A Book Review, "Leave Me"

I can check one off my BookMarks goal list! I finished reading it last night.

I've been in Maribeth's shoes. No, I didn't have a heart attack, but due to perimenopause I'm experiencing anxiety bordering on panic attacks. There are those days when the weight of the world is such that I want to grab some cash and just keep on driving.

Unfortunately real life doesn't work out as neatly as Maribeth's story.

But that's exactly why I liked this book. I was swept away, but only on the surface. There wasn't any depth. I wasn't too immersed or bogged down in the deep and I didn't lose any sleep due to complicated characters or plots.

I enjoyed Leave Me for what it is. Simply, a good book.

A Book Review, "Killing Maine"

Wind power is the use of air flow through turbines to mechanically power generators for electricity. Wind power, as an alternative to burning fossil fuels, is plentiful, renewable, widely distributed, clean, produces no greenhouse gas emissions during operation, consumes no water, and uses little land.

That's according to Wikipedia.

According to Mike Bond, it's Killing Maine. I know this because he spent a great deal of time educating the reader on this serious politically corrupt issue.

Between his soapbox sessions, Mike attempts to weave an interesting whodunnit. Unfortunatley the reader is stuck with Pono Hawkins, the main suspect, as he tries to solve the murder mystery and clear his name. While it seems Pono does have a heart, he's more lothario than anything else.

Killing Maine didn't do much more than Kill My Precious Time.

A Book Review, "Out: A Courageous Woman's Journey"

I wanted to like this book, I really did.

I applaud those who have the courage to come out and live their true and honest lives in spite of an ignorant, bigoted, judgemental society. I appreciate the heartache Ms. Smoot endured and am very thankful she is helping to educate by telling her story.

I had a difficult time following Lou Anne's journey because I was so damn mad! My dislike of the book had less to do with Ms. Smoot and more to do with the so-called "Christians" who turned their backs and all but thumbed their noses at her. I just wanted to throw the book at the heads of the lot of them!

A Book Review, "One Was Lost"

Damaged. Deceptive. Dangerous. Darling. Are they labels or a warning? The answer could cost Sera everything.

On a mandatory senior field trip, a flash flood cuts Sera and three classmates off with no way to call for help. But they’re not as alone as they thought…

Someone is stalking them through the woods: drugged them, stole their supplies and wrote on their skin. Is it a judgement? A warning? And if Sera doesn’t find the truth, it’s only a matter of time before the hunter finds her first.

I received an invitation to download an advanced reader's copy of Natalie's lastest book. The email promised me "a new pulse-pounding psychological thrill-ride" and I was not disappointed.

It's been a while since I've read a page-turner. If you like YA novels, this one needs to be added to your list!

A Book Review, "Dark Matter"

The book blew my mind! But in a good way!

I mean, we all have those moments when we think about the "what ifs" in life. What if I'd stayed with my ex? What if I'd accepted the other job? What if I'd never gone to college, gotten married, had kids, etc.

This book allows you  the opportunity to step into some of those "what if" scenarios via Jason Dessen.

Now add the terror of being well aware of your "normal" life, the one you are happy with, the one you are desperate to return.

Thrilling!

The Review Is In!

Nothing is as it seems in this office

Posted: Friday, May 6, 2016 11:04 pm
By BILL CISSNA Special Correspondent

In the world of Adam Bock’s play “The Receptionist,” everything in the Northeast Office seems normal, business-like, maybe even mundane. Or at least it does for a while.

Spirit Gum Theatre Company opened its production of the play Friday night at The Actor’s Group on Reynolda Road. In the compact space (it seats 30 patrons), a cast of four held the audience spellbound for 80 minutes.

At first, attention is drawn with recognizable characters and humor focused primarily on the receptionist (Cheryl Ann Roberts) and her co-worker Lorraine (Britt Cannino). The later action, which enters into a different universe, more directly involves the office’s boss Mr. Raymond (Gregg Vogelsmeier) and the Central Office’s representative Mr. Dart (Latimer Alexander V).

The hyper-organized Beverly rules over her front desk roost with opinions for the romantically-challenged, narcissist-inflicted Lorraine. Part guidance counselor, part mother, Beverly rolls out advice despite her own marriage and child-raising issues.

Beverly, at the center of this story in more ways than one, is the kind of woman who collects expensive tea cups with her husband, but reacts with “ewww” at the thought of collecting coffee mugs.

Into the midst of the phone ringing and phone call avoidance strolls the initially-pleasant Mr. Dart, who wants to see Mr. Raymond whenever he returns. He plays friendly with Beverly but, when Beverly goes out for a bit, his approach to Lorraine sheds a darker light.

At last, Mr. Raymond does return, and something of the true nature of both the Northeast and the Central offices begins to surface.

We’re given a clue when Beverly talks about her transition two years earlier to her current location. For some unknown reason, she was the only one to be transferred from the office in which she earlier worked.

Spirit Gum is a small company that has gained a well-deserved reputation of doing more with less. In the limited space, the basic set represents a standard type of office that disguises a very special kind of business. First-time director Sarah Jenkin has done a fine job of casting and lent her actor’s knowledge to making the cast’s solo moments and interactions believable even as things change drastically.

Vogelsmeier, Cannino and Alexander all bring strong support, especially as they transition from people with the normal concerns of office workers to fear or ominous threat.

As the heart and soul of the office, however, Cheryl Ann Roberts — a stage veteran of many a show in and around the Triad — presents a very natural, warm, concerned individual who nevertheless has a great “cold eye” to share with Dart. Her transition from relatively innocent front desk person to finding herself in shocking and uncertain circumstances is a joy to behold.

If you decide to catch this shape-shifting play, reservations are recommended. Seating is definitely limited — but the price is right to see a fine cast in an intriguing show.

An Evening at the Theatre, "Boeing Boeing"

The show's premise is simple. Bernard is an American architecture living in Paris. He's engaged to 3 flight attendants stewardesses: Gloria works for TWA, Gabriella for Alitalia, and Gretchen flys for Lufthansa. Each woman has no idea about the other women due to their flight schedules. Robert, a school chum of Bernard's comes to visit and due to faster airplanes and delays due to fog and weather, Bernard's carefully scheduled lifestyle is in danger of exploding.

I had read the script several years ago, and because I work for an airline, I've always wanted to see a production. I had hoped to see the revival on Broadway, but I never made it. So, I was thrilled to learn that No Rules Theatre Co. was bringing Boeing Boeing to Winston-Salem. I immediately emailed Chad and we made plans to catch the final preview performance. In anticipation, I purchased a copy of the script to read again at the Drama Bookshop in NYC . I was counting down the days to the performance.

I'd never been in the Hanesbrand Theatre and was pleased that there's great legroom and the seats are comfortable. The Boeing Boeing pre-show set was eye-catching. I just knew I was in for a very fun evening!

Within the first 5 minutes, poor Nick Kowalczyk, who plays Bernard, was sweating at the pits. Ultimately that was the only remarkable thing about his performance. Sherry Berg, who portrayed Gloria, had such an affected, very high pitched New York accent, I was immediately put off. Knowing the character doesn't appear again until the second act, I overlooked it.

As soon as Jamie Smithson stepped onstage in the role of Robert, I knew I was going to regret the evening. There's absolutely nothing in the script that describes Robert as a nerd. From costume to characterization, that's how Jamie played him. His Robert was a mixture of Jerry Lewis' physicality, Jim Carrey's facial expressions and a smashup of Josh Gad's and Spongebob Squarepants' child-like vocalization. I was gobsmacked and trapped for the two hour first act.

Chad is usually into overacted farces, so I was surprised to notice that he wasn't laughing. We finally made it to intermission and quickly agreed that neither of us liked the show. We left at intermission.

As we walked back to the car, we both lamented the show. We wondered what the hell Matt Cowart, the director, had been thinking. Matt points out in his Director Notes that stewardesses "required not only an attractive appearance but higher education, fluency in at least two languages, and the flawless mastery of social etiquette." And yet none of his stewardesses were classy. Gabriella, played by Jenna Berk, was boisterious and Gretchen, played by Sarah Olmsted Thomas, was...well, let's just say that her performance left me speechless, and not in a good way. Her German accent was over-the-top (much like her performance) and difficult to understand.

As disappointed as I was with the show, I was grateful for one thing. Since it was a preview performance we only paid $15 per ticket. I'm so glad I didn't fork out a penny more.

An Afternoon at the Theatre, "Kiss Me, Kate"

While I've read the musical for KLT's play reading committee, I've never seen Kiss Me, Kate staged. Since we were already in Asheville for Incongruence, I bought tickets for the final Sunday matinee performance.

I must say, the talent at Asheville Community Theatre is highly impressive. I absolutely loved the show! I didn't mind one bit that it was 3 hours long. The lighting, the sets, the costumes, the choregraphy...everything was absolutely fantastic!

Bravo!

A Night At The Theatre, "Incongruence"

When a person looks into a mirror, what does she see? With whom does a person converse when addressing his reflection? Is this the same person she knows herself to be? Is this the reflection of the person he thinks or feels he should be, and from all the images the authorities of the world tell him to be? Looking into life's mirror at one's self, is there any disparity?

Incongruence is a journey into a looking glass of how we see ourselves among others, using the transgender story as the mirror. The stories told in Incongruence are based in fact, taken from private interviews, and were combined and fictionalized for security and artistic creativity. 

It was that blurb about this new play that made me see it. I wanted to understand what Sam is going through so I don't make ignorant mistakes with him.

The show was definitely different and not at all what I expected. Though truth be told, I wasn't sure what to expect. Some of the vignettes were extremely touching and I found myself trying to hold back tears. When I absolutely couldn't, I let them fall freely. 

We stayed for the talk back after and it was lovely to hear each of the cast members talk about the honor they felt in bringing the play to life.

While I'd cut some of the more superfluous scenes, this is definitely a show that everyone should see.

An Afternoon At The Theatre, "I'll Never Be Hungry Again"

Bill and Kathy Cissna saw this and thought it was absolutely hysterical. Then I found out that Gary Bartholomew, who wrote the music, is Jim Bowers' partner. So we got a work group together to see the show.

Here's the premise: David is a black grad student assigned to read Gone With The Wind for a Southern Lit class. But David doesn’t want to read any novel about “white crackers getting rich off the sweat of their black brethren” so he puts it off until the night before the test. Then, under the influence of too much partying, David passes out in the middle of the story only to wake up and find himself at Terra Firma, the plantation home of Starlett O’Hara. It’s only a wild, crazy-ass dream, right? Or is it? David begins to wonder as he gets pulled into the plot of America’s most famous romance; slightly skewed and fraught with musical zaniness. Will Starlett and that scoundrel Whet Butler ever hook up? Is Smelanie Hamilton really that sweet? Can Whammy teach Sissy how to tap? All these questions and a zillion more you never thought to ask… well, they won’t be answered, but who cares? We’ll worry about that tomorrow.

Here's a list of the characters in the show:

• Starlett O'Hara
• Whet Butler
• Whammy
• Sissy
• Smelanie
• Ghastly Wilkes

To make it even more interesting there's some doubling of roles. The actor who plays David, the grad student, also plays Sissy. The actor who plays Whet Butler also plays Whammy. Whet/Whammy was played by a mustached Nick Koesters, and he was outstanding. Erin Parker played Starlett and she was also fantastic.

Bill and Kathy were absolutely correct. The show is side-splittingly hilarious. Many times I laughed until their were tears in my eyes.

A Book Report

Even as a little girl I've always had a fascination with witches. My mom made a witch costume, including cape, which I wore for several Halloweens. The Witch of Blackbird Pond was a favorite book, as was The Crucible. I come by this fascination honestly. I was born in Massachusetts. I've been to Salem several times, visiting the Salem Witch Museum and shops full of all things witchy. Salem is one of my favorite places.

As such, I completely understand the draw Salem has for Abby Silva. Of course, I'm not a budding witch and it seems Abby is.

Abby has a crush on Travis, a popular senior. She meets Rem, who has the eyes of the guy in her dreams. She may have a crush on Travis but she's attracted to Rem. When Rem spurns her, she casts a spell into a cupcake for Travis to adore her. The spell works, but Travis' toxic ex-girlfriend wants revenge.

In addition to the typical high school drama, Abby learns that she's a potential fire witch and her awakening powers are needed to complete a circle. This circle is 300 hunderd years in the making and will right the sins of Salem.

There's nothing not to love about this book. It's another quick and easy read. It's highly entertaining, humorous and the ending does not disappoint. From start to finish I was spellbound.

Disclosure: This e-book was provided to me free of charge through NetGalley for the sole purpose of an honest review. All thoughts, comments, and ratings are my own.

A Night At The Movies

As soon as I got home I walked up to Sam who was quietly reading on the couch. "How could you not have fallen in love with Les Miserables?" As Sam looked up he immediately saw the dreaminess in my eyes. He smiled. I sat down and we discussed the movie.

I loved it. I mean loved, loved, loved it. Now to be fair, I've never ever seen the staged version so I had no preconceived notion as to what the movie "should have" looked like. I've heard the music but not enough times that I feel like a song "belongs" to a particular actor. I was able to view the movie objectively and honestly.

Sam didn't think Hugh Jackman could sing. Ah, actually, yes. Yes, the man can sing and beautifully. As soon as he began "Bring Him Home" I was feeling around for my napkin as I knew I was going to cry. And cry I did. Tears running down my cheeks faster than I could dab at them. "Suddenly" was also great. Hugh Jackman was fantastic as Valjean.

Sam didn't have very nice things to say about Russell Crowe's singing either. True, he isn't a strong singer, but his singing didn't bother me at all. It was what it was and I was okay with that. What did bother me was his lack of understanding his character. He played Javert as very one-dimensional. The only time you saw his inner struggle was when the film cut to his feet walking on the edge of the structure. I was disappointed. Russell Crowe can, and should have, done better.

Anne Hathaway's Fantine was okay. I don't think she's a strong singer either, but her singing didn't bother me. "I Dreamed a Dream" was okay. What did bother me was that she chewed the scenery a bit during the prostitute scenes. A slight bit of overacting, in my opinion.

Every time Amanda Seyfried opened her mouth and sung I just wanted her to shut up. Her singing didn't bother me during "Mama Mia" so I just think Cosette's songs were out of her register. And the warbling! Don't get me wrong, she really was the perfect Cosette - innocent, sweet, angel face. She just couldn't sing it.

Sacha Baron Cohen and Helen Bonham Carter as the Thenardiers....basically the same characters they played in Sweeney Todd. Meh.

I really enjoyed seeing Aaron Tveit. I've been listening to his "Catch Me If You Can" CD since seeing the show back in November. Little Daniel Huttlestone was a cutie little moppet.

In addition to being very impressed with Hugh Jackman, I was also impressed with Samantha Barks. Eponine's "On My Own" also brought tears to my eyes and "A Little Fall of Rain" almost had them running down my cheeks. Eddie Redmayne's "Empty Chairs at Empty Tables" started a fresh rain of tears.

I loved the movie and would go see it again in an instant. As soon as it comes out on DVD I'll be adding it to my collection.

A Night At The Theatre, "Bent"

Last night, due to a gracious comp ticket from Chris, I was able to catch the final performance of Bent. I'd never read or seen the show so I had no idea what to expect.


Kristian A. Wedolowski played the role of Max. He was absolutely outstanding! Scott A. Miller played the role of Horst, one of the prisoners that Max befriends. He also gave a fantastic performance.

From what I understand the director changed the ending from that in the script. As such, the ending wasn't as powerful as it should have been. Still, there were many moments in the show that brought tears to my eyes.

A Night At The Theatre, "Abraham Lincoln's Big, Gay Dance Party"

Yes, I really saw a show called Abraham Lincoln's Big, Gay Dance Party. And if Chris Chandler hadn't been in it, I'm sure I would have never known about the play.

Here's a synopsis according the their website: The story is set in Menard County, Illinois, where Abraham Lincoln once lived and operated a general store. It begins with the annual school Christmas pageant, where the 4th-grade teacher, Harmony Green, has rewritten the script to call into question Lincoln’s sexuality.

The town is horrified and demands she be held accountable. The local DA, Tom Hauser, has Green fired and arrested for distributing harmful materials to minors.

Hauser, a former Republican congressman who left Washington in disgrace in the 80s, receives national attention for the arrest. The RNC sends one of its best people, Lloyd Chambers, to Menard to set Hauser up for a run for Governor.

At the same time, Hauser's friend and protégée, Regina Lincoln, a State Senator, is planning a run for the Governor's mansion and goes to Menard to ask Tom to campaign for her -- only to discover he is running against her. And with the favorable media attention he is attracting as a result of the trial, Regina is certain to lose in the primary. Betrayed and hungry for revenge, she realizes she can attract the same amount of attention and cast Hauser as an out-of-touch radical by acting as Green's defense attorney. When she does, the trial becomes "the trial of the century," pitting two Republican power houses against each other.

This brings Anton Renault to town. A Pulitzer-winning reporter from the New York Times, Renault has his own agenda stemming from Hauser's time in Congress. Renault blames Hauser for exacerbating the AIDS crisis and intends to use his coverage of the trial as an opportunity to end Hauser's career once and for all. His efforts are unexpectedly complicated by the friendship he forms with Hauser's son, Jerry Hauser.

The play is about the trial of the century, but it is also about history -- the history of Lincoln (and the radically disparate interpretations of it), and the history of animosities and friendships between the characters stemming from the 80s. One could say the play examines how we are constantly "re-litigating" our history.

I didn't care for the show at all. It wasn't necessarily the acting, though there really were no strong performances. It's the play itself. With a name like Abraham Lincoln's Big, Gay Dance Party what incentive does one really have to take things seriously?

The Journal Review

poignant: Play reflects dark side
By Mary Martin Niepold
SPECIAL TO THE JOURNAL

Del Shores is known for his plays that use humor to expose small towns in Texas and the stereotypical characters who inhabit them -- hypocritical Christians, hard-drinking locals and people who wear prejudice like badges of honor.

His Trials and Tribulations of a Trailer Trash Housewife, which opened Friday night at Theatre Alliance, targets something more demonic: domestic violence.

As funny as some of the lines can be -- give a boozy barmaid an opportunity to trash her own string of five husbands, and you'll get funny wisecracks -- in this play, the tone is darker. Shores places violence at the center of the action.

Willadean Winkler takes beatings from her alcoholic, rageaholic husband, and Shores' dedication of his play says, "To all the ‘Willadeans,' may you find the light."

This is a powerful play, and it isn't for young people under 18. Nor is it for anyone who doesn't want to see and hear violence.

But beatings are the reason that Willadean struggles to find her own identity. "I will not shrivel up and die," she keeps telling herself.

She is alone against her husband -- her teenage daughter died in a car wreck, and her gay, teenage son was kicked out of the house by his father.

Fortunately for Willadean, the other side of violence is liberation, and we see freedom slowly evolve, thanks to the sensitive portrayal of Willadean by Cheryl Ann Roberts.

It is 2005 in Mesquite, Texas, where we also witness strong friendships, like the one Willadean has with her black neighbor, La Sonia, played to the bone by Jae Campbell. Adrienne Smith appears as a blues singer who threads songs through the scenes as a guardian angel-like figure for Willadean. Smith's voice is a beautiful and welcome counterpoint.

But Mikey Wiseman as J.D. Winkler, the abusive husband, is why this play, ultimately, works. His performance is brilliant, and as much as you don't want to see his rage, Wiseman makes his character evolve like a coiled snake who can mesmerize, then strike, then mesmerize again.

Jamie Lawson is the director, Kevin Mundy is an onstage pianist, and Andrew Lopina's set is a true-blood rendering of the inside of a mobile home and the seedy interior of the local bar.

Sales from popcorn and drinks benefit the Family Services Shelter for battered women. It is a fitting reminder of the story that Shores tells from a trailer park, which could be from anywhere.

Theatre Alliance presents The Trials and Tribulations of a Trailer Trash Housewife today and next Sunday at 2 p.m.; Thursday through Saturday at 8 p.m.; and Saturday at 4 p.m. at 1047 Northwest Blvd. Tickets are $16, $14 for seniors and students. Call 723-7777.

The Journal Review

OK, OK: Fighting gets old in play
By Mary Martin Niepold
SPECIAL TO THE JOURNAL

Put a group of women together in the fellowship hall of a Texas church, watch them throw hissy fits and tangle over past slights and present insults, and you've got the makings of the latest Del Shores play, Daughters of the Lone Star State. It opened Friday night at Theatre Alliance.

Shores, who can master down-home humor and does a good job of satirizing small-town customs, is particularly good at skewering customs that reek with hypocrisy. Director Jamie Lawson has already guided Theatre Alliance's staging of two other plays by Shores, Daddy's Dying, Who's Got the Will and Sordid Lives.

In Daughters of the Lone Star State, which features an all-female cast, the target is the uppity attitude, prejudice and hypocrisy of a few local churchwomen in the small town of Lowake, Texas, 1992.

This particular group at the First Baptist Church call themselves the "Daughters of the Lone Star State," and their motto is "We are the privileged helping the underprivileged."

They may have a well-meaning mission, but on this night right before Christmas, they're struggling with failing membership, the admission of a lower-class woman who married a Mexican, a member who drinks too much, and one who flushes away another member's banana pudding because it's too common. There's even discussion about whether to admit a black member or dissolve altogether.

The plot is thin in this moral tale, but Shores offers his zingers: "Better to leave 'em wanting than wanting to leave" and "I almost forgot I decided to ignore you for the rest of my life."

The problem is that just about all the women can do is fight. Yes, there are some funny lines and some tender moments, but the clawing is relentless. On opening night, the pacing of the play also dragged a bit.

"Daughters" does make its point about prejudice and snobbery, and helping to hold our attention are two wonderful characters. Carol Roan is very funny as "Cookie Hawkins," the original founder who lapses in and out of lucidity. Mostly, Cookie thinks she's Lady Bird Johnson. Cheryl Ann Roberts plays "Virgie Hopkins" in this, her third Del Shores play at Theatre Alliance, and it shows. Roberts is tough, confident and won't put up with much.

Theatre Alliance presents Daughters of the Lone Star State at 2 p.m. today and Nov. 22; at 8 p.m. Nov. 19-20; and at 4 p.m. and 8 p.m. on Nov. 21. Theatre Alliance, 1047 Northwest Blvd., Winston-Salem. Call 336-723-7777.

From YES! Weekly

The legacy of Matthew Shepard
By Keith Barber

The Paper Lantern Theatre Company’s production of The Laramie Project: 10 Years Later, a cross between a stage play and a documentary about the aftermath of Matthew Shepard’s death, was performed Monday at the Arts Council Theatre in Winston-Salem. The performance represented one of more than 150 staged readings held around the world on Oct. 12 to commemorate the anniversary of Shepard’s death.

As the dramatic reading of The Laramie Project: Ten Years Later drew to a close Monday night at the Arts Council Theatre in Winston-Salem, a photo of Matthew Shepard was projected on a large screen above the stage. For two full hours, 15 actors played the roles of the townspeople of Laramie, Wy., and all the real-life characters involved in a murder that shook the conscience of a nation. Finally, the audience got to see the 21-year-old man whose tragic death inspired a national dialogue about gay rights.

Molly McGinn then strummed her electric guitar and belted out a stirring rendition of the song “Scarecrow” in honor of Shepard. “This was our brother/ this was our son,” McGinn sang.

As the lights came up and the players took their bows, the audience rose to its feet and expressed its heartfelt thanks for a spirited performance by cast members Sharon Andrews, Whit Andrews, Ken Ashford, Tim Austin, Miriam Davie, Linda Donnell, Sheila Duell, Mallorie Grady, Michael Huie, Ari Itkin, Hardy Koenig, Preston Lane, Heidi McIver, Mark Pirolo, Cheryl Ann Roberts, Andrew R. Rush and Jeffrey West. Director Amy da Luz deserves much credit for the phenomenal performances.

The Laramie Project, a hybrid between a documentary and a play, was written by Moisés Kaufman, Leigh Fondakowski, Greg Pierotti, Andy Paris and Stephen Belber of New York’s Tectonic Theatre Project. Based on more than 200 interviews with the townspeople of Laramie, Shepard’s friends and relatives, the play also included transcripts of police interviews with convicted killers Aaron McKinney and Russell Thompson as well as trial transcripts.

Beth Ritson, one of the founding members of the Paper Lantern Theatre Company, opened the evening by sharing with the audience that more than 150 theatre companies around the nation and the globe would be performing a reading of The Laramie Project: Ten Years Later that very night to mark the anniversary of Matthew Shepard’s death.

“We are gathering to understand, to dialogue and to heal,” Ritson said. “We are gathering most importantly to remember Matthew Shepard and to play our part in this larger vision.”

On Oct. 6, 1998, McKinney and Russell offered Matthew Shepard, a gay University of Wyoming student, a ride home from the Fireside Lounge in downtown Laramie. Later, Shepard was robbed, tied to a split-rail fence, tortured and left to die. During his trial, it was revealed that Thompson and McKinney targeted Shepard because he was gay. The heinous crime drew national and international attention and eventually led to hate crimes legislation, which still languishes in the US Senate.

On Monday night, audiences around the world heard what has changed, and what hasn’t changed in the small prairie town of Laramie in the past 10 years.

“I just hope the community remembers just how ugly hate is,” Reggie Fluty, the police officer that first discovered an unconscious Shepard, said.

Deb, the editor of the Laramie Boomerang, takes a position that many of her neighbors agree with: The attack on Matthew Shepard was not a hate crime.

“It’s hard when you’re ashamed to stand up and say, ‘Yeah, we’ve screwed up,’” Fluty says.

A report by the TV show “20/20” about Shepard’s murder angers police investigator Dave O’Malley, who later discovers a memo from the show’s producer revealing a bias by the network to label the attack a robbery gone bad.

Beth, a university professor, refers to US Rep. Virginia Foxx’s (R-NC) statement that calling Shepard’s a hate crime is a hoax.

Henderson expresses remorse for his actions, but McKinney doesn’t feel anything.

“Matthew Shepard needed killing,” McKinney tells Greg Pierotti.

An actress performing the words of Cathy Connolly, the first openly gay Wyoming state representative, offers a hopeful story about the defeat of the Defense of Marriage Act, but states, “There is a lot more work to do.”

The Laramie Project: 10 Years Later is a profound epilogue and the continuation of that important dialogue. Paper Lantern Theatre, one of only two theatre companies in the state to stage readings of The Laramie Project: 10 Years Later, deserves great praise and admiration for doing so.

Well Stated

A very well stated response to a recent "Letters To The Editor".

Buyer beware

While I was sorry to read that the writer of the letter "Increasingly common" (Sept. 25) and his wife did not enjoy the language they deem to be obscene in Twin City Stage's Moonlight and Magnolias, I do believe that some of the fault is their own. There is such a thing as "buyer beware."

Much as one should not buy a used car without checking under the hood to make sure that an engine is included, if one is easily offended by certain language at entertainment events, shouldn't one ask before investing in tickets whether such language is included? The couple needs to try to understand that not everyone agrees with their position, and certainly many people do not agree with censorship. The very best way to avoid hearing words one does not want to hear (without having to pass such value judgments as "such language … contaminates the person who is speaking") is to make sure none is included in the event one chooses to attend.

They certainly have the right to complain about such language if they wish. They also have the right to avoid it.

BILL CISSNA
Kernersville

Is There Such A Thing As Bad Publicity?

This "Letters To The Editor" appeared in the paper today.

Increasingly common

My wife and I recently attended a performance of Moonlight and Magnolias at Twin City Stage ("Movie Stage," Sept. 13). What we were hoping for was a wholesome comedy. What we experienced was a profanity-laced production that made frequent use of a variety of obscene language.

This is the type of language that is becoming increasingly common not only at Twin City Stage and in movie theaters, but also throughout our society.

A sewage pond is not pleasant to smell. Most people would try to avoid being anywhere near it. Yet, it seems as if many people in our society today don't mind hearing -- and even speaking -- obscenities.

Ephesians 4:29 instructs us to "let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth."

Likewise, Colossians 3:8 instructs us to rid ourselves of "filthy language out of your mouth."

It would be no stretch to assume these biblical passages also imply that Christians shouldn't casually stand by and listen to such language when it is spoken by others. Such language not only contaminates the person who is speaking, but may also contaminate those who are listening to it. Consider what the psalmist says in Psalm 19:14: "Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, my strength and my redeemer."

How pleased God would be if each of us tried to honor him through the words we speak and the words to which we listen.

HARVEY E. ARMOUR
Winston-Salem

The Journal Review

Spoofing Scarlett for the Fun of It - Twin City Stage delivers the laughs
By Mary Martin Niepold
SPECIAL TO THE JOURNAL
Published: September 20, 2009

You can't make this stuff up, and in the new play at Twin City Stage, we get a dramatized comedy about the real deal behind the making of Gone With the Wind.

Moonlight and Magnolias is set in 1939 when Hollywood mega producer David O. Selznick actually locked famous writer Ben Hecht and film director Victor Fleming in his office for five days to save his production of Gone With the Wind.

Selznick fed them peanuts and bananas. He needed a new script to resuscitate what would become one of the most popular movies of all time and was willing to lose $50,000 a day while production was delayed and the men worked.

Knowing the plot of the movie means that audiences already have a good handle on the events and characters we see acted out by three grown men.

Director Stan Bernstein has parodied the actual events with restraint.

The whole situation is made for laughs, and the lead actors manage to bring some slapstick humor to reworking the movie's script, especially Melanie's giving birth and Scarlett's slapping of Prissy.

Anthony Liguori as Selznick carries the show.

He can deadpan lines as easily as he can bark out producer's edicts.

When he mimics Scarlett, he's hilarious.

His counterpoint, the morally earnest Hecht, is effectively portrayed by Chad Edwards.

It's a fun sendup of the famous melodrama.

Twin City Stage (formerly the Little Theatre of Winston-Salem) will present Moonlight and Magnolias at 2 p.m. today and Sept. 27 and at 8 p.m. Sept. 24-26 in the Arts Council Theater, 610 Coliseum Drive. Tickets are $22, $20 for seniors and $18 for students. For more information call the Twin City Stage box office at 336-725-4001.