MidnightMoose’s blog

I had the pleasure of attending the opening night's performance of The Scarlet Pimpernel, presented by Watertown Lyric Theatre, Inc.  Musical theater fan, or not, viewers will delight in this musical masterpiece.  The story is dramatic, engaging and surprisingly hilariously written.  From the opening scene to the very end, the audience is totally connected with the show, and immersed in the French Revolution.

Phillip Dyke, who is so incredibly believable, is smashing as Percy/The Scarlet Pimpernel. This complex, yet extremely witty character had the audience nearly rolling in the aisle with laughter.  Phil Dyke is absolutely spot-on with both his acting and singing abilities.  His convincing accents, appropriately hyperbolic mannerisms and fine-tuned voice left his audience clamoring for more.

Erin Hansen as Marguerite, is very convincing in her role.  She has such a lovely stage presence.  It makes one wish that her character were a bit more developed, in order to allow her audience to enjoy more of her performing.  Erin's sweet voice and wonderful acting ability cause her character to shine.

Mick Mantle plays a deliciously devilish Chauvelin.  His velvety, resonant voice makes him the villain you love to hate. 

The Bounders, who are in cahoots with The Scarlet Pimpernel, are absolutely hysterical.  These six gentlemen are very entertaining.  The rest of the cast, production team and ensemble weaves their talents to provide a fantastic, well rounded and very cohesive story.  It's a truly amazing performance, especially for a community theater event. Viewers will not be left disappointed.

Performances are also scheduled for this Friday and Saturday, April 25 & 26 at 7:00pm at the Dulles State Office Building. Doors open at 6:30 and tickets are $10 for general admission, $7.50 for students and seniors. 

Who says you have to travel for quality entertainment? The North Country’s own Watertown Lyric Theatre, Inc. has been entertaining local audiences since 1962. Twice a year, local participants of various ages, occupations, and experiences collaborate their talents to provide us with magic – Broadway style. This week’s production of The Scarlet Pimpernel, promises to be nothing less than a true class act.

This dramatic, yet often humorous musical was written by composer Frank Wildhorn and lyricist Nan Knighton and based upon the novel written by Baroness Orczy. Set in the l790's during the French Revolution’s Reign of Terror, a wealthy Englishman, Sir Percy Blakeney learns that his new wife, French Actress Marguerite St. Just, has betrayed Blakeney’s best friend, the Marquis de St. Cyr, to the French Revolutionary government. The Marquis is executed, and Blakeney assumes the secret identity of Scarlet Pimpernel to avenge his friend’s death, and rescue other innocent French citizens. Murder, blackmail, deception, espionage, love and romance all weave together in this suspenseful drama.

The cast and crew of this engaging tale, directed by Taylor LaVere and Richard Muller, and produced by Erin Brick, includes both new and veteran talents. New to Lyric, is Phillip Dyke of Watertown, who plays the dual role of the Scarlet Pimpernel/Lord Blakeney. Phillip is the Theatre Technical Director for the Indian River Central School District Theatre of the Performing Arts.

Also making her Lyric debut is Erin Hansen, as Marguerite St. Just. Erin lives on Fort Drum.

Lyric veteran, Mick Mantle of Sackets Harbor, will play Citizen Chauvelin, the man who once loved Marguerite and whose life’s goal is to capture the Scarlet Pimpernel.

Erin LaLonde of Clayton plays Marie Grosholtz, Marguerite’s best friend and costumer. Watertown’s Darien Sinclair is Marie’s fiancée, Philippe Toussaud. Will Boulter, also from Watertown, plays Armand St. Just, brother to Marguerite.

Steve Petrillose of Watertown plays the doomed Frenchman St. Cyr, and the Prince of Wales.

Dustin Ferguson and Brian Sweeney of Watertown, Jared York of Harrisville, Todd Thompson of Sackets Harbor, Adam Clyde of Carthage, and Kevin Bachman of Redwood are cast as The Pimpernel’s "Bounders," the men who assist him in rescuing France’s doomed aristocrats from the guillotine.

Those playing various French citizens include Ryan Rusch of Redwood as Mercier and Tom Piroli of Black River as Coupeau.

In the ensemble, those from Watertown include Amanda Gonzalez, Ashley DeMar, Chelsea Allen, Victoria Allen, Elena Winn, Emily Smith, Hallie Brown, Meagan Sloan, Molly Sloan, and Ryan Boyd. Tina and Emily Thompson are from Sackets Harbor. Erin Brick of Clayton, Amber Crone of Deferiet, Megan Kemple of Theresa, Kelcey Rusch of Redwood, and Laurie Solano-Miller of Adams round out the ensemble.

Lyric will be presenting The Scarlet Pimpernel this Thursday, Friday and Saturday, April 24, 25 and 26 at 7:00 at the Dulles State Office Building, Washington Street, Watertown. Visit Sherwood Florist for advance tickets, or purchase them at the door beginning at 6:15. The cost of tickets are $10 for General Admission and $7.50 for Seniors and Students. The performance lasts approximately two hours and forty-five minutes, and will be enjoyed by viewers age ten and up.

Howdy Y'all!  Betcha'll would never guess that I had a Daisy Duke identity crisis. I wanted to marry John Schneider (I didn't understand the whole "incest" thing...and apparently its accepted there anyhow!)   I was going to move to Hazzard County, bootleg moonshine, jump over ditches...and live happily every after.  Good times...Good times.

Later ya'll...time to rustle up some grub, feed the youngins and hit the hay.

Till next time....YEEEEE HAAWWWWWWWWWW

Computers can be finicky things, can't they!  Apparently, my PC and security programs think I am unsafe here in "Blog Country."  Guess I'll take a walk on the wild side and try it anyhow.

Dealing with this computer issue, and being held back by a perceived inability, has got me thinking about all of the other things in life that "hold" me back.  I've come to the conclusion that I am my own worst enemy.  Comfort is my crutch. Comfort, and fear of failure. Maybe this blog can become my therapist. Somehow putting these things out there for all the world to see might make me own them and take some initiative to change them.  I'm going to challenge myself to examine my life's "To Do List" and figure out why I can't seem to get these things done.

I'm not visually obese, but according to the medical charts, I should lose about 40 pounds (good thing I'm fairly tall, or else I'd have to put my hand up so you could tell if I was walking or rolling!)  I'm not someone you would pick out of a crowd and say "gee she's a porker!" but I look at myself in the mirror and can't help but think "gee you're a porker!"  

My weight doesn't bother my husband, and in fact I think he purposely sabotages my efforts to loose weight...why else would he bring home ice cream and chocolate! (I know why...we hit a rough patch in our marriage a few years ago that just happened to coincide with me turning 30, working out at the gym, being sick of life as a stay-at-home mother, and so on.)  Maybe he thinks I want to lose weight to be more attractive to other men. (Lord knows I don't need another one...I've finally got hubby trained!) 

I could bull shit and say that I'm only concerned about my health, which definitely is a major concern, but honestly, my "inner brat" really wants to LOOK GOOD!  So I'll lose weight for my brat because doing it for health reasons isn't motivation enough.  (Plus, I'm in a wedding in June and I REFUSE to be the FAT bridesmaid!)

So why is it so hard?  I'm an intelligent person. I can tell you just about anything you want to know about living a healthful lifestyle, nutritious eating, and physical fitness.  What do you want to know about carbs, fats and proteins?  Interval training?  Sports? 10,000 steps a day?

I just can't practice what I preach.  I love chocolate, beer, wine, ice cream, loaded baked potatoes, chocolate chip cookies fresh from the oven, NY style pizza...all the GOOD stuff!  Don't get me wrong, I don't eat that stuff  every day...well, okay, not ALL that stuff or JUST that stuff, but it does find it's way into my diet (or lack thereof) on a regular basis. Fortunately, I do eat a variety of healthful foods every day.  Unfortunately, I find comfort in the likes of warm brownies, creamy macaroni and cheese, Beer Margaritas and Alteri's Italian bread with butter.  I'd rather read, watch a movie, bake a cake or surf the net than jog 3 miles.

Maybe it's time to change my comfort zone. Maybe I can find comfort on the treadmill or in a bowl of steamed vegetables?  I'd sure like to find comfort in a smaller size pair of jeans!