Tag Archives: Ilion Little Theatre

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!

 

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Remember the Alamo?

Posted on June 24, 2024 by mohawkvalleygirl

Late posts lead to more late posts.  This is how bad habits start, or return as in this case.  I had two genuine Mohawk Valley Adventures yesterday, which is why I was too tired to post.  Yes, I need more vitamins, vegetables, or exercise. Or maybe a vacation.  AAaaahhhh… (pause for fantasy of sleeping in and doing nothing for days).

Be that as it may, yesterday afternoon I went with my friends Kelly and Jim to the matinee of The Savage Dilemma at Ilion Little Theatre.  It was really funny.  I not only laughed out loud at parts of it, I laughed out loud when I could tell a funny line was coming up.  Alas, I did not get any pictures.  Of course, we are forbidden to take pictures during performances by copyright laws and consideration for the actors.  Still I could have gotten a couple pictures of them still in costume after the performance.  Only I liked some of the Act I costumes best.

After the show, we went to The Alamo Bar and Grill in Poland, NY.  They wanted to take me someplace I hadn’t been, or at least hadn’t been often.  In fact, I had been there once for lunch a long time ago, so I was delighted to return.  We enjoyed the decor, and the food even more.  We shared loaded fries, which could have made us too full for our sandwiches.  Kelly had Brisket, while I had a Classic Burger.  Jim had a Slider Train, which included burgers with different stuffings.

None of my picture turned out very well.

All over were past-used tap tops (is there a better name for those things?).  We speculated that some of them might be valuable antiques.  We also liked the fake fish.  At least, I’m sure some of them were fake.  Some may have been real.

You can see more tap tops behind it.

I noticed a picture of an old stone fort. “What is that?” I asked, pointing, then immediately realized.  “Oh, it’s the Alamo.  Remember the Alamo?”  I said it in a conversational tone, not like a war cry.

It was a very enjoyable afternoon and evening.  The Savage Dilemma will be presented again next weekend at Ilion Little Theatre.. For more information, you can visit their website or Facebook page.

The Alamo Bar and Grill is located at 8773 S. Main St., Poland NY. You can also visit their Facebook page.

 

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Sunday Blog Posts Can Be Murder

Posted on May 27, 2024 by mohawkvalleygirl

I am so excited about being on a 26 day streak, which according to WordPress I am, that I cannot bear to not make at least a Wrist to Forehead Sunday post today.  Full disclosure:  I have little reason to swoon, dramatically posed with the back of one wrist to my forehead, because I have tomorrow off, and I have very little else to make a blog post about.  Nevertheless, let us see what I can come up with (some pundits would say  that since you should never end a sentence with a preposition, I should say, “Let us see what up with I can come”).

Me, posing dramatically with the back of one wrist to my forehead.

As you can see I have had myriad opportunities in my past for Wrist to Forehead moments.   This was from Dirty Work at the Crossroads, a period melodrama which my late husband Steven directed at Ilion Little Theatre some years ago.  It was a very dramatic moment for my character.

“One more thing!!”

As usual on a Sunday, I am looking at an episode of Columbo on DVD while I post.  The murder is about to happen, always a bad moment for me.  This is actually the first episode of Columbo I ever saw, back in the 1980’s, when the show returned to the air.  As time went on, I caught as many episodes as I could as re-runs, and now I have all the episodes on DVD, thanks to a lovely Christmas present from my parents, as regular readers know.

EEE!  That was a horrible murder!  And I am over 250 words.  Happy Sunday, readers.

 

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There’s No Place Like Lame

Posted on May 18, 2024 by mohawkvalleygirl

I am almost entirely through Saturday morning as I sit down to make my Lame Post Friday blog post.  I am once again ten-finger typing, because I successfully remembered my Chromebook password.  I think I mentioned how I locked myself out, goodness knows how.  I finished one post and made another on the Tablet, which I used to always do.  But nobody needs to hear about my computer trials and tribulations, least of all me.  On with the post!

Ah, the theatre!

I wanted to throw in a picture to pep things up and came across this gem in my Media Library.  It is my friends Kim and Jim in a play at Ilion Little Theatre.  The young lady in the background is a friend, too, of course.  I am meeting Kim, Jim, and Jim’s daughter Kelly for lunch at Salvatore’s in Herkimer, NY for lunch in — yikes, little more than an hour!

It has not been a real good week for me, blog-wise or health-wise (or come to think of it getting-my-house-clean-wise), but you’ll have that.  Yesterday I was asking people if it was really Friday, because I just wasn’t feeling it.  This you will also have.  But never mind that.  I hope to have  (continue to have; it is almost noon on Saturday, for heavens’ sake) a good weekend.  I went for a run of over 2 miles (not much over, but I must celebrate every small win).  I guess this post is in the nature of a place-holder, so I have made a post for every day (if not on every day).  Will I manage to make Saturday’s blog post on Saturday?  A little uncertainty adds interest to my day.

 

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Is the Weekend Really Over?

Posted on May 6, 2024 by mohawkvalleygirl

That title suggested itself to me as I logged into WordPress to make my Wrist to Forehead Sunday post.  That is a silly way to put it.  As if the title is an entity walking around looking for work.  There is an absurdist play I read a long time ago, Six Characters in Search of an Author  (I forget who wrote it and I may even have the title wrong);  this would be A Title in Search of a Blog Post.  As if it was some sort of honor or at least a good job to be the title of a blog post.  Now I am becoming a little absurd myself.

This set was not in search of a play.

I wanted to throw in a picture to distract from my own silliness and decided to continue with the theatre theme with this shot of two guys working on a set.  I believe it was for Fallen Angel, which was presented by Ilion Little Theatre back in 2017.  I was not in that play but helped with costumes.  I don’t imagine I was a lot of help, but one does what one can.

Oh yeah, these two.

This picture relates, because Fallen Angel was about an historical local murder case, just like the case of Grace Brown’s murder by Chester Gilette, which I think everybody around here has heard of.  The portraits on the bottom are the real Chester and Grace, while the picture above is a reenactment from the documentary A Northwoods Elegy: Incident at Big Moose Lake.  That is a good movie, by the way.  I have it on DVD and now am thinking about watching it.

You see, my original plan for today was to watch a few movies while knitting, then do a Sunday Cinema post.  I see by the clock on my Chromebook it is only 6:10 (my watch says 18:10, because it is on military time) (long story, not very interesting).  I have time for at least one flick.  Additionally, this silliness (absurdity?) has gotten me over 300 words.  Score!  Another on time blog post!  Once again, I thank you for tuning in.

 

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Lame Brain or Lack of Brain?

Posted on April 20, 2024 by mohawkvalleygirl

Hello and welcome to another Lame Post Friday post.  This one promises to be lame indeed, because the part of my brain (i.e., most of it) that left with yesterday’s migraine has not returned.  What’s that all about?  Never mind, I’ll just throw in some random pictures from my Media Library, rattle on for 200 words or so, then call it a day.

This was a good cast.

I went to April 2019 and found a few pictures from Morning’s at Seven, a play I was in at Ilion Little Theatre.  I was just thinking about that play earlier today, so it seems coincidental that I find the pictures now.

Here’s a cheery sight.

 

I throw in some daffodils to cheer things up a little.  My daffodils never bloomed, although some greenery came up where the bulbs are.  I really need to up my gardening game.  Come to think of it, a lot of my games could use a little upping.  But I can’t worry about that right now.

Is this post bugging you?

I become even more random posting a couple of fake bugs.  I do not say insects, which might have sounded more formal, because one is clearly an arachnid.  I would rather be didactic than formal any day.

Cheers, sweetie, wherever you are!

I reached 200 words with the previous paragraph but wanted to include one more picture.  I was looking for something with wine but instead chose one of my late, dearly missed husband, Steven, at the Ommengang Brewery in Cooperstown, NY.  I can’t quite see, but I think he is wearing a t-shirt from a New York State winery.

Once again, thank you for joining me.  I hope you will return tomorrow, when I also hope to see my brain and make a better blog post.  Happy Friday, all!

 

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No Theatrical Shenanigans for Me!

Posted on March 22, 2024 by mohawkvalleygirl

Last night I went to the monthly gathering of Ilion Little Theatre in Ilion, NY.  Of course I did not intend to go (just like I did not intend to go to Fratello’s on Wednesday, I suppose).  I was too tired, I had too much to do at home, I was really not in a sociable mood, and I had absolutely nothing to wear.  Still, when I stopped at the store to pick up a few things, I made sure to include a container of dip (Buffalo Chicken Style) and box of crackers, just in case.

I blame my friend Kim for talking me into it.  She said she did not want to go without me.  Well, she is an important member of the theatre; it was clearly my duty.  Full disclosure:  I took my shower, put on a robe and waited for her to text me and talk me into it.  I knew I could count on her.  I miraculously found something to wear and gathered my things.  I made sure to get some crochet together, as I fully intended to sit in a corner if I could find one, crochet, and not really talk to anybody.

I downloaded this picture just now, so I could have an illustration.

As soon as I walked in, I saw two of my favorite people. I got hugs, which I sorely need.  Soon I found myself chattering away, munching the crackers and dip I had brought, and wondering what I had done with my crochet.  Other favorite people showed up as well as many that while not favorites I like perfectly well (I hope that’s not damning with faint praise; after all, everybody can’t be my favorite people).  I found out that a number of people I know are in the current production.  I will tell more about that in a future post (preview of coming attractions)., and I certainly plan to go see it.

Eventually I did sit down and crochet, although I kept chatting with friends as I did.  I even enjoyed some of the pot luck supper.  Kim and I left before the theatrical shenanigans that were promised.  We usually leave before the activity.  Sometimes it is charades or karaoke or trivia.  Maybe some time when I do not have to work on Friday.  I was glad I went and hope to do more with Ilion Little Theatre in the future.

For more information about Ilion Little Theatre, you can Like them on Facebook or visit their website at www.ilionlittletheatre.org.

 

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Where’s That Chaise Lounge When You Need It?

Posted on March 11, 2024 by mohawkvalleygirl

I am having a dreadful case of I Just Can’t Do It.  And by “It”  I mean anything.  Of course this is not true.  I have done a few things today.  I do at least a few things every day. But the list of things I have yet to do grows ever longer.  I believe I have just started making a Wrist to Forehead Sunday Post.  For those just tuning in, Wrist to Forehead signifies that situation when all you want to do is swoon, dramatically posed with the back of one write to your forehead, on a handy chaise lounge.  I really need to get myself a chaise lounge.

This looks like an unrelated photograph, but I will explain.

I was looking in my Media Library for a picture  of myself having a wrist to forehead moment, but then I saw this one from Witness for the Prosecution, one of my favorite movies.  I watched it earlier and thought maybe I could find this picture and make a Sunday Cinema Post.  Then I thought, “Probably not. I can never find anything in my Media Library.”

What I feel like now.

I took a quick look for a picture from the other movie I watched, And Then There Were None, but no luck.  Both movies, in case you didn’t know, are based on works by Agatha Christie, the acknowledged queen of mystery writing. Oh, I suppose YOU never acknowledged her (you know who you are).  Anyways, I thought the picture of fake poop was apropos.  See, I don’t even feel like real crap, just the plastic stuff.  Oh, stop playing those miniature violins (again, you know who you are)!  It was a joke!

Hey, look what I found!

While looking for a cheerful picture to end on, I found And Then There Were None!  How lucky was that?

OK, one more from the movie.

I think this might have been a publicity shot, because I do not remember seeing these two characters so posed in the movie.  The woman is the marvelous Judith Anderson.  I do not remember who the man is, but my late husband Steven played that role onstage when Ilion Little Theatre did the play version some years ago.  He was wonderful, and I am not the least bit biased.

And now I see I am over 350 words.  I am feeling a little less inclined to swoon.  I will feel even better when I get back to making real blog posts about Mohawk Valley Adventures.  I do hope you will stay tuned.

 

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I Say More Wuss-Out Than Wayback

Posted on January 4, 2024 by mohawkvalleygirl

Well, here we go again with me going days in a row without making a blog post.  I do not even know if I will finish this one today.  I have plans to go to Fratello’s Pizzeria in Frankfort NY with a friend for food and music.  I can’t even say that is a preview of coming attractions, because how often have I said I was going to make a blog post about something then did not.  I did not make that a question, because I do not expect that anybody will go back and check, least of all me, and I do not welcome guesses.

There is not much snow there currently.

I wanted to put in a picture, to break things up a little.  I accidentally clicked on this one from last January as I was fumbling around in my Media Library (still figuring out this new computer), and said, why not?  It is the path over what used to be a hydraulic canal in Herkimer, a favorite place for me to run or walk. I have not been walking enough lately and not running at all, but I hope to change that soon.  Not right this minute, of course. Right this minute I am blogging.

I do not intend to wear these to walk or run.

To mix things up a little more, I include this shot from 2015, when I was in Busybody at Ilion Little Theatre.  That was a fun show.  That makes this a kind of a Wayback Wednesday, although I had intended more of a Wuss-Out Wednesday.  Oh well, call it what you like.  I am over 250 words, and at least I have made a blog post.  As always, thank you for tuning in.

 

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I’m Still Here!

Posted on December 13, 2023 by mohawkvalleygirl

Oh dear, it has been ten days since I last posted.  How embarrassing.  I have a few (very few) good Mohawk Valley Adventures to write about, but I feel I should first make an apology if not an explanation of not being here for my lovely readers, which I hope I still have.

May be a doodle of 1 person and text that says 'Please do not accept friend equests from my husband. ...He's been hacked. Mrs. ROXALANA DRUSE,'

These crack me up.

I throw in a picture which has very little to do with anything, but I saw it on Facebook this morning (yes, I peeked at Facebook before logging on to WordPress, judge me if you want to be that way), and it made me smile.  My lawyer assured me he is still working on the appeal.  Longtime readers may remember that I had the honor to play Roxalana Druse in Roxy, the fact-based play about the local murder presented by Herkimer County Historical Society at Ilion Little Theatre.  I wrote several blog posts about it.  In addition to giving me a laugh, I guess it helps me to remember past triumphs.  I trust I shall not continue in the wallowy rut in which I have become mired (what an image!) (and autocorrect seems to think “wallowy” is not a word, but as usual in these cases, it is exactly what I mean).

Regarding the wallowy rut:  I try, I really do try to do things other than sit around and feel sad, try to sleep, or read books (reading books is great, but it doesn’t clean the house, do the dishes, or make blog posts).  At first the insidious voice in my head said, “I can’t!”  I could sometimes overcome it with a gentle, “Just try”  or “Just do one thing,”  occasionally even specifying an actual thing.  Then the voice switched to, “I don’t care!”  That is more difficult to overcome, but I have had some minor success with, “Do it anyways,” or striving to ignore the voice.

I throw in a Christmasy picture to liven things up (I was sure Christmasy was a word!).

What a dull, self-involved post.  I will play the widow card once again.  This is my first Christmas without my beloved Steve.  I remind myself that it is going to be hard, don’t be surprised by that, just try to do a few things to make the season merry for somebody at least.  I guess I have gone over these thoughts before, but I must repeat them constantly to myself so inevitably impose them upon others as well.

And I see I am over 400 words.  I hope to make a real Mohawk Valley Girl post later today or tomorrow.  I thank everybody who is still reading.

 

 

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