• Latest

From The Page to the Stage

October 12, 2015
Statewide 2023 Poetry Out Loud Winner Announced

Statewide 2023 Poetry Out Loud Winner Announced

March 28, 2023
African Queen (1951)

The Little Foxes (1941)

March 28, 2023

Free Youth Event Features Hands-On STEM Activities

March 28, 2023
Bread & Puppet Rants in Barre

Bread & Puppet Rants in Barre

March 28, 2023
Out of This World Donation

Out of This World Donation

March 28, 2023
African Queen (1951)

Exodus (1960)

March 21, 2023
Just Some Thoughts

“Don’t Worry”

March 21, 2023
Job Training Well Done

Job Training Well Done

March 21, 2023

ACLU, Partners Call on Legislators to Oppose Plans for Prison Expansion

March 21, 2023

Conservation Supports New Farm In Central Vermont

March 21, 2023

Vermont Hunter Education Courses

March 15, 2023

Vermont Philharmonic and Green Mountain Youth Symphony Present “Awakenings: Music of Young Composers”

March 15, 2023
  • Home
  • Disclaimer
  • Privacy
  • Sitemap
Thursday, March 30, 2023
The World Online
Advertisement
  • Home
  • News & Features
    • Local News
    • Letters & opinions
    • George Shuman
    • Max’s View
    • Local Sports & Outdoors
    • Births
  • Calendar
    • Art Exhibits
    • Calendar of Events
    • Ongoing Events
  • Obituaries
  • Submit
    • Submit Calendar Listing for Non-Profit Events
    • Submit An Article To The World
    • Submit Letter To The Editor
    • Submit Sports News/Photo
    • Submit Birth Announcement
    • Submit Engagement Announcement
    • Submit Wedding Announcement
  • Advertising
    • World Rates and Ad Sizes
    • World Distribution Map
    • World Deadlines
    • Audit and Reader Surveys
    • Advertising Inquiry
  • Classifieds
    • Place Classified Ads
    • View Current Classifieds
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News & Features
    • Local News
    • Letters & opinions
    • George Shuman
    • Max’s View
    • Local Sports & Outdoors
    • Births
  • Calendar
    • Art Exhibits
    • Calendar of Events
    • Ongoing Events
  • Obituaries
  • Submit
    • Submit Calendar Listing for Non-Profit Events
    • Submit An Article To The World
    • Submit Letter To The Editor
    • Submit Sports News/Photo
    • Submit Birth Announcement
    • Submit Engagement Announcement
    • Submit Wedding Announcement
  • Advertising
    • World Rates and Ad Sizes
    • World Distribution Map
    • World Deadlines
    • Audit and Reader Surveys
    • Advertising Inquiry
  • Classifieds
    • Place Classified Ads
    • View Current Classifieds
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
No Result
View All Result
The World Online
No Result
View All Result

From The Page to the Stage

vt-world by vt-world
October 12, 2015
in George Shuman
0

By G. E. Shuman
The famous jazz musician, Miles Davis, is quoted as once saying: “Don’t play what’s there. Play what’s NOT there.” I was reminded of that admonition to the world of the fine arts as I was recently treated to Lost Nation Theater’s wonderful, comedic rendition of the classic thriller ‘Hound of the Baskervilles.’

Truthfully, on that Saturday night, I was simply captivated by the brilliant, hilarious, rapid-fire lines of those very talented Lost Nation actors. Crafting that classic story into comedy, and pulling it off flawlessly, was nothing short of a miracle of the stage. More precisely, it was many miracles of the stage.

My wife and I sat in amazement as we watched just three actors, Scott Renzoni, Leighton Samuels, and Christopher Scheer more than accomplish the feat of telling that entire, mystery-thriller-horror-detective story, superbly, and with side-splitting humor, no less. This, while seamlessly transforming into a total of nineteen characters throughout the play. Wow! The original work, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, was carefully finessed into wacky comedy, by the writers of this funny version, John Nicholson and Steven Canny.

Adding to the visual appeal of the meticulously costumed (and ever changing) actors, was the unusual, ‘sketched’, set, and wonderful two-dimensional set pieces, which drew you deeper into the ‘pulp-fictiony’ scenes, the more you looked at them. To quote the play’s consummate director, Kathleen Keenan, “Paper inspires us first. Take the play—based on the novel—from the page to the stage.” BRILLIANT! (My word.) “We embrace the idea of illustrations. We embrace that danger is looming, so movement from one location to the next should reflect that. The next thing you know, everything (or nearly) in our world is 2D, with an ingeniously designed moveable unit that transforms to represent all the furniture, saunas, and hansoms.” (Hansom is an old English term for cabs.)

All of these edgy, set-transforming production ideas simply fascinated me that night. Somehow, those words of Miles Davis sprung to mind, as I thought about what I saw in those “Baskervilles” actors. “Don’t play what’s there, play what’s NOT there.” To me, this is what the writers, producer, director and actors accomplished. They took the (virtual) pages of a book, transformed them into the pages of a play, and molded those into TWO dimensional, if you can believe it, scenes, where the pages of the book can still be imagined, and the talent of the actors brings those words and pages to life. Astounding! (And, more importantly, totally worth seeing.)

As unbelievable as this might seem, The Hound of the Baskervilles actors, Scott Renzoni, Leighton Samuels, and Christopher Scheer, are joined by more Lost Nation professionals in presenting Shakespeare’s classic play, “As You Like It”, on the same stage, during the same weeks, on alternating nights. (Most of us would never attempt to learn the lines of one two-hour live performance. The Lost Nation actors have perfected two at once.)

At this publication date, there is little time left. Both plays run only until October 25. Also, remember the annual Poe Spooktacular on the 31st. Visit the theater’s website soon, lostnationtheater.org to purchase your tickets. Then get to the theater for some shows you will never forget!

Lost Nation Theater, City Hall Auditorium Arts Center, 39 Main Street, Montpelier VT. 05602 802-229-0492

Previous Post

Max's View

Next Post

Aldrich Public Library Brings Library Out Into the Community

Next Post

Aldrich Public Library Brings Library Out Into the Community

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This Week’s Ads

  • Home
  • About Us
  • Disclaimer
  • Privacy
  • Sitemap
The World
403 US Route 302
Barre, VT 05641
Phone: (802) 479-2582

Copyright © 2019 The World Online. All Rights Reserved. Powered by CoolerAds.

No Result
View All Result
  • Art Exhibits
  • Audit and Reader Surveys
  • Births
  • Calendar
  • Contact Us
  • Daily Horoscope
  • Fall Guide
  • Food & Recipe
  • Home
  • Obituaries
  • Ongoing Events
  • Pay Your Bill Here
  • Senior Living Edition
  • Showtimes
  • Submit Birth Announcement
  • Submit Calendar Listing for Non-Profit Events
  • Submit Engagement Announcement
  • Submit Listing to our Local Directory
  • Submit Sports News/Photo
  • Submit Wedding Announcement
  • Testimonials
  • The World Coupons
  • Weather Forecast
  • World Deadlines
  • World Distribution Map
  • World Rate Card
  • World Rates and Ad Sizes
  • Disclaimer
  • Privacy
  • Sitemap
  • About Us
  • Vermont Lottery
  • Advertising Information
  • The World Staff
  • Advertising Inquiry
  • Submit Letter To The Editor
  • Local Directory
  • Poll Results
  • Local Deals
  • Classifieds
  • Submit An Article To The World
  • Events
  • The World – This Week’s Online Digital Edition
  • The World Auto & Sports

Copyright © 2019 The World Online. All Rights Reserved. Powered by CoolerAds.

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Fill the forms bellow to register

All fields are required. Log In

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In