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The Calvert GazetteThursday, March 15, 2012 14Michael Bell, performing as The Singer,co-wrote an original score for theproduction and built the set.The Calvert Gazette is always looking for more local talent to feature!To submit art or band information for our entertainment section,e-mail sarahmiller@countytimes.net.Adding Bells to Brecht;The Caucasian Chalk Circle Opens FridayBy Carrie MunnStaff WriterLooming in the pages of theater andliterature anthologies is German-born BertoltBrecht, with his post WWII-era “epic”theatre, brimming with political and socialcommentary. His work is challenging toread and to perform, but The NewtownePlayers’ offering of his play, The CaucasianChalk Circle, will treat theatergoers toa thoroughly entertaining show.Missy Bell directs an 18 member castwho play almost 70 different roles, as wellas sing and play instruments.Bell’s husband, Michael, plays TheSinger, and along with fellow actor andmusician Krys Baker, wrote an all originalscore. He also served as the lighting designerand constructed an elaborate, transitionalstage which functions to transportthe audience into the world of a war-tornvillage and the minstrel’s story of the chalkcircle.“The music is one of the drivingforces in the piece,” Bell said. Through abarrage of guitars, mandolins, banjos, accordions,drums, whistles and one comicaltrumpet, the tones are set for the scenesand the audience is continually entertainedas the actors, in plain sight, move swiftlythrough costume changes and from onescene to the next.With the characters ever-present onthe stage, the musical delivery and a talethat dives into social class and justice, warand love, it’s a lot of theatre to take in. “It’sepic theatre, in every sense of the word. Ithas everything,” Bell said.Every character is critical in the tellingof this story and Bell explained thecast consists of both veteran actors andPhotos by Carrie MunnLeni Weisl, as the Governor’s wife holding thenewborn child which becomes central in theplay, is joined on stage by Mike Snider, left, andJohn Giusti as overbearing, bickering doctors.new ones, making their debuts in thisproduction.The director explained there havebeen some challenges in working with anovice cast, but at the same time it allowsher an opportunity to teach, her first love,she said. “It’s been a log and intense process.It’s the hardest show I’ve ever done,bar none and by far,” she said.The actors, as well as stage managerSara Meador, who Bell called “outstanding,”have had to really stretch themselvesfor this piece.Leni Weisl as the Governor’s selfcentered,self-righteous wife and KaitlynBauer in the role of Grusha, the youngservant girl with a big heart showcase thedichotomy of the human and maternal conditionwith rousing performances.Bob Ellwood, thanks to what Bell saysis an intense understanding of the work,pulls off the role of Azdak, the drunkenjudge with a skewed sense of justice, withwit and conviction. “He’s uncanny, really,”Bell told the Calvert Gazette.Jeffrey Robbins plays several characters,but makes the stomach turn a bitas the lewd Corporal, and young actressAlyssa Fox also plays multiple charactersbut displays impeccable comic timing andemotional outpouring on stage.Bell said there is an abundance of rawtalent in the cast, which has been workingon the intricate play since December. Theentire cast move from scene to scene, roleto role, giving it their convincing all.While some of the subject matter isa bit high-brow, the delivery makes it digestable.However, due to some more suggestivesituations and a couple of severedheads, some sections of the play aren’t appropriatefor young children, Bell said.It’s an exciting piece that movesquickly, the director explained. “There area lot of pieces to the story, but once you’rein it, you’ll be hooked.”As an actor as well, Bell said she’sable to better understandwhat’s beingasked of an actor, “howfar people are truly ableto go.” She said shelikes to “dive deep” and“get to the meat of thescene.”“I like to tell thestory- that’s what it’sall about anyway,”she said, adding it’sexciting to see the actorsreach a new levelin their performance.“That’s what keeps megoing.”Ryan Krause, Alison Dodges and KaitelynBauer, as Grusha, struggle with theinjustices bestowed upon them.The cast has certainly pushed themselvesand worked hard to provide a palatableinterpretation of The Caucasian ChalkCircle.When asked about her experiencesin working with Three Notch Theater andThe Newtowne Players, Bell had nothingbut positive things to say.“Live, local theatre is so necessary.Art is so necessary. You shouldn’t have totravel to the big city to see something thatwill move you,” Bell said.The intimate set-up lends itself well tothe play, pulling the viewer in and keepingthem engaged in the entangled web TheSinger spins.Bell said she submitted the work tothe play selection committee and appliedwith her vision proposal to direct it afterreading the Brecht masterpiece last summer.“Once I started reading, I couldn’tput it down,” she said. She and the cast andcrew of the play are hoping the audiencehas a similarly engaging experience.“I think if you love theatre, you’ll lovethis show,” Bell said.The CaucasianChalk Circle at ThreeNotch Theater opens Friday,March 16 at 8 p.m.,with shows on Fridayand Saturdays nightsand matinees on Sundaythroughout March. Forticket information, visitwww.newtowne players.org or call 301-737-5447.carriemunn@countytimes.netCelebrate St. Patty’s Day at the Duck!LIVE Irish Music!Specialty Irish Food SpecialsGreen Beer & Drink SpecialsGet Ruddy to party at theonly brew pub around!!Thursday: Country R UsFriday: Eric Landes 8pmSaturday: Authentic Irish MusicSOLOMONS, MARYLAND • Dowell Rd and Route 4410-FYI-DUCK • www.RuddyDuckBrewery.com
15 Thursday, March 15, 2012The Calvert GazetteSp rtsAnxiety SeasonBy Keith McGuireContributing WriterThe OrdinaryAnglerMarch is a teasing month. Some daysare still bitter cold, while others will have youheading to the water on a moment’s notice.What I’m noticing this year is that more is risingthan the temperature – most notably – theprice of gas! Corners need to be cut and dealsneed to be found to offset these high prices.The last thing you need is to waste a lot of timeand energy running from place to place or fishingwith the wrong equipment. Networkingwith fellow anglers is the answer.The local Southern Maryland Chapter ofthe Maryland Saltwater Sportfishing Associationwill meet today (3/15) at the Solomons FireHall at 7:00 PM. The topic at this meeting willbe a discussion of the best methods for catchingpre-season and early season rockfish.The local Patuxent River Chapter of theCoastal Conservation Association – Marylandwill meet next Monday evening (3/19) at7:00 PM at Stoney’s Kingfisher Restaurant inSolomons. The guest speaker at the meetingwill be Shawn Kimbro, author of a new bookChesapeake Light Tackle – An Introduction toLight Tackle Fishing on the Chesapeake Bay.Shawn Kimbro gives a great presentation, andhis book is a great read. He is also the leadcoordinator for the Careful Catch program,which targets the best strategies for catchingand releasing stripers unharmed.These are the opportunities we need to getsome of the best how to/where to local knowledgeavailable. Thesemeetings are free andopen to the public. Youcan bet that I will attendboth!If you didn’t fishfor the yellow perchduring their spawningrun, you missed out ona great opportunity. Itwas one of the betteryellow perch seasonsin recent memory. Thesecond great fishingopportunity so far thisseason was the whiteperch spawning run.That too, is pretty muchover. Now we are dabblingin freshwater forcrappie and bass, ordousing chicken liversand stink baits for catfishwhile we wait forthe spring striper andcroaker runs.I ran into a fellow angler today who toldme that he had heard that the croakers weren’texpected to be here in such great numbers thisyear because of the return of the sea trout. Iwas surprised by the comment so I asked forclarification. He went on to explain the abundanceof trout at Eastern Shore locations lastfall and the prediction that this would keep thebig croakers away. Actually, I had not drawnthe correlation between trout and croakers andfound the discussion interesting. If croakerstruly are held off by an abundance of sea trout,I’ll be happy with the sea trout any day! TimeToo valuable to catch only once!will tell as theearly spring arrivalsmake theirway up the Bay.I don’tknow about you,but I want to beready when thefish get here. Ifyou have a boat,check out all ofyour safety gearwhen you upgradeyour fishingtackle. Nowwould be a greattime to explorea Vessel SafetyCheck throughthe Coast GuardAuxiliary to besure that all thesafety features ofyour boat are upto date. Checkthis website:http://www.safetyseal.net/GetVSC/.If you go fishing and catch somethingslightly more worthwhile than a cold, be sureto take a picture and send it to me at riverdancekeith@gmail.com.Keith has been a recreational angleron the Chesapeake Bay and its tributariesfor over 50 years; he fishes weekly from hissmall boat during the season, and spendshis free time supporting local conservationorganizations.Over 250,000Southern Marylanderscan’t be wrong!Your Online Community forCharles, Calvert, and St. Mary’s CountiesNew to the area? Lifelong resident?• Stay abreast of local happenings• Check our highly popular classifieds• Speak your mind in the forums• Enter our contests andwin terrific prizesStop by and see whatSouthern Maryland Onlinehas to offer!www.somd.com
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