perturbed if I'm too negative about myself, so...enough talk about my rotundity.

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I'm in a play!  Murder on the Orient Express.  Performances start October 3rd.  I know my lines -  sort of.  Well, enough to be dangerous. It's coming along, and it should be an entertaining show.  My character is not the lead, but he has some great moments in the play, and I occasionally really get to chew up the furniture (translation: I get to let the ham flag fly).

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I'll skip politics this time.  Y'all know how I feel.  Just remember that by skipping it that it doesn't mean it's not affecting me.  Every second my heart is heavy because I have friends who still worship the orange Cheeto.

Okay.  Nuff said about that.

This time.

Wanderingly yours,

T. M. Strait

Can't Stop the Wednesday Wanderings

Gotta write!

Yes, even on those days without a theme or purpose, sometimes I just gotta exercise the writing muscle and scribble down whatever, and hope that my few faithful fans persevere through the wanderings.

Let's start with the almost randomly selected picture above.  Yes, I love to be surrounded by books!  It's not "in-fashion" anymore, even among readers (many don't keep what they read, or use an e-reader).  I don't care.  I want to be surrounded by books.  No, my home does not look like a sloppy labyrinth.  They are contained to bookshelves, for the most part, neatly stacked and identified.  Alison's excellent taste in decorating and antiques comes through a lot more than as a cavern for book hoarding.  And, believe it or not, as much as I keep, I have given away about ten times more.  As much as I want to, I don't keep everything I read.

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Theater is a-comin'!  Two shows in October!  First, WACT's Murder on the Orient Express the first two weekends in October,  And then later in the month, closer to Halloween, Purlie Production puta on Dracula.

I am in Murder in the Orient Express.  I am supposed to be learning my lines.  Monday's rehearsal was off-book.  I don't do a lot of painting (filling in my line with the gist of what I'm supposed to say but not necessarily the exact wording as written by the playwright), so I have a lot more gaps sometimes, because I can't remember the precise word I'm supposed to say, and it's very difficult for me to paint in substitutes.

Part of it is I like to be faithful to what the playwright has written.  I figure he/she must have written the line that way for a reason, and who am I to change it?  But mostly it's just a learning style.  I don't think I could change it if I wanted to.

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Sports update!  Atlanta United is on a break (soccer scheduling is weird) but remains in contention for a playoff spot, possibly even first!

Alison's former favorite team, the Atlanta Falcons, continue their slide out of her radar.  We tried to watch some of their opening game and didn't make it through the first half before giving up.  It looks like they're in for another rough year.

The Lions tied.  Some are upset that they had a lead and then lost it, but I'm like .... a tie - that's a better start than a lot of years!  I'll take it!

Finally, the Michigan Wolverines are 2 - 0.  Their National Championship hopes are alive and well!  Yeah.  That won't last long the way they're playing unless they switch to a high school football league.

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The Presidency continues to rapidly deteriorate.  I can't even keep up with the scandals and sheer stupidity and meanness. How protected are the Trumpeteer's media sources that they can't see that we're being swallowed up by the madness?

I really would like to list out the horrible things in just the last week, but what is the point?  Nothing alters the Trumpeteer's delusionary attachment.  It's going to sink us all, and I don't know what to do about it.

Meanwhile, the Democratic contest is slowly consolidating.  The next debate will have ten instead of twenty.  You can stay in the race if you didn't qualify for the debate, but your odds are impossibly long.  Biden, despite occasional gaffes, remains the frontrunner.  Warren and Sanders are second and third and vary between those two spots depending on the poll.  Buttigieg and Harris line up next, usually in the high single digits.   Another shift down is Booker, O'Rouke, Yang, and to a lesser degree, Klobuchar, Gabbard, and Castro.  No one else really registers at all.

I'm Team Warren but make no mistake.  I'll vote for whoever opposes Trump, or vote against whomever the Republicans pick.  Yes - whomever.  I'm still not convinced that Trump will be their nominee.  I think it's increasingly likely that he resigns under the condition he gets a full pardon from Pence.

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Boy, I could wander the whole day away!  I have a lot brewing in my head.  But I've decided to put in a few hours at my accounting job today, so I suppose I should wrap this up.

Wanderingly yours,

T. M. Strait

I Love Home

For those who don't like me to be negative about myself, you may want to skip this one.

But I'm not going to be too negative.  I promise.

When I moved to my new schedule, a semi-retirement that began in August 2017, I really wasn't sure what that would mean, what changes it would make in what I do or don't do.

The number one thing I have discovered -

 I love being at home.  

I used to go to different evening activities.  I had to go to Waycross to work, and it was easy to transition into a Waycross area event.  I would just leave work and go.  Most of the organizations, especially theatre, were Waycross based. I would get out of work at 6 PM or later, and just go directly to whatever it was.

Now some days I am in Blackshear.  And I don't want to leave.  Going into Waycross seems such a burden.  Even on days that I do go into work, I rarely stay until 6.

I continue to go to OHC Writer's Guild meetings, like the one I have tonight.  That one is tough because the group is shrinking instead of growing, and I don't know what to do to reverse it. But I tough it out anyway. 

I haven't been in a play for a while.  Ostensibly, I was only going to participate in productions that Benjamin wanted to be in, but that was only part of it.  I liked being at home.  Somehow, the idea of being gone so many nights bothered me.  

Acting parts that suit me are becoming rarer and rarer.  Even parts that fit me are sometimes being given to younger actors.  I still think I'm talented, but...okay, I don't have a really good explanation for it.  

I did see pictures of me in Cuckoo's Nest from last Fall, and some of them startled me.  I've always been stocky, but I had not realized I now had a basketball.  I would really like to deal with that before I go onstage again.

My weight is making me feel very self-conscious.  I have tried to make improvements in my life to deal with it, but so far, nothing has taken hold.  It's not easy, but I'm not giving up.  If I can modify just twenty to fifteen pounds, I might try out for Murder on the Orient Express in the Fall.  If  I can bring myself to leave the house that much.  But let me reassure any director - if I try out for a play, it means I am 100% committed to it and will be an attendance leader. 

It's been hard getting a rhythm.  Sometimes I work more than at other times (tax season and an August audit).  Sometimes I work more in the morning - sometimes more in the afternoon.  As a creature of habit, it's been hard to be consistent when I do things, like with writing or other projects. 

Being home is so comforting.  I'm with my dogs and my books and my hobbies and the magic streaming TV, and even if I'm not carefully scheduled and organized, it feels good to have some space for once.  I worked very hard for a long time in a profession that was not a good expression of who and what I am, and it feels good to step away from that.  Do I wish I could step away full time? Of course I do.  Is it likely to happen with a mortgage and a boy fixin' to start college?  No, it is not.

But I do have more time at home.  And I cherish it.  Maybe I'll balance things out better.  Maybe I won't. Right now, I'm going to do my best to enjoy the way things are.  I won't stop dreaming, but I'll also try to enjoy what I've got.  

Because what I got is a lot.  A lot of the basketball can go, but the rest is pretty sweet.

Arre You Ready For Some Murderously Good Comedy?

Treat yourself to a spectacular show!  Come see the devilish, delirious, hilarious comedy THe Bold, The Young and The Murdered!

One of my favorite play genres, the comedy murder mystery, shines at the Ritz!

If you like your whodunnits with a hefty dose of laughter, this is the show for you!

Every character hits perfect pitch  - there are no weak spots in this melodramatic extravaganza!  Rem Farr is brilliant and hysterical as the elderly thespian in love with soup.  Eli Varnadore brings the right amount of pseudo-sexy swagger to his role of Sebastian Strong.  Rhonda Robbins is excellent as the actress trying to make sense of it all.  Rhonda has been in plays at the Ritz longer than I have!  She was in the first show I saw at the Ritz, Cinderella in 1997 (something like that).  Nikki Spivey is perfect as the older actress with memory problems.  I have never worked with Chris Thigpen, who plays Morris the young lead with insecurity issues, before, but I am looking forward to one day acting with him - he is a first-rate talent.  Speaking of first-rate talents, it was good to see Cole Hendry back onstage, in yet another strong performance as the show's creepy doctor.  And Cole's wife, Megan Hendley, has a plum part as the show's unpaid intern - it's the largest part I've seen her, and she is exceptional.

Kayla Dixon and Brittany Boatright are bright spots as the play's director and crew.  And I am proud of our graduated Flying Dragon contingent,  Sami Jo Kuhbander, Hana Hitt and Kacie Jones - all tree just get better and better every time I see them.

Kudos also to the backstage people, the set design and the director.  This is an excellent ending to an outstanding season of WACT productions!

Theater's Big Spring Huzzah!

First Up!

Anne of Green Gables performed by the fine young students at Southside Christian Academy at 7 PM tonight!

Directed by my good friend Kimberly Beck and featuring Emily Beck as Anne!

Also tonight at 7 

the talented young thespians of Ware County High School perform Shrek the Musical!

Next week, don't miss Purlie Production's The Portnoy Trilogy, locally written by the talented  Barbara Griffin.

Also, next week begins this rollicking murder mystery comedy at the Ritz! 

Be Our Guest!

Be Our Guest!

Every year, Waycross Area Community Theatre outdoes themselves in bringing the finest and highest quality of productions to Southeast Georgia!

This will be a can't miss show, filled with wonder and magic for young and old alike.  The actors have been practicing hard, with acting, dancing, and singing that will take your breath away!

WACT has held nothing back in making this their finest production yet, including professional costumes that you will have to see to believe.

Plan to go now, because this show will book quickly.  Pick your night and call the box office (283-2161) today!

Have somebody special who would love to meet and have a photo with their favorite character from Beauty and the Beast? Don't forget the extra special event described above, to be held in the Parish Hall of my church, March 2nd, 2019!

Start the Season with A Laura Ingalls Wilder Christmas!

Come see this first-rate cast perform A Laura Ingalls Wilder Christmas at the Ritz Theatre!

Seated at in the front row are the Wilder sisters.  Emma Barber plays the youngest, Carrie, with verve and humor  - she connects with the audience, and we can't help but smile when she takes the conversation.  Emma sister's, Allyssa Barber, has the central role of Laura Wilder, and sometimes narrates the action - this very talented young actress (who was outstanding last year in The Addams Family as Wednesday Addams)  pulls us into the show with an empathic performance that makes us really care about her and her family.  We feel her experiences, worries, and concerns, and we share in her dreams and hopes.  Hannah Hitt plays Mary Ingalls - Hannah was a faithful participant in the children's theatre, The Flying Dragon.  I have seen her perform and grow in talent for many years, and this is her finest performance yet. 

In the back row, Christopher Kuhbander plays Johnny Steadman, the slightly obnoxious boy next door - he is another Flying Dragon alum who keeps getting better and better.  Cole Hendley plays Pa Ingalls - he successfully reflects the quiet strength and dignity of his character, and it is easy to see why his daughters look up to him.  Cole was in The Addams Family - I was very impressed with his professionalism and dedication, and he was a great help to me, the Ancestors, and many others.  Playing Ma Ingalls is Julianna Lacefield, a good friend and frequent co-star of mine, and she continues to increase her outstanding resume with a stellar performance, brilliantly communicating the sadness of losing an infant child (something tragically common in that time), in both her verbal and non-verbal actions and reactions.  Stevie Howell effectively plays elderly neighbor Mrs. Starr, a woman who eases her loneliness by befriending the family, particularly Laura.  

A great play has to have all elements hitting on all cylinders.  The cast and crew of this excellent play achieve that.

Please making attending WACT's Christmas play a part of your seasonal traditions.  It's a relaxing and entertaining way to begin Christmas!

Fry it Up Southern Style!

Yee-haw!

Come one!  Come all!  Come Y'all!

Starts tonight at the Ritz!

Southern comedy at it's finest, and more importantly, at its funniest!

The cast of Southern Fried Funeral!