When I attended a local nursing school many years ago, classmates from outside the area would often moan, “there’s nothing to do.” What they were really saying was that they thought the area was devoid of activities to do, especially on the weekends. I used to wonder just how limited their vision was.
Growing up in Schenectady, NY, I knew there were two community theatres. I mentioned SLOC AKA Schenectady Light Opera Company in Monday’s post. The other one is Schenectady Civic Playhouse, founded in 1927—they, too, are coming up on a 100th year anniversary. In fact, the capital district was then and is now rich in small community theaters.
One of the “newer” community groups, Circle Theatre Players, bounced around a bit, until 1999 when the town of Sand Lake leased a repurposed church building to them. They put sweat equity into the building.
Matinee Theatre Players formed in September of 2014. They have taken the vision a bit beyond SLCA AKA Sand Lake Center for the Arts and have stage original works offsite. They added some murder mysteries into their offerings as well.
However, as they expand and grow they stay focused on their mission of creating theatre that is free for children, affordable murder mysteries and short plays for their community and beyond.
Last weekend was our weekend for lighthearted entertaining and gritty, thought-provoking theatre. Both, excellent in their genres. On Sunday we attended “Little Wars” at SLCA. This is a play written by Steven Carl McCasland, a writer known for writing amazing roles for women. The story is set in the French Alps in 1940. The invasion of Paris by the Nazis is imminent. A dinner party is being held at the home of Gertrude Stein and Alice Toklas. The booze is flowing freely when Lillian Hellman and Dorothy Parker arrive, Agatha Christie shows up plus an unexpected guest. Everyone there carries at least one secret, and everyone is on edge. There was some laughter involved, however, there is an undercurrent of darkness and fear. It was well cast and thoroughly entertaining.
Small theaters, or theatres as this one is called, create an intimate setting were the distance from the “4th wall” is almost non-existent. It is easier for the viewer to feel connected to the action.
If theatre: plays, musicals, etc., is not your thing. There are a numbered of community choirs, local symphony orchestras, town bands, not to mention folk, jazz and rock concerts performed throughout the year all over the area. Summertime brings out even more in the way of ballet, symphonies, and many other types of concerts, including opera. There are museums, county fairs and festivals of a wide variety available. Plus, summer and winter sports activities abound both locally and within an hour or two’s drive from here.
I still don’t understand when I hear the occasional complaint that there is nothing to do in our community. My response? If you can’t find something to do, you are not looking in the right place.
How do you build community? Look around, it is right there waiting for you.