Photo by Michael Bodycomb

Thursday, October 25th at 11:00 a.m.

Charlotte Vignon, Ph.D., the Curator of Decorative Arts at The Frick Collection will present "Henry C. Frick and Joseph Duveen Built a Museum: French 18th Century Decorative Arts at The Frick Collection." The Darien Community Association (DCA) is hosting the presentation. The lecture is $20 to attend. For more information, please contact the DCA at 203-655-9050 or via email info@dariendca.org.

The DCA is located at 274 Middlesex Road in Darien.

The event is sponsored by SBD Kitchens, LLC. 

Marlene S. Gaylinn

Marlene S. Gaylinn shares her reviews on local theatre in Connecticut and New York in the October 2012 edition of her newsletter, On CT & NY Theatre. If you are a fan of jazz, come see "Satchmo at the Waldorf" at the Long Wharf Theater in New Haven, CT. The show runs through November 11th. Besides Louis Armstrong's commanding onstage performance, he was a loving husband, and had a complicated relationship with his Jewish managing agent, Joe Glaser. 

Marlene S. Gaylinn

By Marlene S. Gaylinn

Westchester B’way Theatre, Elmsford, N.Y.

Just like the catchy phrase “Can you canoe,” there’s also the tongue’s temptation to say, “You can can-can” too.  And so it follows that Cole Porter, who wrote the music and lyrics to this 1953 Broadway musical, utilizes this catchy phrase in one of his tuneful songs for “Can-Can,” which is currently being revived at Westchester B’way Theatre.

For those who are unfamiliar with the title, “Can-Can” it has nothing to do with garbage or sardine cans.  This is a very naughty dance that originated in France around the 1830’s, as working-class entertainment.  Women, many of them courtesans, teasingly raised their skirts and many layered, ruffled petticoats while performing high kicks and splits during a period when simply showing a bit of ankle was pretty daring for a respectable woman.  Similar chorus entertainment was offered at American saloons, under the heading “French Can-Can Bar Dancing” during our Gold Rush period.

It’s a little known fact that in those days, women wore white, cotton bloomers under their dresses and that the garment was usually split down the middle seam -- leaving an opening for functional purposes.  So, you can imagine how titillating that split second peek-a-boo must have been.  Don’t expect this here.  Although the dance is still contains lively teasing, today it’s quite tame.

The musical, “Can-Can” takes place in Paris during 1893.  La Mome Pistache, owner of a dance hall is accused of running a scandalous operation.  She is taken into court along with her group of seductive, can-can girls and her business is threatened with closure.  Judge, Aristide Forestier decides to investigate the operation before the final judgment.  Pistache manages to seduce him, the couple fall in love, and everything works out in the end.

Along the way, are amusing sub-plots concerning a dance hall girl named Claudine and her lover, Boris from Bulgaria (whom she supports by her nightly dancing and day job as a laundress).  Boris has a motto that he lives by: “Never do anything for another human being unless you can get something out of it.”  The couple’s unemployed Bohemian friends are:  A painter who can’t figure out what he’s painting, a poet who’s lost in his own words and a sculptor who creates odd fish with human limbs.
The production opened in 1953 and Gwen Verdon, who played Claudine, and choreographer Michael Kidd, won Tony Awards.  Today, it seems that the wonderful songs are more familiar than the musical from which they came.  Who hasn’t heard “I Love Paris,” “It’s All Right With Me,” and “C’est Magnifique?” Gloria Crampton as “Pistache” and Tony Lawson as “Aristide” make a wonderful pair.  Both have rich voices and a lot of charm, despite the fact that sometimes they forget their French accents.  Patrick Richwood plays the comic “Boris” and reminds us of Charlie Chaplin.  Lauralyn McClelland received top billing as his lady friend, “Claudine,” however her personality lacked the show-stopping sparkle that’s required.  Director/Choreographer Richard Stafford aptly projects the French, Bohemian life and his squealing can-can girls are simply delightful.  Magically smooth, set transitions are by John Farrell and Craig Barna conducts the live orchestra.

This dinner theatre offers a menu to suit everyone’s requirements and parking is free.
Plays to Oct. 7                                                                                    Tickets: 914-592-2222.

“Harbor” Westport Country Playhouse, CT

If you find language peppered with dirty words funny, this comedy called “Harbor,” at the Westport Country Playhouse (WCP), will amuse you.  However, the main subject matter is not particularly lighthearted.  It explores the term “family” and what commitment and belonging mean, if anything, in our rapidly changing society.  It’s also about seeking a safe “Harbor” in relationships – something that everyone, despite sexual orientation, tries to achieve.

This semi-autobiographical play is written by two-time Tony Award nominee Chad Beguelin and this is his first play. While the writing is often clever, this “Love of Life” sit-com is not a believable reflection of our society, nor is its message profound. Oddly enough, there are some very poignant moments that make you wonder why this work is even called a “comedy” and not a drama.  Perhaps the writer was driven by his many sub-plots and could not determine which one was most important – which accounts for its counter-force ending.

The story is about a male couple, Ted and Kevin.  After a 10 yr. marriage, Kevin wishes to adopt a baby and Kevin is totally against it.  After not seeing or hearing from her in years, Donna, Kevin’s trashy sister, barges into the couple’s life.  She takes drugs, lives in a van, is broke and pregnant and is seeking to be rescued and nurtured. Donna is also the irresponsible mother of an outspoken 15 yr. old daughter, “Lottie,” whom she drags around like extra baggage.   Lottie is longing for a stable home.  Each the male partners have nurturing instincts and complex conflicts about their love for each other and adopting children.  They are also seeking stability in their lives. How this eventually works out for everyone is as open-ended and uncertain as real life. We assume that each character has evolved into yet another pattern that we can call a safe haven of togetherness – or family, if you prefer – but this is not made clear.   We are not touched emotionally by any of the characters, so it is hard to care what eventually happens to them.

Whether you agree or not with the play’s concept, the acting and directing by Mark Lamos is certainly engrossing. Bobby Steggert plays the tender character,  “Kevin” and Paul Stewart plays his sensitive partner,“Ted.”Kate Nowlin is the very pregnant “Donna,” and Alexis Molnar is the smart, 15 yr. old craving to belong to a responsible, loving parent.

Plays to: Sept. 15                                                                   Tickets: 203 227 4177

Architect Theodate Pope

Wednesday, September 12th at 11:00 a.m.

Come to Lockwood-Mathews Mansion Museum for a lecture by Professor James O' Gorman on architect Theodate Pope. This lecture is part of LMMM's Lecture Series, "Defying Expectations: Independent American Women of the Early 1900s." Ms. Pope was a graduate of Miss Porter's School in Farmington, Connecticut. To learn more about the lecturer, please visit the website.

For more information, please email or call 203-838-9799 ext. 4. Admission is $30 for non-members and $25 for members. Lunch and a tour are included. 

Fundraiser for the Darien Historical Society

Friday, August 24th through Sunday, September 30th

Come support the Darien Historical Society at the To The Table five week art sale and fundraiser. Join us for free wine and cheese Friday night receptions throughout the five weeks from 6:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. For more details call 203-655-9233 or email ukremer@darienhistorical.org.

See the flyer for a list of the To The Table artists.

Join us!

Saturday, August 25th

Join your neighbors, family, and friends in Stamford, CT to help set a new world record in Hands-Only CPR! This is a free training session that you may use to save a life someday. Register at Hands For Life. 

For more information, please see the flyer.

One donation can help save the lives of up to three people. Source

Wednesday, August 29th

From 1:00 p.m. until the last appointment at 6:15 p.m.

Darien Library will be hosting the American Red Cross for a blood drive in August. Registration that day will be in the Community Room then donations will occur in the Red Cross' specially equipped bus in the parking lot. Visit the Red Cross' website to schedule an appointment. 

Blood donors are eligible to have their overdue fines waived (does not apply to bills or replacement charges). 

Facts about blood donation from the Red Cross

• Every two seconds someone in the U.S. needs blood.
• The blood used in an emergency is already on the shelves before the event occurs.
• A single car accident victim can require as many as 100 pints of blood.
• Roughly 1 pint of blood is given during a donation.

Source