These Spindrift Pages

Hello Drifters,
Get ready to pencil a little murder into your schedule with “Deathtrap,” opening Feb. 12 at Whidbey Island Center for the Arts in Langley.
Deathtrap has found its cast
Ira Levin’s wickedly funny who’ll-do-it “Deathtrap” is directed by Chris Fisher and features Ed Cornachio as washed-up playwright Sidney Bruhl, Shelley Hartle as his wife Myra with Sean Brennan (Clifford), Phil Jordan (Porter Milgrim) and Katie Woodzick (Helga Ten Dorp) filling out the ensemble.
Comfortably ensconced in his charming Connecticut home, Sidney Bruhl, a successful writer of Broadway thrillers, is struggling to overcome a dry spell that has resulted in a string of failures and a shortage of funds. To make Sidney’s slump all the more painful, Clifford, a student of one of Sidney’s writing seminars, has recently sent his mentor a copy of his first attempt at playwriting for Sidney’s review and advice. The play, “Deathtrap,” is a five character, two-act thriller so perfect in its construction that, as Sidney says, “A gifted director couldn’t even hurt it.”
Using his penchant for plot, and out of his desperate desire to be the toast of Broadway, Sidney, along with Myra, cook up an almost unthinkable scheme: They’ll lure the would-be playwright to the Bruhl home, kill him, and market the script as Sidney’s own.
But shortly after Clifford arrives, it’s clear that things are not what they seem. Indeed, even Helga Ten Dorp, a nosey psychic from next door, and Porter Milgrim, Sidney’s observant attorney, can only speculate where the line between truth and deception lies.
Go to www.WICAonline.com for tickets.

Hello Drifters,
Well, good news: local treasure Amy Walker will present her live show once again through the magic of technology. See Walker at 1 p.m. Pacific Standard Time (4 p.m. Eastern Standard Time) Saturday, Jan. 23 on a screen near you.
Walker performs a one-woman show of songs, dramatic pieces, and interactive fun for the entire family at www.AmyWalkerLIVE.com.
Another global event for Walker who, since December of 2007, has reached more than 4.2 million YouTube viewers in more than 105 countries and about 65 different languages.
This past November, viewers tuned in to Amy Walker: LIVE at a Screen Near You from countries that included the United States, Iceland, Thailand, Portugal, Greece and the Bahamas, to name a few.
Viewers have tuned in from their computers, iPhones, portable laptops, and even their Playstation 3s.
Walker invites everyone to connect for Amy Walker: LIVE! and even interact with her and each other via an on-screen chat feature.
For more information, and to register your personal question for a Q&A with Walker following the show, click on the link above.

Amy Walker, singer, actor, YouTube performer extraordinaire.

Hello Drifters,

Hope everyone is having a happy winter solstice season. And if you are into poetry — particularly Walt Whitman’s “Leaves of Grass” — which happens to be one of my all time favorite tomes, check out the sunset to sunset straight-through reading of every poem in the collection at Woodland Hall on Maxwelton Road starting today, Dec. 28 at sunset (4:23 p.m.) and ending tomorrow, Dec. 29 at sunset (4:24 p.m.)

Here is a homage to Walt. What better way to end one year and ring in another? Come in to listen to Whitman’s sensorial and rhapsodic songs, or join in to read one or two, or thirteen. Everyone is welcome. Woodland Hall is located at 3631 E. Woodland Hall Lane off Maxwelton Road just south of Campbell Road. 

On another note, here’s a story I enjoyed writing for the Record’s print edition.

I’ve always had a place in my heart for the dance world, having dabbled in dance myself.  Certainly, “The Nutcracker” is one of those holiday traditions that remain a part of the canon of Christmas events, no matter what your age or where you live. After 17 years of producing the famous ballet, the Whidbey Island Dance Theatre’s production is on par with the larger, professional shows and the dancers who come back to revisit a part of their youth, give it their stamp of approval.

Here’s the story:

The thing about traditions is that their significance becomes deeper with years. 

Considering that the Whidbey Island Dance Theatre has just completed its 17th annual run of the famous Christmas ballet, it makes sense that many of the dancers who grew up on Whidbey Island and who were an instrumental part of creating the island’s “Nutcracker” are now returning as young adults to see the show that has had some part in shaping who they’ve become.

Former company dancer Chelsea Matthews-Jensen even came home to help choreograph a piece of this year’s production, and several alums have been spotted after performances with their arms around ballerinas, showering them with congratulatory hugs.

“All of these girls were inspirational in some way to the girls you see onstage now,” co-director and company co-founder Charlene Brown said.

“Chelsea’s coming onboard as a choreographer, being an alum, is a great testimony to her love for dance and for the organization. She did an amazing job.”

The word tradition comes from the Latin “traditio” meaning handing over; passing on. The word is actually a perfect way to describe how dances are kept alive in the ballet tradition. It is most likely a rare thing, for instance, that a ballet mistress or choreographer who is teaching a Faerie Queen, Snow Queen or Clara her steps in “The Nutcracker” hasn’t danced those steps onstage at some point in her own life.

Brown recalled the year Karla Gilbert played the Rat King.

“After that all the girls in the company wanted to dance that role because she made it a role worth dancing,” Brown said.

For the young dancers onstage each year, the dancers of Christmases past act as an inspiration. 

Juliana Nolen, 14, played Clara this year and was thrilled to have former company members congratulate her on her performance.

She was visited after the show by several former “Nutcracker” stars, several of them having danced the role of “Clara,” too. Some of those seen included Brittany Falso, Michela Mattens, Amy Berto, Jacquie Cerra, Andrea Burr, Amanda Burr, Jamee Brown Pitts, Katelyn Candelario, Hailey Way and Alexis Daly.

“Everybody was telling me what a beautiful Clara I was and that was nice,” Nolen said.

They also had a new perspective on the production.

“We talked about how much the show has changed and progressed. Some told me they thought the dancers have become stronger all around and in their relationships with each other onstage, which is a big plus in performance,” Nolen said.

Just as Brown (who helped start the island’s “Nutcracker” tradition) and co-director and choreographer Susan Sandri noted before the performances began, it is an emotional feeling when the dancers take the stage each year on opening night. “The Nutcracker” represents, not only their passion for dance, but their love for a community who embraces such passion.

“There is a story behind all of the dancers,” Brown said. “And what is sure is that they loved their experience and always come back to share that with us.

For both the current and the former dancers and choreographers of Whidbey Island Dance Theatre’s “The Nutcracker,” the passing on of this Christmas ballet continues and the 17-year-old tradition is one year deeper.

Hello Drifters,

I’ve been out of town for awhile, but am glad to be back in time for the merry, jolly, happy season of giving and celebration on Whidbey. What better place to come home to for the holidays? 

Speaking of the holidays, the SWHS Choir entered the “High School Stars of Christmas” competition through KAFE radio (104.3 FM) and have been selected as a finalist. The choir needs votes in order to win the $1000 to be used for the music program. Go to the KAFE Web site and click on the Christmas ornament in the scrolling “Sounds of Christmas” box on the top left and cast a vote. You can listen to their Christmas recording of “Holly Jolly Christmas,” as well.

Remember, shop local and support all the excellent merchants and artisans on the island. Happy Holiday shopping!

 

Cee Cee James belts out the blues at Choochokam Arts in 2008

 Hello Drifters,

Local blues singer Cee Cee James made the top 10 list of the “Bluesville Picks to Click”  for the week of Nov. 7.
Bill Wax, Proprietor of Sirius/XM Satelite Radio’s Low-Fi’s Bar/Pool Room in the heart of B. B. King’s Bluesville on channel 74, lists top 10.

1.   Tommy Castro, Hard Believer – Alligator Records

2.   The California Honeydrops, Soul Tub – Tub Tone Records

3.   Robert Cray Band, This Time” – Nozzle Records

4.   Honey Island Swamp Band, Wishing Well – ORYX

5.   Johnny Bassett, The Gentleman Is Back – Mack Avenue Records

6.   Walter Trout, Unspoiled By Progress – Provogue

7.   The Wiyos, Broken Land Bell – Self Produced

8.   Eddie and Vaan Shaw, Naked – North Atlantic Blues Records

9.   Carl Weathersby, I’m Still Standing Here – Magnolia Records

10. Cee Cee James, Lowdown Where The Snakes Crawl – FWG Records

James said it’s important to keep the requests coming. ”Your requests have helped get me into this position,” she said.
To make a request call 866-484-BLUE (2583) or  at  www.xmfan.com and link to “request a song.” Type in Cee Cee James, one of her songs and the rest is easy. 
Two James’ songs that have been spinning a lot are “Love Makes Change” and “I’ll Ask The Questions. ”To find out more about James’ music visit her Web site, www.ceeceejames.com.
“My thing is, in all my writing, singing and performance, is to make the songs come alive for people,” James said.  
“To open up the mind, heart and soul with the fire of an intense gut wrenching performance full of vulnerability, honesty and truth.  What else am I up on that stage for?”

Hello Drifters,

Sometimes the Artists of South Whidbey invite guest artists to its meetings. Accomplished artists such as Deon Matzen, who currently has a show at Whidbey Pies Cafe in Greenbank, reveal the techniques of the trade at ASW meetings. Don’t miss your chance to explore the painting opportunities open to artists of all levels of skill and media at the first meeting of the season. Artists of South Whidbey meets at 11:30 a.m. Tuesday, Nov. 10, in the Brookhaven meeting room in Langley. The group begins with a sack lunch at 11:30 a.m. The meeting will begin at noon; bring artwork to share or for a gentle critique. For more information, call Wendy Lambeth at 321-2150.

Deon Matzen's "Self Portrait of the Artist Painting a Sliverstreak."

Hello Drifters,

That veritable font of acting and singing talent and Whidbey native, Amy Walker, will perform LIVE! on the internet  at 2 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 14. This global event  that the whole family can enjoy features selections from Walker’s solo stage show “Amy Walker: Inside Out,” and will include songs, dramatic pieces, and random fun for all ages. Viewers will even be able to interact through a message board and win prizes.  

 

Visit http://www.AmyWalkerLive.com for more info and to register a question for the Q&A following the performance.

 

Amy Walker

 

 

 

Hello Drifters,

If you want to brighten up your weekend then run down to the South Whidbey High School auditorium with the whole family and take in “Thoroughly Modern Millie.” You won’t be disappointed. This show has everything from the funny, doesn’t-take-itself-too-seriously-script to the bright period costumes, well-sung playful songs, showstopper tap-along choreography and the cast of 40 teenagers who deliver the goods. This show deserves to be seen and, in this age of bad flus, bad wars and bad money, “Thoroughly Modern Millie” is one show that reminds you that — in a world where we still get to see a bunch of people up onstage having the time of their lives dancing and singing — it ain’t all that bad. Go see this one.

Some of the cast of "Thoroughly Modern Millie."

Hello Drifters,

JP and Jess Dowdell pulled out all the stops again this year for their annual Black Cat Ball. A goodly number of costumed Halloweeners showed up to mingle and dance at the Freeland Hall on Saturday night in what was a parade of creativity and hobgoblin cheeriness. The Western Heroes kept the various fortune tellers, one-night-stands, gangstas, scissorhanded, flappers, masked exotics and the evenings endearing “sweeping guy,” moving their feet all night long on the dance floor. DJ, “the Kettle” Denis Zimmermann  helped keep up the pulse in between the band’s sets. A decidedly Happy Halloween it was for everybody!

Amy Whitcomb photo

JP and Jess Dowdell as Ancient Scots Warrior and Delectable Cat at their annual Black Cat Ball, Halloween night at Freeland Hall.