Our local artists instinctively knew we were going to need a little extra warmth last weekend and thus gave us an array of community activities and performances to fill our weekend. In this week’s column, I will share what I chose to help keep my spirits warm and bright.
Filled with laughter, friendship, feminism and a sprinkle of mystery, the Harlequin chose the exact show to balm our bleak midwinter blues. The dynamic duo of Lindsey Welliver (Holmes) and Karin Terry (Watson) had the perfect chemistry as friends and roommates who have nothing in common but just fit together. I applaud playwright Kate Hamill for transforming two classic and traditional literary heroes into people we could better relate to and/or laugh with.
The attention to detail throughout the script and set design was magnificent. You can learn a lot about a person by the way they decorate and organize their home, and the stage gave the audience the chance to get to know Ms. Holmes before the show even begins.
The play opened with a monologue from the narrator that described why our brains are attracted to mysteries. The answer is simple: we like puzzles and all the compilation and motion it takes to discover the whole picture. Solving puzzles can be infuriating at times (as the play will show), but it is also very satisfying and empowering. I encourage you to let your brain escape for a while into the mystery discussed in Apt. 2B.
Get tickets for Feb. 7-9 performances at https://harlequinproductions.org/show/ms-holmes-ms-watson-apt-2b/
Embracing my inner child, I decided to participate in the passport activity during the Lacey Cultural Celebration. My prize of choice was conversations that started with a simple stamp. Below are two passport stops with stories about passionate local artists.
Germany: “Aspirations by Paula’ sells jewelry made of rare glass and stone. In speaking to Paula, I learned that the glass was from WW II Germany, and by some strange and serendipitous events survived the war. In 1995, Paula learned about the existence of these glass beads that survived and chose to buy barrels of them. Since then, Paula’s has preserved the beauty of these beads through her art and kept their remarkable story alive. To learn more about this story and shop for a historically beautiful gift, I invite you to email aspirationsbypaula@icloud.com or visit Aspirations by Paula on Facebook.
Japan: The team that represented the “PNW Ryuhou Kan Dojo” was a jolly group who had contagious smiles that instantly made me feel welcomed. In our conversation, I learned that the founder of this Dojo pursues this as a passion project. He assured me that this dojo is welcome to everyone, and that he himself did not start karate until he was 30. An encouraged rule is that you have to share one “nerdy” fact about yourself. To learn more about the art of Okinawa Ryuei Ryu karate and join in the camaraderie of this community, visit: https://ryueiryu-karate-wa.com/mission-index-impact
The Olympia Family Theatre really outdid themselves with this performance. Each member of the cast truly brought these characters to life and gave them a sense of humanity that was accessible and realistic. I admired the way everyone down to the youngest of actors was able to tap into the emotion of the story. As a member of the audience, I could feel the heart and attention to detail given to the story, and I could see it in the way color (and lack of it) was used throughout the production. Color was a character of sorts who appeared in the superb lighting design, costumes, and set design.
The choice to do Lois Lowry’s “The Giver” was a very bold and brave choice but absolutely needed for this moment in time. Watching this performance was sobering because I was reminded of the privileges, we have compared to those people that are currently unavailable or are in danger. This show will leave you with food for thought that will last you until the next time you are in the audience.
• Please note that OFT’s recommended ages for this show are 10 and up. This is due to plot points and triggering content, including infanticide and sounds of warfare.
Get tickets for any Feb. 7-9 performance at https://olyft.org/the-giver/ .
Rachel Benton is a columnist, freelance writer, performing arts enthusiast and a Thurston County local. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree with a double major in History and Political Science and minor in Music. When not writing or enjoying the arts, Rachel can be found spending time with her family, friends and two golden retriever puppies (Elliot and Ernie).
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