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Maine’s mainstages light up again: A 2021 summer theatre preview
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Ah, summer – we’ve missed you. And after many months, something else that we’ve missed – the theatre – is making a triumphant return.
For those who love live theatre, there are loads of options. Companies near and far are bringing exciting work to stages all over the region; no matter where you might be, there’s a good chance that you’ve got some excellent theatre happening nearby. There’s a lot of variety out there just waiting to be experienced.
We’ve been waiting a while for this, thanks to the circumstances of the pandemic. Summer stages were largely dark last year. And not every company is quite ready to mark their return. But numerous groups are bringing their talents back over the coming weeks, giving those of us who love the theatre a chance to experience that love once again. If you choose to see a show, be sure to familiarize yourself with the company’s individual protocols – different groups will have different policies in place. Some will be outdoors, others will be inside, but all will be bringing live theatre back.
I know you’ve missed it. I’ve missed it too. So let’s all take the time to get out there and see something. One thing is for certain – there are plenty of options. Here’s a look at just some of what’s to come.
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‘Where one door closes, an explosion somewhere else creates a window’ - PortFringe goes digital for 2021
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PORTLAND – One of the state’s most beloved cultural events is back after a one-year break, albeit in a different form.
PortFringe, the Portland-based fringe theatre festival, was forced to take last summer off as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. They made the decision to come back this summer, marking their 10th year, but with so much uncertainty still swirling, they opted to try something different.
Instead of a collection of live performances, they’d move to film.
The result is “Fringe-on-Film,” a collection of 21 short films created for the festival. Some of the artists are longtime PortFringe participants, while others are first-timers. But all have fully embraced the chaotic creativity that is fringe.
These 21 films have been divided into seven programs of three films each. PortFringe will be hosting virtual watch parties for each slate, with each of the seven receiving four screenings in all. It’s an assemblage of all the wild weirdness that we’ve come to expect from PortFringe, but this time, instead of traveling to one of the many venues that have hosted the festival in the past, you can enjoy the work from the comfort of your own home.
It’s not the ideal situation, of course – like so many other artists, the powers that be at PortFringe would like nothing more than to return to a world filled with live performance. But for now, this is the next best thing.
While the shared social events will be taking place from June 11-19, fear not - if you're unavailable to see these pieces at one of the virtual watch parties, there will be an on-demand period stretching from June 20-30, with pay-what-you-can ticketing. You'll have plenty of opportunity to see some or all of this wonderful work.
Tara McDonough and James Patefield are two of the forces behind PortFringe; the pair was kind enough to make time to answer a few of our questions about the festival, the pivot to film and the never-say-die spirit of Fringe.
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These lawn games bring all the boys to the yard
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As we prepare to hurtle headlong into the summer after the Memorial Day weekend, we should do our best to really embrace the opportunities for outdoor fun provided by the too-brief summer months. The clock is ticking – it’s time to really start leaning the fun in the sun portion of 2021. Even the cruelest of weather patterns will allow us a few days over the coming weeks in which to get out and enjoy what the season has to offer.
However, there’s only so much lounging one can do. There are only so many places to go for a swim. And sometimes, you’re looking for something fun that doesn’t involve taking a trip to the coast or to your favorite dipping spot.
That’s where lawn games come in.
Nothing says summertime quite like being out in your yard with a frosty beverage in your hand and the scent of the grill in your nostrils. If you can add an element of competition to that, how can you go wrong?
There are plenty of traditional games that many of us have played since we were kids and will likely bring back fond (or not-so-fond) memories of summers gone by. However, there are also some more adult-oriented games that prove to be a lot of fun as well.
It should also be noted that there’s the still-extant issue of COVID-19 lurking out there. Things have been getting better, yes, thanks to Maine’s robust and well-executed vaccination plans, but there’s still risk out there. Gathering outside largely negates much of that risk, so it’s an ideal time to introduce or reintroduce lawn games back into the rotation. These days, outdoor fun is about the safest fun there is.
We’re going to take a look at a few personal favorites. We’ll revisit a couple of classics, but we’ll also bring some newer games to the table – some that you may have heard of before, others you may not have. And among these newer games, chances are good that you’ll find at least one that speaks to you in that so-special “crush your enemies and see them driven before you” summertime kind of way.
(As an aside, if there’s anyone out there with a set of vintage lawn darts that they’re looking to get rid of, by all means contact me. Nothing says summertime fun like potential grievous bodily harm and the looming specter of death. This is very real talk – This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it if you’ve got a line on getting me my Jarts fix.)
Let’s talk lawn games.
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