The two tents standing just off Rocky Hill Road in Priscilla Beach are a beacon for the performing art that is created here this summer. (The original barn theater stands in the background awaiting restoration).
For the last few years, Priscilla Beach Theatre (PBT) has only offered shows by child actors/actresses as part of their summer season of workshops and performances. This summer, they added an adult performance of "Godspell," and what a pleasure it was. I'm certainly not a qualified theater critic but, I know what I like.
I like to feel and hear the power of voices in unison raised in song, I like being outdoors under a tent on a perfect summer day in New England, I like sitting in a small intimate setting watching regular people perform for the sheer love of the craft of acting. These are regular folk, maybe or maybe not destined for Broadway but whose love of song and word and movement and sharing drives them to perform. They are not spoiled stars with fancy dressing rooms and entourages but rather regular people who love to perform and entertain. I'm glad the world has people like that.
This performance was quite a step up from the children's show. An official Broadway "Playbill" was printed outlining the background and experiences of the performers and producers. "Godspell" has been performed countless times around the world since its premiere in the early 1970's.
There was a small live orchestra for accompaniment (bass player and horn player were out of this photo view to the left), there were professional small wireless headset microphones for each performer, and a sound and light person supporting the show.
The stage and actors were reach-out-and-touch close, drawing the audience into the performance.
Does she enjoy singing or what?
There is something magical about being outside on a summer day listening to performing artists. Humans have done this for thousands of years and it's quite wonderful that PBT (now in its 77th year) still finds the will and support to continue to put on these shows - year after year. All the work and prep and practice - and it doesn't appear to be just for the money - the tickets were of modest cost and maybe didn't even cover expenses.
Kudos to all the performers, then and now, the support crews, and the creative forces for their hard work over the years. But especially now, kudos to Sandy and Bob Malone, the new owners of the theater, who have rescued it from decline and are keeping this dream alive. As a young teen in the mid-1970's Bob was one of those child actors - and now almost 40 years later, he and Sandy are the benefactors and saviors. What goes around comes around.
Read more about Priscilla Beach Theatre at this link.
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