Seasons: The Musical

Seasons with music by Elaine Pechacek and lyrics by Katie Hammond was first presented at Fringe back in 2014 and I had a chance to sketch that production back then. I remember saying back then that this production deserved to grow and find its way into a much bigger venue. It is now being presented at the Dr Phillips Center for the Performing Arts (445 S Magnolia Ave, Orlando, FL 32801.)

Helen (Megan Valle) was young and vibrant and a night on the town ends in a one night stand with Peter (Peter Heid.) Peter is enamored with her, head over heals in love. She has plans to go to medical school but those plans are dashed when she realizes that she is pregnant. Peter like a true gentleman proposes marriage on one knee. She agrees reluctantly to marry.

Hope (Gabriella Hockensmith) since a beautiful balled about fulfilling her dream of becoming a bride. Her mother Mrs. Jones (Rebecca Fisher) discovers around the same time that she has breast cancer. As she is struggling through chemo she sees a blue bird and takes it as a sign  that thing might be alright.

Helen had doubts about her new role as a mom and the newly wed struggled to make their new roles work. I have been researching ancestors lately and often wondered what difficulties they might have had to overcome. Helen and Peters struggles were very real. The play culminates in an overpowering lullaby sing at the beginning and end off life. It is at these extremes that love is pure and absolute. I doubt there was a dry eye in the house. It is impossible to experience this play and not be touched. The song performed by Rebecca Fisher about living each moment and seizing the day was stellar.

The final performance of Seasons: The Musical is tonight,  September 21, 2019. If you have a chance to go you should not miss it.

Tickets range from $15 to $20. 

PlayFest: Jane Burgoyne

I hid behind a tiki hut to sketch Jane Burgoyne by Robert Moulthrop during its live performance on Sunday.

Three generations of Burgoyne women are brought together as Jane (Kate Young) prepares to move from her beloved family home to an independent living facility. With tensions at an all time high, a lifetime of hurt bubbles up to the surface. In this intense family drama, three smart, strong women attempt to unpack their past and plan for whatever the future holds.

Jane and Alison (Megan Valle) had a strong bond built around their love of language and story telling. Yet even between them there were secrets. Alison held back that she is dating a guy who, it turns out, is rather controlling – which she sees as love. Also she was recovering from an eating disorder which she kind of misses.

“Do you really want to keep this, Mother?” Katherine (Michelle Brightman) asked her mom in “THAT” rather condescending voice. She was the one pushing to get her mom packed off which in her mind is for her mom’s best interest. The only way these three could communicate was through arguments. The wounds were so deep that it is hard to imagine they could ever heal. There was no resolution, just a momentary truce. Each woman needed to discover just how in control they were of their own fate.

Director: Tony Simotes
Stage Manager: Alli Gersbach
Stage Directions Reader: Melissa Landy.

PlayFest continues November  10 – 11, 2018. It is a two weekend festival of new plays features seven readings of raw,
unproduced works! PlayFest gives audiences the opportunity to be
involved with the creative process by giving feedback in real time and
mingling with the playwrights, actors, and directors.

Which readings will you attend?