Sleigh at the Wayne Densch Performing Arts Center in Sanford.

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I went to the final dress rehearsal for Sleigh presented by Gromalot Theater Factory at the Wayne Densch Performing Arts Center (201 S. Magnolia, Sanford, FL 32771.) In this show, a pair of shopkeepers re-define “rivalry” as they coax customers away from their competitor. And three determined mail carriers fight the elements, a poorly addressed letter, and even each other to make a delivery. The entire show is silent except for sound effects, relying on exaggerated expressions and Vaudeville styled gestures to communicate the story.

I had seen Brandon Roberts play the part of a Christmas tree years ago.  I was a bit sad not to see him reprising his roll.  A silly section of the play involves an actor wearing the foam tree to express holiday cheer.  However the tree outfits are so silly that they just evoke laughter rather than the intended joy.  I recognized the director but couldn’t quite place her at first.  It was only after the rehearsal was over that it occurred to me that it was Toni Chandler, who is Brandon Roberts’ wife.

The stage set resembled a large Christmas card.  When closed, it showed a quiet little town to set the locale.  When it was opened it showed two shops next to each other, with the address numbers 1223 and 1227.  These were a bell shop and a whistle shop.  The female actress would be walking by the shops and the bell shop owner would ring her bell.  The shopper would stop in her tracks and with a huge exaggerated child like joy she would instantly want the bell.  She would pull money from her pocket and with a cha ching sound effect she would raise it above her head.  Before she could spend the money however the other shop owner would blow his whistle.  She wanted both and the shop owners played tug of war with her desire and with her money. 

Sleigh is a quick series of silent comic scenes with plenty of physical comedy.  Actors have many quick costume changes.  In one scene an actor rushed off stage and had to return dressed as a Salvation Army bell ringer.  The scene played out as it should, but it took a long while before he realized that he had forgotten to put on his pants in the rush of the costume change.  The result was that the actors where laughing so hard they had a hard time finishing the scene.  I hope that they leave that wardrobe malfunction in the final production.

The production is laugh out loud funny and your only chance to see it is tonight at 2:00PM and 7:30PM. 

Weekend Top 6 Picks for November 4th and 5th.

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Saturday November 4, 2017

8 AM to 3 PM – Free. Fourth Annual Chalk the Walk. Winter Park Central Park (251 S Park Ave, Winter Park, Florida 32789). This is the fourth annual street painting event held on the first
Saturday of the month of November. There are adult, high school and middle school artists creating art and competing for prize money in a one day
event. It is always a great event to attend and see artists
enjoying the day.

6 PM to 9 PM – Donations. One Voice Orlando Benefit. Timucua White House (2000 South Summerlin, Orlando, FL 32806). All proceeds to benefit Proyecto Somos Orlando (the funds will benefit Pulse survivors and and also Puerto Rico relief efforts). Includes a screening of my short film, “Finger on the Pulse.”

6 PM to 10 PM – $30. Puttin’ on the Ritz Fundraiser. Wayne Densch Performing Arts Center (203 S Magnolia Ave, Sanford, Florida 32771).  Each year the Densch celebrates a decade: this year it’s the flower power fab-1960’s! The street in front of the theatre will come to life with groovy music, classic cars and entertainment. Supporters of the arts don their favorite 60s look and enjoy food from local Sanford restaurants. Inside the rehearsal hall, you’ll find a far-out silent auction. Be the highest bidder for fun, unique and other must-have items. There will be something for everyone. When food and bidding have closed, the fun is moved inside the historic theatre to view a live multimedia presentation highlighting musical talent from the Repertory Company and video reels helping us find our way back to the 1960s!

Sunday November 5, 2017

10 AM to 5 PM – Free Saturday and Sunday. Fall Fiesta in the Park. Lake Eola Park. The free, pet-friendly event includes artist and craft booths, food
vendors, live music, a huge children’s play area and more.

10 AM to 5 PM – $7-$50 Lady of the Lakes Renaissance Fair. 
(12835 County Landfill Road Clermont. FL). Travel back in time to the middle ages and enjoy food, drink, vendors, games, entertainment, and more.

Noon to 3 PM – Donation. Music at the Casa.  Casa Feliz Historic Home Museum, (656 N Park Ave, Winter Park, FL 32789). Guitarist, vocalist, composer George Grosman.

Little Orphan Annie at the Wayne Densch Performing Arts Center in Sanford.

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Pam Schwartz and I went to the Wayne Densch Performing Arts Center
(201 S. Magnolia Ave
Sanford, FL 32771) to see  dress rehearsal for the musical, Annie directed by Cynthea Fuoco. With equal measures of pluck and positivity, little orphan Annie charms everyone’s hearts despite a next-to-nothing start in 1930s New York City. She is determined to find the parents who abandoned her years ago on the doorstep of a New York City Orphanage that is run by the cruel, embittered Miss Hannigan. With the help of the other girls in the Orphanage, Annie escapes to the wondrous world of NYC. In adventure after fun-filled adventure, Annie foils Miss Hannigan’s (Amy Hughs) evil machinations… and even befriends President Franklin Delano Roosevelt! She finds a new home and family in billionaire, Oliver Warbucks (Stephen McPherson), his personal secretary, Grace Farrell, and a lovable mutt named Sandy.

I have never seen the play although I have seen examples of several of the comic strips. We approached the theater, walking down a narrow alley way to the stage door. We walked right into the dressing room and had to make our way back into the house. The first order of business was the sound checks for each actor. Everyone had on a microphone. Clearly the number, “Its a hard knock Life” had been rehearsed often. The kids scrubbed the floor while singing the song, and they would bang down the buckets to the beat of the music.

There were some rough transitions but this was a rehearsal so I am sure any kinks will get worked out before the show opens. My favorite scene was when Annie and Sandy, the dog (Olive Garvey) she had just found, confront a cop (Rob Dove). He pulls the dog aside and tells Annie to call the dog by name. If he doesn’t go to her than clearly it was not her dog. She whistled and called Sandy and the dog took off towards her. But then he ran right past her and down the stage steps into the audience. The police man stayed in character and said, “See that is most certainly not your dog.” It was a hilarious moment and I hope the dog continues to stray from his mark.

The play is clearly a wish fulfillment for a country that was suffering from the great depression. It seems a bit far fetched that Annie singing, “The Sun Will Come Out Tomorrow” would help inspire Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s (Russell Trahan)  New Deal. The young actress playing Annie (Lily Dove) did a great job. One little, Molly (Irelyn Silvestro) also stood out as she joked and played with Mrs Hannigan.

Tickets

When: Remaining show dates, September 30, 7:30-9 p.m., Sundays, 3-4:30 p.m., Oct.
6-7, 7:30-9 p.m. and Sat., Oct. 7, 2-3:30 p.m. Continues through Oct. 8

Phone: 407-321-8111

Email: info@wdpac.com

Price: $20-$27

Sacred Slave Stories

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“Sacred Slave Stories,” created by Dario J. Moore, tells the stories of actual slaves through original music and the emotional impact of dance. The Center for Contemporary Dance has received a $10,000 grant from the National Endowment for the Arts, which it will use to produce Moore Dance Project’s “Sacred Slave Stories” for Orange County schoolchildren. This is the second year that “Sacred Slave Stories” has received a grant through the program. The contemporary dance program will be presented to 1,000 students from Orange County Title I public schools throughout February in partnership with the Wayne Densch Performing Arts Center in Sanford.

Student presentations of “Sacred Slave Stories” are further supported by funding from United Arts of Central Florida, the Florida Department of State Division of Cultural Affairs, Darden Restaurants, Inc. Foundation and Target Stores.

I went to the Center of Contemporary Dance to sketch a rehearsal of “Sacred Slave Stories.” The personal stories gathered are harsh and real. A woman related how severe a beating she got when she ate some bread she found while she was cleaning a home. The contemporary dance was narrative and powerful. A dancer raised a fist in anger but was held back by his lover. Male dancers moved huge imaginary loads on their backs, pausing under the weight. The dance is meant to convey hope while acknowledging the harsh and brutal realities of slavery.

The Center for Contemporary Dance 
presented its 2012-2013 Season Preview, which took place 
on Sunday, November 18, 2012 at Trinity Preparatory School in Winter
Park.  This season preview introduced  the organization’s Eleventh
Annual Season of Dance, and included sneak-peek performances of upcoming
works in the 2012-2013 event season.