The Local Revival of a Dying Art

Bangor Opera House: Home of Penobscot Theatre

- photo courtesy of wikipedia.org -

Many say that performance theater is a dying art. But you wouldn't have known it at the Bangor Opera House last Friday night where Penobscot Theatre's Last of the Red Hot Lovers took stage. A play by Neil Simon, Last of the Red Hot Lovers is the story of a middle-aged man named Barney who decides he is going to have an affair to force some excitement into his dull and normal married life. Barney's routine and awkward character combined with the odd personalities of each of his three attempts - Elaine, Bobbi and Jeanette - made for a play full of laughs. Not to mention that his place of choice for these secret gatherings was his mother's apartment. Hilarious!

Before the play, couples walked from their cars, hand in hand, being careful to avoid the ice that had plagued the streets the night before. A few stopped to ponder the large tarp draped over the facade, an indicator of the exciting restoration taking place underneath. The atmosphere inside was that of hushed excitement and anticipation. It's funny - I get excited before movies start in the cinema, too. But something about live theater makes it more personal, more believable and almost more real.

I hadn't been to a play in a long time. Sure, I've seen both extremes. I've been to (and acted in) a few high school plays and seen Phantom of the Opera and Little Shop of Horrors on Broadway. Those are both completely different experiences, and Penobscot Theatre was different still. That's what I loved about it. It was an experience - as Producing Artistic Director Scott R.C. Levy calls it: "The Penobscot Theatre experience." He told me that if I went once I'd keep coming back. He was right. I'm hooked. Last of the Red Hot Lovers was a great performance and the experience was unforgettable.

Little Shop of Horrors

- photo courtesy of penobscottheatre.org -

So now I'm going to say to you - if you've never been (or, quite frankly, even if you have) don't miss their next play: Little Shop of Horrors playing from March 19th - 30th. Visit their website for details.

Jillian


From www.penobscottheatre.blogspot.com:
Penobscot Theatre Company (PTC) is Northern and Eastern Maine's only professional theatre company, operating year-round. PTC owns and operates the historic Bangor Opera House located on Main Street in downtown Bangor.