Evento

SPOON RIVER

Playwright Michael Nethercott of Guilford has created a new stage adaptation of Spoon River Anthology, and will direct this production. The original work was a sensation when it appeared in 1915. The free-verse series of epitaphs, each spoken by a different deceased former resident of the small town of Spoon River, was in itself a literary breakthrough. Even more of a stir was caused by the content of the work, which revealed the dark underside of life in apparently-typical small-town America.

Although set in the midwest, the work will seem quite at home in our 1896 former Grange hall, on our wonderful, intimate stage, where traveling troupes and local Grange members were putting on shows during the era depicted in Spoon River.

A cast of fine community actors, many of whom are familiar from our previous five productions, will perform in a setting designed by Jason Clark; Stage Manager is Sue Shedd, and Producer is Don McLean.

Michael Nethercott is an award-winning playwright living right here in Guilford. His one-act plays, "Nocturne Titanica" and "The Lace Jury" were premiered on Guilford Center Stage in 2016, and his full-length play, "Our Enemy's Cup," debuted last spring.

Guilford Center Stage was founded in 2015 to bring theater back onto the stage in the town's historic Grange hall. Plays with a connection to Guilford, to the Grange itself, and to the region have been particularly featured, with rural, small-town life and history as a thematic backdrop.

In January, the building was acquired by the new non-profit Guilford Community Center, which has mounted a capital campaign and will shortly begin renovations on the building. Soon, we'll have unproved accessibility, safety, and the ability to use the building in comfort year-round. For now, with our theater UPSTAIRS, play-goers will have to climb the stairs!

While the first phase of building renovation is underway this summer and fall, we'll move for our autumn production up the road to Guilford Center Meeting House. Continuing our Rivers/Streams & Brooks theme for 2018, we'll again have our Stage & Stream Theater & Library camp up at the Meeting House, and at Guilford Free Library, which co-sponsors the day camp. In November, Guilford poet Verandah Porche's play for voices, Broad Brook Anthology will be presented at the Meeting House, as well.