BLITHE SPIRIT – Fridays, May 13 and 14, and Saturdays, May 20 and 21 – WALPOLE TOWN HALL

You will want to be in the room when, during a séance, eccentric self-proclaimed medium, Madame Arcati, accidentally summons Elvira, the spirit of her host’s late wife. The Walpole Players present Blithe Spirit, “an improbable farce,” by Noel Coward, on Fridays, May 13 & 14, and Saturdays,May 20 & 21. All shows begin at 7:00 pm in the Helen Miller Theater in the Walpole Town Hall.

Charles Condomine, a successful novelist who is doing research, engages Madame Arcati to hold the séance to help him learn about the occult for his next novel. Following Elvira’s arrival, the home of Charles and his new bride, Ruth, is soon turned into a shambles as Elvira torments the couple. Elvira, who Ruth cannot see, does everything she can to disrupt Charles’s and Ruth’s marriage.  In a twist, Ruth soon joins Elvira’s world, and returns for revenge on Elvira. The comedic problems escalate through séance after séance and innumerable spells. And, of course, you will have to attend a performance for the surprising outcome.

The cast includes: Kathy Reilly, Gail Connelly, Mike Conant, Deb Robarge, Jeffrey Squire, Fran Kemp; and, her first time with the Walpole Players (and her first time on stage since high school) convincingly playing Elvira is Samaira Aldrich.

Tickets can be purchased in advance for the Players’ production of Blithe Spirit at Joanie Joan’s Baked Goods Co., Galloway Real Estate, and the Walpole Artisans Cooperative in Walpole, and Village Booksellers in Bellows Falls. Tickets (Adults-$10; under 12-$5) will also be available at the door.

Back again for a fourth year, The Walpole Players will go “on air” at 7 pm, Saturday, March 12, in the Helen Miller Theater at the Walpole Town Hall, presenting Cabin Fever Radio Follies of 2016. The doors will open at 6:00 pm, when audience members may arrive bringing their own dinners, snacks and beverages of choice. Round tables for eight will be provided so all may dine in comfort, then sit back and listen when the Players commence the live broadcast from the radio studio on stage. When we “sign off” for the evening, guests are welcome to linger, visiting with neighbors and chatting with the radio performers.

Reporter on the Street will be with us again, and we understand the Bickersons are in another predicament. What show is not complete without the Farm Report, a few classic advertisements and popular hit tunes? The cast is currently selecting and assembling this year’s scripts to provide you with laughs and great memories for an hour and twenty minutes (more or less).

The last three years have been sell-outs, and this year the Players anticipate all tickets will be pre-sold. To purchase tickets and reserve a table for your party, or for more information, call Joan Balla at 499-1027 (please leave a message with your name and phone number) or stop in at Joan’s bake shop (Joanie Joan’s Baked Goods Company, 14 Westminster Street here in Walpole). Ticket prices remain at only $5 per person for a grand evening out. Tickets will be available for purchase the beginning of February at Joanie Joan’s Baked Goods Company and Galloway’s Real Estate office.  Mark your calendars now for March 12, gather your friends, and pack your dinner and beverages to join the fun back in the 1930s, 40s, and 50s when life was a tad simpler.

The Walpole Players are making it fun to give this holiday season.

We know that you will one again be donating to your favorite needy charity this year.  But, if you give your contribution via the Walpole Players to the Fall Mountain Food Shelf or Our Place Drop In Center, the Walpole Players will enter your name in a drawing to win a $250 shopping spree – provided by an anonymous donor – at the many participating shops and restaurants in Walpole and Bellows Falls.  Donations may be made (and entry forms filled out) at the locations listed below.

A CHRISTMAS CAROL for 2015 Cancelled — but read on….

Mr. Dickens will not be in Walpole this December to read his classic tale, A CHRISTMAS CAROL.  You may recall that last year the show, produced and directed by Ray Boas and Tara Sad, was short of cast members and almost cancelled. The required additional actors were found, however, and the 7th annual production went on.

Sadly, this year only 25 percent of the needed forty people arrived to audition. Previous cast members had moved, others told us of conflicting plans, and many of the younger cast members have grown out of their parts and are involved in other school activities. In an email to all Walpole Players and friends, Ray and Tara reported, “It is with heavy hearts that there will not be A CHRISTMAS CAROL this year. … A CHRISTMAS CAROL has always been a gift from the Walpole Players to the town, and one that we hope you have all enjoyed. … We will be encouraging contributions from the community to the Fall Mountain Food Shelf and Our-Place Drop-In Center to help make up the loss from the production this holiday season.” It was a great seven-year run, bringing $24,197 in cash donations to the Fall Mountain Food Shelf and Our-Place Drop-In Center.

Out of disappointment and discussion, however, a plan was hatched to allow The Walpole Players’ audiences to continue to make their donations to the food shelves, while at the same time helping to support our town retailers during this festive season.

 Details on our 8th Annual Fundraiser for
area Food Shelves will be announced shortly

 

CABIN FEVER ON TELEVISION
March 28, 2015

CABIN FEVER RADIO FOLLIES – 2015

Back again for a third time, The Walpole Players will “go on air” at 7PM, Saturday, March 14th in the Helen Miller Theater at the Walpole Town Hall presenting CABIN FEVER RADIO FOLLIES OF 2015.  The doors will open at 6:30 when audience members may arrive bringing their own dinners, snacks and beverages of choice.  Round tables for eight will be around the floor for everyone’s dining pleasure to sit back and listen when the “players” commence the live broadcast from the radio studio on stage.  When the players “sign off” for the evening, audience guests are welcome to linger the rest of the evening visiting with neighbors and chatting with the radio performers.

Fibber McGee and Molly are visiting again, and we understand that the Bickersons are in another predicament. What show is complete without the Farm Report, a few classic advertisements, and popular hit tunes. The cast is currently assembling and selecting this year’s scripts to provide you with laughs and tears for an hour and twenty minutes (more or less).

The last two years have been sell outs , and this year the players anticipate all tickets will be pre sold.  Ticket prices remain at only $5 per person for a grand evening out.  To reserve a table for your party and purchase tickets, or for more information, call Ray at 603 756-4545. Mark your calendars now for March 14th, gather your friends, and pack your dinner and beverages to join the fun back to the 1930s, 40s, and 50s when life was a tad simpler.

 

Click on Image above for large size PDF of 2014 Cast Poster

 

A CHRISTMAS CAROL

Seventh Annual Production by The Walpole Players
2014 – Walpole, New Hampshire

And, click on this link for a full size PDF of the 2014 poster

The tradition will continue when the curtain will again rise for the Walpole Players’ Seventh Annual Production of Charles Dickens’ A CHRISTMAS CAROL on December 10, 11, 12, and 13, 2014, in the Helen Miller Theater in the Walpole, New Hampshire Town Hall.  Having raised over $20,000 in cash donations to help feed those less fortunate in the past 6 years,  100% of the cash donations at the door again will benefit Our Place Drop-In Center and The Fall Mountain Food Shelf.

But the curtain almost did not rise this year.  Co-directors, Tara Sad and Ray Boas, were shocked when the usual throngs did not appear at the two evenings of auditions in early November. “We were lacking actors for ten speaking roles, and about to scrap this year’s production, which has become an area tradition,” Tara recounted, “when I said to Ray, ‘let’s send out an additional casting call.’ ”  So, Ray drafted a plea which was emailed to the players’ list and posted on-line.  The response was gratifying. Greg Villone, who was busy in a current Springfield, (VT) Community Player’s production, typified the response stating, “I was planning on taking a little break after this one but seeing how ACC is in danger of being cancelled I will gladly play Fred again.”  And so; thankfully, for those less fortunate, the show will go on.

Tickets to the 7 PM production on December 10,, 11, 12 and 13, 2014, are required because of limited space, and hold your seat until 6:45.  “No one has ever been turned away at the door,” Ray happily relates,  “but I have had to put up additional chairs to accommodate additional guests.”  The free tickets are available in Walpole at Real to Reel; Galloway Real Estate; Costume Ladies; Murray’s and Jake’s; and, in Bellows Falls, Vermont, at Village Square Booksellers. For any questions call Ray Boas 603 756-4545 or Tara Sad 603 756-4861.   A CHRISTMAS CAROL has been read and performed since 1843 — and since 2008 in Walpole.  Please mark your calendars to attend and be included in Walpole’s tradition.

 

WALPOLE JUNIOR PLAYERS THEATER CAMP 2014

 

Click here to read about the July 11th performance

 

A LONG WEEKEND IN NEW HAMPSHIRE

 

Performances for The Walpole Players’ Old Home Days 2014 production will be Friday and Saturday June 20 and 21 the week before Old Home Days, and once the festivities begin the show will be held Thursday June 26 and Saturday June 28.  The curtain will rise at 7PM at the Helen Miller Theater on the second floor of Walpole’s Town Hall in Walpole, New Hampshire

This year’s original play, written and directed by Gail Golec, is a comedy, in four-self contained acts, offers entertaining vignettes of country life in New Hampshire (maybe even Walpole).  Act I- Life in 4/4 Time, goes through the hectic life of a modern young family; Act II – The Funeral,  shows a family coming together after a funeral and sharing old stories; Act III -The Farmstand, explores the events surrounding an ordinary day at the local vegetable stand; and Act IV- The Lumberman, The Farmer and The Fisherman, is the dramatic recitation of an epic poem (with footnotes).

The cast of 27 people includes, besides the familiar Walpole Players, a number of new members joining The Walpole Players for the first time.  Gail recently reported, “rehearsals are really going well and the cast is excited about the show and looking forward to opening night!”

Tickets are $10 for adults, and $5 for under 12 years of age, and are available at Galloway Real Estate, Real to Reel Video, Murray’s, Costume Ladies, and Village Square Booksellers.  If you would like tickets held at the door please call 603 756-4545

The Cast is ready to entertain you.

Below – LIFE IN 4/4 TIME

 

 

 

Below – AFTER THE FUNERAL

 

Below — AT THE FARM STAND

 

 

Below — THE ORATOR

CABIN FEVER RADIO FOLLIES – 2014

Ever since we went “off the air” in 2013 the audience has been begging us to go back “on the air,” and on Saturday, March 15, 2014, CABIN FEVER RADIO FOLLIES OF 2014 will air at 7 PM in the Helen Miller Theater in the Walpole Town Hall.  Attendees again are encouraged to come early (doors will open at 6:30) with their favorite beverage and food along with needed utensils. Tables can be reserved for family and friends or for an office party.  The theater will be set with twenty round tables for eight so you can feel at home as though in your dining room listening to the radio.

 The Bickersons will return along with George and Gracie.  Groucho may be stopping by and you will be delighted with “A Date with Judy.”  In all, airtime of about an hour and 15 minutes will carry you back to the 1930s, 40s, and 50s when life was a tad simpler.

 Tickets will be available in late-February, however since we are expecting an early sell-out table reservations can now be made with payment of $5 per person.  Call Ray at 603 756-4545 to make your reservation and arrange payment.  Mark your calendars now for March 15th, gather your friends, and pack your dinner and beverages to join the fun.

A CHRISTMAS CAROL

Sixth Annual Production by The Walpole Players

The Walpole Players have excitedly begun rehearsals for their Sixth Annual production of Charles Dickens’ classic tale A CHRISTMAS CAROL.  It will be presented Wednesday through Saturday, December 11, 12, 13 and 14, 2013, in the Helen Miller Theater at the Walpole Town Hall with Mr. Dickens arriving at 7 PM.  As always, admission is free, but the players ask that you make a cash donation at the door to benefit local food shelves.  In its first five years, over $16,760 has been contributed, with 100% of all those donations going to The Fall Mountain Food Shelf and Our Place Drop-In Center.  Any expenses of the production are borne by the Players.

Co-directors, Tara Sad and Ray Boas, grew concerned as auditions approached.  “We had so much interest early on we knew would would have more people auditioning than available parts,” Tara stated.  “There are only so many speaking roles, particularly for children,” Ray continued to say, “and we have so many of our junior players, who attend our summer theater camp, and have matured and were hoping to be cast in a speaking part.”  “When so many came to auditions we knew we had to do something because in the past we always cast everyone,” Tara said.  The perfect solution – five of the children’s roles will be shared by ten youngsters.  “And,” Tara happily concluded, “everyone was thrilled to be cast.”  Forty-four people are in this year’s cast of A CHRISTMAS CAROL not including the carolers which will be singing preceding Mr. Dickens’ arrival.

Again, Ray has continued to make minor adjustments to his adaptation of Dickens’ tale “The story stays the same, of course, but I can add and subtract to the vignettes providing some variety for our faithful audiences,” Ray mentions, “and again we have added to our special effects for this year.”  The Walpole Players’ production features Mr. Dickens reading (as he often did at public appearances and benefits) and over a dozen scenes are acted out by the players behind a magical scrim.  “It continues to amaze us that so many are willing to give of their time for an intense five weeks during this busy time of year to raise funds to help those less fortunate,” Tara said.

Tickets to the 7 PM production on December 11, 12, 13 and 14 are required because of limited space, and hold your seat until 6:45.  “No one has ever been turned away at the door,” Ray happily relates,  “but I have had to put up additional chairs to accommodate additional guests.”  The free tickets are available in Walpole at Real to Reel; Galloway Real Estate; Costume Ladies; Murray’s and Jake’s; and, in Bellows Falls, Vermont at Village Square Booksellers.

For any questions call Ray Boas 603 756-4545 or Tara Sad 603 756-4861.  Full details are on The Walpole Players’ website www.thewalpoleplayers.org   A CHRISTMAS CAROL has been read and performed since 1843 — and since 2008 in Walpole.  Please mark your calendars to attend and be included in Walpole’s tradition.

 Click on this link to print your own 8 1/2 by 11 copy of the poster (you may have to print at 95%)

A CHRISTMAS CAROL  — CONCLUDED FOR A FIFTH TIME

Almost 500 people were in the audiences on 12-15 December to enjoy The Walpole Player’s fifth annual production of Charles Dickens’ classic tale, A CHRISTMAS CAROL.  “It was gratifying to see so many new and younger faces join us this year,” Ray Boas observed while greeting the guests at the door, “to hear Dickens’ tale and receive his timeless message.”

Each year Tara Sad and Ray Boas, co-directors of the production, have made small changes to the cast and effects, and this year was no exception.  In fact, this year more changes and additions were made than in the past four years.  The entrances of the Ghosts of Christmas Past and Present were brought more to life in keeping with Dickens’ descriptions, and the Fezziwig dance was choreographed by a professional to the delight of the dancers and audiences both.  With a cast of just under 50 “players” many of Dickens’ characters were portrayed by different people this year providing variety not only for the actors but for the faithful audience members who have returned every year.  In fact, everyone involved commented that this year’s performances were the best all round since the first production in 2008.  It was the magical mix of the cast and their interactions that made this year’s show so phenomenal.  Michael Wright of Charlestown played Scrooge this year, and not only made suggestions for Scrooge interacting with the audience following Scrooge’s redemption, but gave everyone an outstanding interpretation of Scrooge’s transformation enabled by his three ghostly visitors.  Playing Marley, Scrooge’s late business partner, for the second year, Jim Baucom finely tuned his performance fettered in chains terrifying not only Scrooge but some

audience members as well.  If you did not attend this year thinking that you had seen the show, you would have been truly amazed at the subtle but profound differences and improvements.  And these subtle changes from year to year will continue to delight and bring you back again and again promises Ray.  “I have one effect I have been working on for four years, and hope to get it right to introduce in 2013,” he has commented.

But most important in keeping with the lessons learned by Ebenezer Scrooge, this year’s audiences contributed almost $3700 to the Fall Mountain Food Shelf and Our Place Drop In Center.  The cast too, in addition to the number of hours of hard work since the first audition on November 7^th, made a generous cash contribution to these important organizations.  The total cash contributions in the first five years of Walpole’s newest tradition have now exceeded $16,700.  Mark your calendars now because The Walpole Players will present A CHRISTMAS CAROL for the sixth time 11, 12, 13 and 14 December 2013.