Tag Archives: community theatre

Prescription: Blog Post

Posted on January 8, 2026 by mohawkvalleygirl

I was going to do a Way-back Wednesday post about Prescription: Murder, the play I was in last year (was it only last year?) at Ilion Little Theatre, because I was watching the TV version with Peter Falk as Columbo on Roku TV.  Unfortunately, I got caught up in  watching further episodes of Columbo (love Murder by the Book with Jack Cassidy) and got too tired.  That is all right though; I can do a Throwback Thursday post now!

Columbo clears up one little point for his report.

I wanted to use the shot with my dead feet sticking out from behind the chaise, but I have several good pictures to share and I use the feet one often.

I totally wanted those shoes.

Our murderer was different from Gene Barry in the TV movie (it was a TV movie that became the basis for the Columbo TV series).  Barry is cold and arrogant.  Our Dr. Fleming was warmer.   Our Joan Hudson (Katherine Justice in the movie), the doctor’s lover and accomplice, was more innocent and endearing.

A staged shot taken backstage (a backstaged shot?).

I liked our Burt Gordon, the district attorney and close personal friend of the murderer, better than the one played by William Windom.  I was sorry ours only had one scene, but he made the most of it.  While being genuinely concerned for his friend, he still managed to make a lot of what he said sound like a political speech.

Rehearsal shot.

Our receptionist gave a more nuanced performance than the receptionist in the movie.  You knew how she felt about every character she encountered.

There were things I liked better in the movie, most notably the ending, but I had such a good time in the play.  I thought my fellow actors were all wonderful in their roles, and the director and assistant director were top notch.  I can’t wait to be in another play at Ilion Little Theatre!

 

Leave a comment

Posted in humor, personal, Throwback Thursday and tagged , , , , , , , , . Bookmark the permalink.

The Old Broad Blogs Lame

Posted on July 26, 2025 by mohawkvalleygirl

It is still Friday, that is Lame Post Friday, and I am having a very hard time coming up with anything to say.  It was opening night of Four Old Broads on the High Seas, the play I am in at Players of Utica (perhaps you read some of previous blog posts about it). The performance went pretty well.  The audience laughed a lot.  Is there much more to say about it?

Three out of Four Broads surveyed said we rock!

This is a previously used photo.  I think technically I am supposed to delete all the pictures I take during performances, since photography and video recording is prohibited by law.

Here are all four Broads!

I show a photo from an earlier rehearsal, just for the sake of showing all four broads.  Joan Crawford was famously insulted at being referred to as an old broad.  That was after the success of Whatever Happened to Baby Jane.  I must admit, it is not my favorite thing to be described as, but one must take the parts one can get in the theatre.

A different kind of an old broad, perhaps.

This is a picture of me in my last stage appearance, at Ilion Little Theatre in Prescription: Murder.  I guess I was an old broad then too, but nobody referred to me as such.  However, my husband was anxious to trade me in for a younger model. I find that even more insulting than being referred to as an old broad, quite frankly.

I forgot where I was going with this post.  Nowhere in particular, I suppose, because it is Lame Post Friday. The important thing (to me, at any rate) is that I am over 250 words.  Score!  I have blogged another day.  Once again, I thank you for tuning in.

 

2 Comments

Posted in humor, Lame Post Friday, personal and tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , . Bookmark the permalink.

Who Doesn’t Love a Post Rehearsal Post?

Posted on July 18, 2025 by mohawkvalleygirl

Last night I got home from rehearsal very tired, poured myself a martini (gin, dirty, four olives, if you want the visual) and thought to do a Post-Rehearsal Post.  I even transferred three pictures from my old smart phone (which I previously explained is my character’s prop) for the purpose.  Alas, to no avail.  I was just too tired.  But here I am Friday morning, determined to remedy the omission.  Once again, the play I am in is Four Old Broads on the High Seas at Players of Utica.

Tah-dah!

This is three of the four Broads boarding the ship (I am, as you may remember, the fourth).  I have some other shots that would be good if only I knew how to crop a photo.

Is it me or are the shadows on my chin little weird?

I never have been able to take a decent selfie.  This is me and the Captain, after I have pointed out to him that I am a “real beauty queen.”  Yes, that is my own personal tiara.  I take this selfie every night, but it rarely turns out usable.

Who doesn’t love Dolly?

Who doesn’t love a porter in drag?  Steven/Miss Tequila Mockingbird is one of the most delightful characters in the play.  Really, the whole cast is delightful to work with, as is the crew.  I am having a marvelous time; it is well worth being tired!

Once again, Four Old Broads on the High Seas will be presented at Players of Utica, 1108 State St., Utica, NY, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, July 25 through 27, 7:30 p.m. Friday, 2 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.  For more information call 315-7247624.

 

Leave a comment

Posted in humor, personal, post rehearsal post and tagged , , , , , , , , . Bookmark the permalink.

I Practice Being an Old Broad

Posted on July 10, 2025 by mohawkvalleygirl

Hello and welcome to a Post Rehearsal Post.  The rehearsal was for Four Old Broads on the High Seas, the play I am in a Players of Utica (perhaps you read some of my other blog posts about it).  I may have mentioned that my character keeps taking pictures, and that is where I got the shots for today’s blog post.  It is a less than ideal way to get pictures for a post, but one does what one can (one being me).

The other three broads.

This is an early scene.  As you see, two of the women are in partial costume.

Look how happy we are!

This is one of my favorite shots, and it has come out at more than one rehearsal.  This was last night’s rehearsal.

Check out my tiara!

And this was tonight’s rehearsal.  The lady in the blue had looks more like a photo bomber in this one.  I get to wear the tiara through the whole play.  My character recently won the Miss Magnolia Senior Citizen Pageant, and she is very proud of the fact.  I personally enjoy wearing a tiara at almost any excuse.

Four Old Broads on the High Seas will be presented July 25 at 7 p.m., and  July 26 and 27 at 2 p.m. at Players of Utica, 1108 State St., Utica, NY.  Tickets are $15 and are available at www.playersofutica.org/order-tickets.

 

Leave a comment

Posted in humor, personal, post rehearsal post and tagged , , , , , , . Bookmark the permalink.

Tequila Blog Post

Posted on July 4, 2025 by mohawkvalleygirl

Technically, one is not supposed to plan to have a Non-Sequitur Thursday post.  One begins typing and ends up with one.  One being me, of course. I do not know of any other bloggers who have Non-Sequitur Thursday posts.  I made it up myself, but there are other things I made up that other people have thought of too.  For example, Tequila Mockingbird.  For a long time I tried to come up with a cocktail called a Tequila Mockingbird.  I wanted it to be dark in color and include tequila.  Finally I settled on black coffee and tequila.  I found it quite tasty.

Flash forward to 2025 and I am in a play called Four Old Broads on the High Seas at Players of Utica.  One of the characters is a drag performer whose lady name is Miss Tequila Mockingbird.  It is a great character, and the actor doing the part is having a great deal of fun with it.

Must get an un-blurry photo of Miss Tequila Mockingbird.

I actually have other pictures of Miss Tequila Mockingbird, but they are in  a smart phone I forgot to charge, and it takes a long time to get charged enough to use.  We’ll call it a preview of coming attractions.

Well that makes another shout-out to the play I am in at least.  Performance dates are July 25, 26, and 27 at 1108 State St., Utica, NY.  For more information call 315-724-7624.

 

Leave a comment

Posted in humor, Non Sequitur Thursday, personal and tagged , , , , , , , , , , . Bookmark the permalink.

The Queen of Wrist to Forehead Sunday

Posted on April 7, 2025 by mohawkvalleygirl

Oh am I tired!  Today was the last performance of Prescription: Murder, the play I was in at Ilion Little Theatre.  I just got home from the cast party.  They were still partying when I left, but I am old, as you may have noticed.  Now I am sitting at my house, looking at Dateline, although I think I would rather put in a DVD of Columbo.  Regular readers may remember that Prescription: Murder is the play that eventually became the first episode of Columbo.  They changed the ending for the TV version, I think for the better, but nobody asked me.

The “real” Columbo.

I put real in quotation marks in the caption, because I feel our Columbo was the real thing as well. Really, everybody in our cast was wonderful; it was an outstanding production.  I have a few new pictures of it, which I will use to make a real post about the play tomorrow.  For today I am too tired.  Also, the pictures are on my phone, which is in one of my bags, which are in a heap by the door.  I am lounged on the couch, typing into my Chromebook and I am far too lazy to move.

Just for the record, I have been ridiculously lazy during this whole production.  Oh, I put plenty of energy into my performance, but backstage was another story.  I sent anybody handy to get me coffee.  Then I would instruct other people where I would be when the person fetching my coffee showed up.  I asked people to hand me things.  I asked people to bring me things.  I declared myself the Queen of the Cast.  They were nice enough to let me get away with it.

Now I declare myself Queen of This Blog Post.  It is at least 300 words.  I call that respectable for a Wrist to Forehead Sunday.  As usual I will try for something better tomorrow.  Also as usual, I hope you will stay tuned.

 

2 Comments

Posted in humor, personal, Wrist to Forehead Sunday and tagged , , , , , , , , , . Bookmark the permalink.

Still Trying to Break a Lame

Posted on April 5, 2025 by mohawkvalleygirl

Well if I do not want to be posting late at night when I am dead tired, I need to post RIGHT NOW!!!

And that was when I thought, no, no! I can’t make a blog post now!  I’ve got to get to the Theatre!!! Regular readers may recall that I am in Prescription: Murder at Ilion Little Theatre.  The play ran last weekend and runs this weekend.  I have made a few blog posts about it.

Of course I got to the theatre early and spent ten or fifteen minutes sitting in my car going over my script.  You’ll have that.  But sometimes one feels too agitated to sit at home and arrive at one’s destination at precisely the right time (as if I have ever done anything at precisely the right time!).  I am now sitting at my house, sipping some echinacea tea (here’s a weird thing:  the ch is pronounced k and the c is pronounced ch, or have I been saying it wrong?).

Here we all are!

The hair and make-up lady took a picture of the whole case plus the director and assistant director.  She was obviously not in the picture nor was the light and sound person, but one does what one can.

The show went pretty well.  I had a bit of a hard time.  It was either my allergies acting up big time or I have a cold, but I was sniffling and sneezing up a storm.  I played one scene with a handkerchief in my hand.  It was a fancy handkerchief with lace around the edges, so I felt it was in character.  Backstage I resorted to one of the men’s handkerchiefs I usually use to try to contain the overflow.  Sorry if that gives you an unfortunate mental image; people with sinus problems will understand.

The beauty part is this is Lame Post Friday.  I am over 300 words.  This may be a foolish post, but I deem it acceptable by my rules for me.  Back to my echinacea tea, and Happy Friday, everyone!

 

 

2 Comments

Posted in humor, Lame Post Friday, personal and tagged , , , , , , , , . Bookmark the permalink.

Slacker Saturday due to Snow

Posted on February 16, 2025 by mohawkvalleygirl

I am not doing very well as a blogger these days.  Right now I fear I shall not be able to make a decent post.  And yet one must try (one as usual being me).

I think the snow is even deeper this year..

I add a picture to pep the post up.  I found this picture in my Media Library in February 2021.  I have been experiencing some discouragement over the amount of snow these days.  Of course I must be grateful for help I have received in clearing my driveway and getting my car un-stuck (perhaps you have read my blog post about such experiences).  Well, one can feel different ways at the same time.  It’s called multi-tasking, and I hear it is something we are supposed to do.

“One more thing.”

I change the subject with another picture from my Media Library.  I was supposed to have a rehearsal for the play I am in at Ilion Little Theatre, Prescriptio: Murder,  but it was cancelled due to weather.  The play is the first episode of Columbo, so it is one I was very interested in being involved in.  I will be mentioning it in many future blog posts no doubt.

Performance dates are March 28, 29, 30 and April 4, 5, 6, Friday and Saturdays at 7:30 p.m., Sundays at 2 p.m.

 

Leave a comment

Posted in humor, personal, Scattered Saturday and tagged , , , , , , , , , . Bookmark the permalink.

I Remember Roxy

Posted on June 28, 2024 by mohawkvalleygirl

And it’s another late post, but one can be late on Non-Sequitur Thursday, yes?  Or will it be a Throwback Thursday?  Once again, I resort to my Media Library.

He was so handsome.

I was just thinking about Roxy the other day.  This was a play, beautifully researched and written by Jack Sherman and presented by Herkimer County Historical Society and Ilion Little Theatre in 2015.  Wow, almost ten years ago.  My late beloved husband Steven had several roles.  This is him as Dr. Suiter.  He was such a good actor and had quite a way with a monologue.

He had it coming.

I had the honor to portray Roxalana Druse, who killed her husband with a gun and an ax.  She did not feed his body to the hogs, as legend has it, but tried to burn him up in the stove (the play doesn’t show that part).  She may have had better luck with the hogs, because it was the nasty scent of burning body that first alerted the neighbors that something was wrong.

I thought the poster was cool.

The play had a huge cast of ILT regulars and newcomers.  Things got a little crowded backstage and in the one dressing room, but we all got along, and I made a lot of new friends.  That is the best part of community theatre:  the friends we make.  Come to think about it, that is the best part of life.  Sorry to get a little sentimental, but one might as well say it.

So this is my theatre throwback post.  I often do throw back to theatre memories, because community theatre is a big part of my life.  I need to get back into a play.  And finish writing that murder mystery I mentioned yesterday.  At least I made my Thursday blog post.  A little late, but over 300 words.  Yay me?  I hope so!

 

2 Comments

Posted in humor, personal, Throwback Thursday and tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , . Bookmark the permalink.

I Bought the Book!

Posted on November 27, 2023 by mohawkvalleygirl

Yesterday I made my way to Ilion Little Theatre, where local author Dave Dellecese was having a Story Time and Signing for his new book, Lucy and the Ghost Take the Stage.  Two of my favorite things: theatre and ghosts!  And a book I think my grandniece, Evie, might like for a Christmas present (I feel free to put it here, because I am fairly certain she does not read my blog).

The author with his book.

Dave Dellecese has been a good friend ever since I joined Ilion Little Theatre. He is an excellent actor and director as well as a talented writer. I am so impressed with his prolific output!  I really must up my writing game.

I had to take the above picture twice, since in the first shot I inadvertently got Char, president of the club, in the background.  When I said I had gotten her blurry in the background, another lady said, “That’s the ghost!”

I did not stay to hear the reading or even eat a cookie, because I was not feeling well.  Nothing contagious; I just have not been eating in the most healthy fashion, especially on Sunday. In my defense… OK, I have no defense.

You can follow Dave Dellecese on Facebook or at https://davedellecese.com/.

 

Leave a comment

Posted in Community Events, humor, personal and tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , . Bookmark the permalink.
← Older Posts
→