Thursday, September 30th, 2004 at 7:45 pm at the Cole
Auditorium
at the Greenwich Library 101
W. Putnam Ave. Greenwich, CT 06830.
Bob Taylor (stage manager), Dan Kelly (m.c.), Larry Schneider, Glynnis O'Connor, Lenka Peterson,
Will Dunham, Barbara Wilkov, Jennifer Harder, Laurie
Newkirk (director), Matt Tomasino,
Jason Nunes, Kenn Woodard, Pat Larrabee and Allie Shapiro
The First Annual Havemeyer Playwright Competition started
off on a good note as tuxedo clad host, Dan Kelly, introduced the evening's
judges, Lois Fern Hamilton, Artistic Director of The Acting Company of
Greenwich, Peggi de la Cruz, President and Artistic Director of Connecticut
Playmakers and Tom Rushen, Chairman of the Eastbound Theatre. Mr. Kelly
explained how the eight one act plays to be performed that evening had been
chosen from submissions from all around the country, Canada, and Sweden. He
reminded the audience of the importance of the playwright "since without
playwrights all actors would be mimes!" He went on to further
explain that, since the evening's performances were to be staged readings, the
table next to the stage covered with assorted props and costumes was not
"in fact a tag sale" but was there to help assist the 11 actors in
creating the 27 various roles they were to be performing.
The
audience, already enjoying themselves, then turned their attention to the
first of the one acts to be performed, "Ophelia's Mother" by
Rosemary Foley, a delightful comedy where Amanda (played by TV/Film Star
Glynnis O'Connor) takes her mother (played by Tony nominated actress Lenka
Peterson) to an off-off...off Broadway performance of Hamlet. Suddenly,
during the performance Amanda's mother leaps on the stage to lecture, not only
Ophelia, but her daughter on the pitfalls of being involved with a
"selfish, sulking, pouting, pompous prig!" The evening
continued with more laughs with "Mametspeak", written by Greenwich
resident Daniel Cabrera, followed by "Away Message" by Kelly DuMar,
"The Raft" by Kristyn Leigh Robinson, "Vinny's Vision" by
Jim Gordon, "J&H Body Beautiful" by Suzanne Mernyk,
"Blink" by Brian O'Neill and ended with some tears during the final
one act, "The Still Sad Music" written by Mary Jane Schaefer.
The
Judge's scores were tallied and Laurie Newkirk, the Director of all the one
acts and the President of The Acting Company of Greenwich, accompanied by John
Carley, President of the Greenwich Film Festival, came on stage to present the
awards. Amongst strong applause, Coach leather travel cases were
presented to second place winner Jim Gordon for "Vinny's Vision"
and to third place winner Mary Jane Schaefer for "The Still Sad
Music". The crowd erupted when Ms. Newkirk announced "Ophelia's
Mother" as the winner. Playwright Rosemary Foley was presented with
a specially designed Baccarat crystal award. The evening ended with the
majority of the audience staying to talk to the playwrights and actors.
"What a great festival! What a great night! I was pleased I
made the trip and honored by the reading. It was very, very satisfying - what
a thrill to have Glynnis O'Connor read the part of CIN!" Stated
playwright Kelly DuMar from Massachusetts. Also happy was Stamford playwright
Suzanne Mernyk. "It was a very tasteful, elegant production with a nice
variety of material. I am so pleased my work was included in it."
When asked, Laurie Newkirk and John Carley agreed that, due to the
overwhelming enthusiasm of the playwrights and the audience, they are planning
to have the Havemeyer Playwright Competition become a permanent part of the
Greenwich Film Festival.
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Date this page was last updated: 09/4/2006
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| Date this page was last updated: 9/4/2006
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