V18 N25

NEW
TRANSITIONAL
STYLES
available now
in
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The Activity Column
Catherine Dugan’s guide to staying in... this week, enjoy virtual theater!
Humans like stories. Stories make us
Secrets by Candace O’Donnell explores the private
joys and sorrows of the tiny woman who
laugh and cry, but also make us speculate.
Would I have been brave, loyal,
once ruled over most of the world. The actress
or smart enough to handle a given
brings to life the conflict between her power
situation? Would I have checked if
and her impotence — she could launch a war,
Juliet was really dead? Might I have stolen the
insurance money? Would I wait for Godot?
In normal times, theater feeds our need for
stories. Cape May Stage and the East Lynne
Theater Company would be filling our evenings
with laughter, tears and questions to
talk about with our fellow theater goers over
late night desserts. This year, both companies
but she could not save her husband. She considered
Albert her “all in all,” but sought companionship
after his death. Modern mothers
will empathize with her fears about childbirth
and her inability to bond with her babies.
They’ll speculate how the modern understanding
of postpartum depression may have helped.
Start at the web page — capemaystage.
adapt to the pandemic with virtual shows. The
org allows you to click on offerings from the
presentation is different — it’s not live theater,
10 minutes.” You’ll likely be caught in the magic.
home page, or by clicking on “virtual theater.”
but it’s not a television show. There are few The power of the story and performances will
Some performances require a donation, and
special effects, elaborate sets, or costumes. In carry you out of your current reality and into a some are free. At eastlynnetheater.org click on
most productions, the performer is stripped 19th century Scottish castle, an American asylum,
or into the stars. If you think this political which seem to be free, with an invitation to
“Mainstage Season” for your virtual choices,
bare, with only her voice and face to convey the
tale. It works.
Virtual theater is not without its challenges.
Suspension of disbelief can be difficult
while you’re folding laundry or weeding the
garden, but as Shakespeare scholars say, “give it
season’s ugliness is new, learn about the fight
for women’s suffrage. Escape into someone
else’s romance. Or learn more about Queen
Victoria as she divulges her secrets.
The Cape May Stage production of Victoria’s
donate. East Lynne also has a raffle if you’re
feeling lucky. Be patient and expect a little confusion
— these companies are figuring this out
on the fly, and sometimes unexpected hiccups
cause delay.
HOT NEW EZ TEE SHIRTS
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Washington Sreet Mall
at the corner of
Carpenters Lane
& Perry Street
tommysfollycapemay.com
609.554.3957
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