THEATER MAGIC at THALIAN HALL, WILMINGTON, NORTH CAROLINA!! I - TopicsExpress



          

THEATER MAGIC at THALIAN HALL, WILMINGTON, NORTH CAROLINA!! I have now resided in the Cape Fear area of North Carolina for more than 20 years, almost as long as we lived in Suffolk County, New York, until as a "whistleblower" I was virtually banished from a place that I loved so dearly (our own home-"the American dream"), and nearly as many years of my youth in the tenements of Brownsville, Brooklyn during the "great depression" and World War II. My dear departed Lenore and I gravitated almost immediately to Thalian Hall as volunteer ushers after our arrival, having loved New York theater so much that we felt lost for the first few months without the ability to see the latest Broadway preview. Thus, in the twenty plus years that I have enjoyed the Cape Fear community with both "my teenage sweetheart, Lenore, and my "angel" Nancy Ann, with whom I have now been partnered for almost 17 years as husband and wife, Thalian Hall has become a cornerstone of my life in North Carolina, as a wannabee actor and dancer, as a board member, and as a supporter of that great institution we have come to cherish, not to mention a few stints as an "extra" at the studio. As a judge, whenever I entered the courtroom, I felt like I was taking the stage! During that time I have seen some 100 dramatic plays and musicals, most of which we have thoroughly enjoyed because of the great talent that we are indeed fortunate to be surrounded with in Wilmington, North Carolina. But last night was an even more magical moment at Thalian Hall, worthy of Broadway, and even London and Washington. For that, two people must be mentioned for their great work-the inimitable Lew Criscuolo for his dream of bringing Broadway to Cape Fear, with his "Opera House Theatre Company," which has brought so much joy to so many for more than 25 years. And then there is the inimitable Sueellen Yates whom I met for the first time some 14 years ago when she directed my grandson Josh, as one of the "lost boys," now living his dream off Broadway in the "Big Apple" after graduating from UNC-Chapel Hill a year ago. There was only one person missing on that stage last night at the curtain call, and that was Sueellen Yates for her magnificent direction of a great musical production; but knowing her as I do, she would never have wanted to take the spotlight from a great cast of actors, singers, and dancers. As for the cast, many of whom I had never seen before at Thalian Hall, the casting of Jon Berry as "Jean Valjean" was inspirational. He lit up the stage at Thalian Hall as few could have done any better on Broadway or London. His beautiful tenor voice and magnificent acting talents captured the audience from the first moment he stepped on that stage until the stage lights dimmed. And then there is old friend, Bob Workman of WHQR fame, with his powerful singing voice and great presence, not to mention his great acting ability, who captured the mean spirit of Inspector Javert as few could have done. But then there is one actor who has brought so much joy and laughter for the many years that I have known him as "Captain Hook," and in so many other great roles, and now in his greatest role as a "teacher" of our children and grandchildren, the inimitable Jason Hatfield as the despicable tavern owner, Thenardier! Recently "Trot" Nixon was deservedly inducted into the Wilmington "Walk of Fame" for his years as an outfielder in Wilmington and with the Boston Red Sox. But certainly, there needs to be room on that "walk" for a talent like Jason Hatfield who has brought so much laughter and joy to audiences on Cape Fear for so many years. A man who could certainly have made it in the movies-just hear his booming voice in "Lincoln" as the movie opens- or on Broadway, but who has chosen to remain in Wilmington, and to teach our children his love of history, no less! I could go on and on about that great show last night, but I am no Ben Steelman, nor even an amateur theater critic, but I felt I would be remiss in not expressing my personal joy for three great hours of theater magic which should not be missed by anyone who lives on or visits in the Cape Fear area for the next two weeks, tropical storms and hurricanes be damned! Thank you, thank you, thank you, Opera House Theatre Company for helping me forget about Lymphoma for an entire evening of pure joy!!!! Judge Stuart Namm (Ret)
Posted on: Sun, 09 Jun 2013 11:47:47 +0000

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