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This article is part of the series Comprehensive Energy Monitor: India and the World
The Government of India’s budget for 2015-16
revised the target for Renewable Energy (RE) power generation capacity to 175 GWp (gigawatt peak) by 2022, which included 100 GWp of solar power, 40 GWp roof top
, 60 GWp of wind, 10 GWp of biomass, and 5 GWp of small hydropower. At COP26 (26th
conference of parties) in Glasgow in 2021, the target for RE-based power generation capacity in India was increased to 500 GWp
by 2030. The expansion of RE power generation capacity targets is causing concern over the availability of land
and related issues for developing RE projects. For project developers, the key concerns are the availability of suitable land and acquisition of vast tracts of land from a number of poor rural title holders, and for the policymakers the challenge is to find the right balance between meeting targets for decarbonisation
, ensuring food security, and finding viable alternatives for those displaced from the land for RE development. For poor landowners, problems include obtaining fair compensation for land appropriated for RE projects and relocating to areas where they can find alternative livelihoods.
Land use patterns
The largest land use category in India is agriculture with net sown area (cropped area minus area sown more than once) accounting for over 45 percent (139.42 million hectare )
of land covered by data (93 percent
of geographic area) in 2015-16. Forests accounted for over 23 percent (72.02 m ha)
and non-agricultural uses 9 percent (27.84 m ha). Fallow land accounts for over 8 percent (26.36 m ha)
and barren land is over 5 percent (16.99 m ha)
. Land used for pasture and grazing, and waste land account for over 3 percent each (22.58 m ha in total). The remaining 1 percent is covered by tree crops (3.12 m ha)
The expansion of RE power generation capacity targets is causing concern over the availability of land and related issues for developing RE projects.
Empirical studies suggest that most of the areas favourable
to solar radiation throughout the year coincide with wasteland in India. However, most projections locate only 11-12 percent of solar projects in deserts and dry scrublands in India in most scenarios. Wasteland is also not favoured by project developers. Developing projects in wastelands
increase costs partly because of the inhospitable terrain and partly because of the lack of supporting infrastructure. Transmission infrastructure required to move power generated to consuming centres also increase cost. However, the socio-economic costs imposed on small land holders as well as the ecological costs involved in diverting agricultural land for RE projects are lower. In 2015-16 over 68 percent
of land holdings were with marginal farmers who owned less than 1 ha land. Acquiring land from a number of small owners involves high transaction costs (temporal and financial), but both the law governing land acquisition and the discourse of development and decarbonisation favour the investor. Millions of poor landowners and their rights are treated as collateral damage in a mission for a cleaner and better world.
A widely quoted figure for land required for India to meet the goal of 175 GW of RE is 55,000 square kilometres (km2) to 125,000 km2
based on power density of 2 MWp/km2
for wind projects and 26 MWp/km2
for solar photovoltaic projects. The projected area is not large as it accounts for only 1-3 percent of the total surface area of the country, but it is almost 50 to 100 percent of waste land. Another study concludes that if 78 percent of electricity generation
in India is accounted for by solar PV, and about 3 percent is derived from roof top solar PV in 2050, the land area required would be more than 137-182 percent
of urban land area in 2010 and a maximum of 2 percent of crop area
in 2050. The study finds that for every 100 ha of solar PV panels, 31 to 43 ha of unmanaged forest may be cleared throughout all the world. The same amount of land for solar projects in India would clear 27 to 30 ha
of unmanaged forest.
Due to the higher irradiance and lower latitude of India, absolute land use per unit of solar output
is almost half as in Japan and South Korea, and a third of that in Europe. In addition, as current and projected crop productivities in India are below the global average
, the impact of solar expansion on the competition for land is less significant. However, solar expansion scenarios until 2050 will lead to net land-use change (LUC) carbon emissions
, although there can be net carbon sequestration in India if land used in solar parks is managed as pastures. If all previous vegetation is permanently cleared
, the total LUC emissions related to solar expansion in India are expected to be higher. Even in the absence of land management practices specifically aiming at carbon sequestration, LUC carbon emission in India is estimated to be below 12 gCO2/kWh
(grams of carbon dioxide per kilowatt hour) compared to 13 to 53 gCO2/kWh
Contestation of Land Rights
The contestation of land rights is not new in India. The opening line of the chapter on land (chapter 6) of India’s 12th five year plan
observes that ‘India has a long history of social discrimination closely linked with denial of access to land’. Land acquisition from the rural poor for large industrial and mining projects are in general skewed in favour of industrial developers
. Official estimates suggest that over 60 million people
were displaced by development projects and less than a third were resettled. Land for industrial projects is acquired on the principle of eminent domain
where the State is entitled to forcibly acquire land for public purposes, often below market prices. A new bill on land acquisition passed in 2013 defined eight categories of public purposes
, that included land for power generation projects and private projects for the production of public goods. RE projects qualify both as power generation projects as well as projects that produce public goods. Amendments to the new land acquisition bill have diluted provisions
that protected landowners and made it more capital friendly. This partly explains why reporting on the widespread discontent over the acquisition of large areas of land for solar parks has increased in the last few years.
Solar expansion scenarios until 2050 will lead to net land-use change (LUC) carbon emissions, although there can be net carbon sequestration in India if land used in solar parks is managed as pastures.
Notable among these is conflict over land acquisition for the Pavagada photovoltaic park
in Karnataka that leased over 5260 hectares (ha) of land from about 1,800 farmers from 5 villages for 11 corporations to collectively develop 2,050 MWp (megawatt peak) of solar power generation capacity since 2017. The dispute over land acquisition for the Bhadla Solar Park
described as the world’s largest ning over 5665 hectares (ha) to host a solar power generation capacity of 2245MWp (megawatt peak) has also been reported by the wider media
since 2018. Similar stories may emerge from other large solar parks
planned in Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Gujarat and other states in India. According to the Ministry of New & Renewable Energy (MNRE), the government aims to develop 40,000 MWp of solar power generation capacity under a funding scheme for solar parks and ultra-mega solar power projects
The trade-off in outcomes (social, economic, and ecological) between using waste land and agricultural land must be mediated by setting policy priorities. One suggestion is to locate solar PV (photovoltaic) projects on abandoned thermal power plant sites
. A crude estimate suggests that this will not cover land required for RE: A 10 GW coal plant will generate 60 billion kWh of electricity
a year at 70 percent load factor. In a subcritical plant 0.63Kg of coal (4000Kcal/kg )
will be needed for generating 1 kWh (heat rate 2530 Kcal/kWh). A switch to USC (ultra-supercritical) plant (heat rate 1870kcal/kWh) will save 0.165Kg of coal
for every unit of electricity. 60 billion kWh will save 9.9 million tonnes of coal. The plant will take up roughly 57 km2
of land. Each unit of electricity generated with solar will displace 0.63Kg of coal. To save 9.9 billion tonnes of coal, 15.6 billion kWh of solar electricity will have to be generated. This will require 100 GW installed capacity (assuming each kW installed capacity generates 1500 kWh). If this electricity is generated using solar thermal plants land required will be about five times that of the coal plant and if it is PV based land required will be nine times.
APV could potentially increase land efficiency and enable expansion of PV power, while preserving fertile soils for agriculture or in combination with the creation of species-rich ecosystems.
(APV) is amongst the many recommended co-benefit policies for mediating the conflict in land use. It proposes the use of land simultaneously for agricultural crop production (photosynthesis) and PV electricity production (photovoltaics). It ranges from intensive crops with dedicated PV mounting systems to extensive grassland
with marginal adaptations on the PV side and high potential for ecosystem services. APV could potentially increase land efficiency
and enable expansion of PV power, while preserving fertile soils for agriculture or in combination with the creation of species-rich ecosystems. The challenge here is that the offer of lucrative feed in tariff and land leasing rates
to landowners could reduce or even eliminate incentives for food production. This dynamic may aggravate the conflict between land for fuel and land for food. Another technological solution is integration of PV panels
on road infrastructure, building walls and in electric vehicles but this is not likely to be sufficient to meet industrial scale demand for electricity.
A paper on land grabbing by private investors
following the hyped discourse on the Jatropha plantation in India for biodiesel production is informative in mediating the land rights conflict. The national mission on biodiesel in 2003
and the biofuel policy in 2009
were essentially bets on the positive narrative around Jatropha cultivation. This led to a race to acquire vast tracts of mostly unirrigated and waste land by eager private investors. The yield of Jatropha seeds was far below expectations
that made biodiesel production unviable without inputs of fertilizer and water. The fall in oil prices further reduced the incentive for biodiesel production
from Jatropha. Today, India’s Jatropha saga is merely a case study on policy formulation that depends on hype. As in the case of Jatropha, the government approach to land acquisition in the 1990s for hydropower and thermal power generation project development excluded all discourses on land use that did not favour government policy. Land acquisition for industrial projects (RE and other projects) continues to be read as development
and any questions on land acquisition and use are treated as anti-development
Devolved federalism in the land use context where land policy comes under state governments contributes to the disconnection between land use and energy policy set at the federal level. Land use is treated as a separate and secondary issue in energy policy and land access becomes a matter of local accommodation rather than federal policy. Policy options to address these issues include identifying least harm RE zones, maximising on-site and small-scale potential, and coordination of investment in transmission infrastructure in RE project siting.
The views expressed above belong to the author(s). ORF research and analyses now available on Telegram! Click here to access our curated content — blogs, longforms and interviews.


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text: 1. Sea-blue histiocytes are seen in a number of clinical conditions. In our patient it appeared to be the result of storage of ceroid-lipofuscin material. 2. Sea-blue histiocytes were present in this patient with a clinical pattern of posterior column dysfunction. Untreated she had low serum vitamin E level but normal oral vitamin E uptake. 3 . The clinical picture could result from neuroaxonal dystrophy of the axons within the cuneate and gracile nuclei or from accumulation of ceroid-lipofuscin material in this area. 4. Large doses of oral vitamin E resulted in normal serum levels but did not appear to alter the stores' of ceroid-lipofuscin in bone marrow or liver.

domain: medical


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Nestled in the lush valley of the Selkirk mountains and surrounded by prestine fresh water, come and see what makes Nelson special all year round.
Stellar Heli Skiing slide show highlights from a few of their ski trips.
If you're searching for winter's soul, and an authentic vacation destination, there is a place...Whitewater Ski Resort. Check out their new video.
Nelson BC has been named one of the "Top 10 Places You've Got To See" by Maclean's Magazine. Nestled in the mountains, Nelson is a travellers paradise. There's no wonder people are starting to hear about BC's best kept secret.
View not-so-often-seen views of the West and East Kootenays including the Selkirks, Purcells, and Rockies. Valhallas, Kokanee Glacier, Jumbo, Flathead, Bugaboos, and the Coal Mines are all locations you will explore on this 6 minute flight over Stunning Landscapes!! A mostly aerial photo slideshow by Douglas Noblet. Visit www.wildairphoto.com for more photos.
Mountain Biking BC highlighted Nelson's incredible mountain biking scene. With steep mountains, lush forest and tons of great riding trails, Nelson has the perfect combination for any level of mountain biker.
Why should you come to Nelson? The BEST WESTERN PLUS Baker Street Inn's new video offers many reasons why...
Fall in Love with the Kootenays. A short video featuring Nelson, Ainsworth, Balfour & Kaslo in autumn 2011.
Check out the trailer for the incredible, award winning film “All.I.Can.” by Sherpas Cinema. This 70min film was filmed in Rossland, Trail and Nelson. JP Auclair Street Segment (from All.I.Can.) from Sherpas Cinema on Vimeo.

domain: geography


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Heat vs Hawks Game 2 NBA Prediction and Odds
The playoff heat is on as the teams have geared up to find a spot in the conference semifinal. In one of the Round 1 series fixtures, the Eastern conference giants are playing Atlanta Hawks in Game 2 of the series.
After a pretty one-sided contest in the first encounter, the Hawks are looking to stage a comeback while the focus is on Heat’s dominance this season.
The game is scheduled to be held in the FTX Arena tonight. Even though the pundits are foreseeing the outcome to be in the hosts’ favor, the Hawks would be punching above their weight in game 2.
|Miami Heat||Atlanta Hawks||Predicted Winner|
|FiveThirtyEight||Win Probability: 72%||Win Probability: 28%||Heat|
|Smarkets||Odds: 1.22||Odds: 3.0||Heat|
Heat vs Hawks Game 2 NBA Prediction and Odds: Recent Form
The Miami Heat have been one of the sides to defeat in the Eastern Conference as they finished the regular season without breaking much sweat. They topped the table with 53 victories and 29 losses while having a strong away record of 24-17.
Looking at their last five outings, they have managed 4 triumphs as opposed to just one loss against Magic. In their last outing against the Hawks, they took charge from the word go as they lead their opponents by a huge margin which kept on growing, eventually resulting in a 1-0 lead.
On the other hand, the Atlanta Hawks didn’t have the most comfortable ride as they were constantly in the midst of victories and losses. Despite inconsistencies, the side scraped through to the playoffs with an 8th place finish consisting of 43 wins and 39 defeats.
They were on a roll coming into the postseason as they notched up three back-to-back triumphs but a poor day at the office in Game 1 has put their future prospects at stake. They will be drawing inspiration from a favored playoff record against the Heat going into the second game of the 7-match series.
Heat vs Hawks Game 2 NBA Prediction and Odds: Head-to-head
Regular season (130 games): Heat – 73 wins, Hawks – 57 wins.
Playoffs (13 games): Heat – 6 wins, Hawks – 7 wins.
Previous meeting: Heat won 113-109 on 8th April 2022 in a regular-season fixture.
Heat vs Hawks Game 2 NBA Prediction and Odds: Players to Watch Out
Duncan Robinson is an important shooting guard with a field goal success of 39.9% and a 3-pointer conversion of 37.2 so far. He fetched 27 points along with a rebound against Atlanta.
Jimmy Butler has a lot riding on his shoulder with the small forward averaging 21.4 points and 5.5 assists in 57 outings.
Bam Adebayo who plays as the center and power forward has a field goal percentage of 55.7 and a free throw percentage of 75.3. He has averaged 10.1 rebounds per game in 56 games he was part of.
P J Tucker was one of the top scorers as he notched up 16 points and an assist against the Hawks.
Trae Young who has played as a point guard has tons of experience in the NBA with an average of 28.4 points and 9.7 assists in his career.
Danilo Gallinari who is the shooting guard has an efficiency rating of 14.35 while the center Onyeka Okongwu needs to do better than 8.2 points per game this season.
John Collins brings the power and versatility to the center with a free throw percentage of 79.3% and a field goal percentage of 52.6% in 54 outings.
Bogdan Bogdanovic who is the shooting guard is leading the charts by averaging 3.1 assists to turnover ratio for the side.
Heat vs Hawks Game 2 NBA Prediction and Odds: Predicted Winner
The Miami Heat taking on Atlanta Hawks would be a tough battle between two giant sides looking to make it to the next stage of the playoffs in this 7-game series. Looking at this rivalry, Miami Heat is a heavy favorite with a 72% chance whereas the Atlanta-based club is behind with a 28% chance, according to FiveThirtyEight.
On the other hand Oddschecker and SMarkets, the Atlanta Hawks are in with an infinitesimally small chance while the Miami-based side has a massive opportunity to win two games on the bounce and open up a huge lead.

domain: sports


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Could public internet rival Comcast in Falmouth?
More News Podcasts
We are bringing you a new series on Enterprise Plugged In: Veteran's Spotlight. Each week, host Wayne Soares talks with veterans about their life experiences
During a special four-day session in St. Louis, delegates representing congregations around the world gathered to vote on church policy. The decision has impacted churches here on the Upper Cape.
Three separate incidents on the Upper Cape point to signs of a tense political atmosphere.
A new police training academy is coming to Cape Cod which could save money and time for local departments
Falmouth Selectmen debate a more "gender-neutral" name and the public responds
After backlash from the public, the AIDS Support Group of Cape Cod looks to move elsewhere in town
The turbines are leaving Falmouth
This week, the impact from the federal government shutdown hits home, and a lawsuit pits the Town of Bourne with the growing recreational marijuana market.
This week, the development of a cell phone tower planned for Mashpee stalls and the debate over more town hall offices versus a senior center wages on in Sandwich.
This week, Falmouth reporter Steve Withrow and host Sam Houghton discuss how Falmouth has looked to adapt to climate change.
A meeting gets unruly as the AIDS Support Group of Cape Cod looks to open a facility in East Falmouth
Sandwich administrators target a downtown former bank for new municipal buildings, but seniors enter the mix with their own plans.
The Army Corps learns what the public really thinks about the Cape's "functionally obsolete" bridges, and we talk about when President Bush came to Mashpee.
This week, we discuss good and bad news for business in Bourne, and an invention brewing in Falmouth that could help paddlers.
Enterprise columnist Wayne Soares tells us about his Veterans Spotlight.
The Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe brings its message to Capitol Hill
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This week we give an overview of the contested races for the state election coming up Tuesday.
Find out where wandering sheep were impounded in the 1600s on this week's podcast, and will the argument for and against recreational marijuana sales in Bourne ever quiet?
This week Falmouth looks at moving the turbines and Mashpee Town Meeting votes against a ban on marijuana.
We discuss tribe's march last weekend, a lawsuit in Falmouth, wastewater treatment in Bourne and West Nile on the Cape
This week we discuss Highfield Hall's executive director stepping down and Bourne Town Meeting voting down recreational marijuana.
This week we talk about Bourne preparing for a contentious Town Meeting, and we dive back into the Great Shark Highway.
This week we discuss a controversial art show that was pulled at Highfield Hall.
Discussion: A baker in Bourne sells "gakes" and the Mashpee Wampanoag are dealt a major blow.
This week we discuss a judge shutting down the aerial park at Heritage and Bourne parents disturbed by the new bus routes.
This week, reporters discuss a Falmouth man talking about his turbine woes and a Mashpee police internal investigation that found an officer should have stopped his pursuit.
This week, we keep it brief on a few stories while we work on our new studio. We talk about marijuana establishments in Falmouth and Mashpee, as well as the new tribe lawsuit.
This week we discuss the bridge work being delayed until spring, a tree dedicated to a fallen soldier in Mashpee and a man who will be running the Falmouth Road Race for the 40th time.
This week, the debate wages on over the canal bridges and a special camp in Sandwich helps youth overcome grief.
A tragic accident under investigation by Mashpee police and two officers shot in Falmouth are the topics for this week's podcast
This week, we bring you special coverage of the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe's testimony in front of a congressional subcommittee in Washington, DC.
This week we find out more details in the case of Bourne town administrator's suspension. And, sometimes people do the right thing, for the right cause.
This week, we discuss sheep at Peterson's Farm and the poisonous plant giant hogweed.
This week we discuss Gosnold's proposed expansion to a location next to a Falmouth school and a drowning in Bourne over the holiday weekend. On a lighter note we also talk about the World Cup and U2's performance in Gray Gables.
This week, we discuss the opposition to Gosnold opening a treatment facility next to a Falmouth school.
In this week's podcast, we look at more details from a charity event in Sandwich after which two firefighters wound up resigning.
This week, we talk about pickleball players taking their case to the Sandwich Board of Selectmen and Falmouth planners looking to halt parking lot solar panels temporarily.
In this week's podcast, we catch up with a local man who is a contestant on the latest season of "The Bachelorette" and discuss Falmouth residents who have yet to tie into the sewer system, which could lead to the town filing a lawsuit.
In this week's podcast, we look at Sandwich's decision to pay for additional repairs to the iconic boardwalk and discuss a new effort in Bourne to reconsider banning recreational marijuana.
In this week's podcast, we hear from Enterprise reporter Brittany Feldott and her special report on the shortage of help available locally for adolescents struggling with mental illness.
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We discuss the decision to hire a contractor for a temporary fix for the Sandwich boardwalk and talk about the Shawme boathouse, the Bourne town administrator's review and a new hotel proposed for Falmouth.
We discuss concerns about contentious land lawsuit from 1970s resurfacing in Mashpee and take a look at Question 1 in Falmouth—should the town build an artificial turf field?
We discuss traffic and beaches—two things synonymous with Cape Cod. We talk about traffic at the Sagamore Bridge, proposed new beach rules in Falmouth, free beaches passes for veterans in Mashpee, and Town Neck Beach in Sandwich could open soon.
We discuss the recent mapathon event at Mashpee High School as well as the new medical marijuana facility that opened in Mashpee and the recreational marijuana discussion in Bourne.
Volunteers in Sandwich look to restore the Boardwalk and Mashpee's Board of Health considers regulating rental units.
Bourne residents this week made it know they are open to marijuana dispensaries, the first on the Upper Cape to do so. And a new bill could tax AirBnB hosts to support a push for clean water.
This week we discuss the Bourne selectman's race and Michael Blanton, the latest news for the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe, and Upper Cape students and school safety.

domain: news


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This article provides an insight into the origin of chocolate, tracing its journey from cocoa tree to delicious treat.
- Chocolate is made from roasted and ground cacao seeds.
- Cacao trees grow in tropical regions near the Equator.
- The process of making chocolate involves harvesting, fermenting, drying, roasting, winnowing, grinding, conching, tempering, and molding.
- Chocolate originated in Mesoamerican civilizations and spread to Europe in the 16th century.
- The global chocolate industry is diverse, with a focus on ethical sourcing, innovation, health consciousness, and cultural impact.
What Exactly Is Chocolate?
Chocolate is a sweet, usually brown food preparation of roasted and ground cacao seeds, typically sweetened and consumed as confectionery or used as a flavoring ingredient in other foods. Its key component, cacao, contains alkaloids such as theobromine and phenethylamine, which have physiological effects on the body and contribute to its distinctive taste.
The varying amounts of cocoa solids and fat determine the types of chocolate: dark, milk, and white. Dark chocolate contains cocoa solids and cocoa butter with minimal to no milk; milk chocolate includes milk powder or condensed milk; and white chocolate contains cocoa butter without the cocoa solids, relying on milk and sugar for its characteristic taste and texture.
Chocolate is notable for its complex chemical makeup, containing over 600 volatile compounds contributing to its rich flavor profile.
The Cacao Tree and Where It Grows
Theobroma cacao, the cacao tree, thrives in tropical regions within 20° north and south of the Equator. It favors a hot, moist climate often found in countries such as Ivory Coast, Ghana, and Indonesia, which are leading cacao producers.
Cacao trees grow best under the shade of taller trees, mimicking their natural rainforest habitat. This practice also supports biodiversity and sustainable farming methods. The trees start bearing fruit, known as cacao pods, usually when they are about four to five years old. Each pod contains 20 to 50 seeds – the cacao beans – enveloped in a sweet pulp.
Harvesting involves carefully removing ripe pods from the trees and extracting the beans, which are then fermented and dried, starting their transformation into chocolate. The concern for environmental sustainability and ethical labor practices is increasingly shaping where and how cacao is cultivated.
From Bean to Bar: The Process of Making Chocolate
Harvesting is the first step, where ripe cacao pods are collected from cacao trees. These pods contain cacao beans surrounded by a sweet pulp.
Fermentation follows, essential for developing the beans’ flavor. Beans, still in the pulp, are left in containers for several days to ferment.
Drying the beans is next. Post-fermentation, beans are spread out to dry, typically under the sun, to reduce moisture.
Roasting is where beans are heated. This enhances flavor and allows the shell to be removed easily, revealing the cacao nibs.
Winnowing is the process of removing the shells from roasted beans, separating the nibs which are the key ingredient for chocolate.
Grinding nibs into cocoa liquor, a paste, is then done. The heat generated from grinding causes fat within the nibs to melt, creating a thick liquid.
Conching involves refining chocolate’s texture and flavor. The cocoa liquor is mixed with sugar and sometimes milk, heated, and continuously stirred for hours or days.
Tempering is the final step before molding. Chocolate is carefully heated and cooled to stabilize the crystals, ensuring a smooth texture and a glossy finish.
Molding gives chocolate its shape. The tempered chocolate is poured into molds and allowed to set. Once hardened, it is packaged and ready for distribution.
The Historical Origin and Spread of Chocolate
Chocolate’s roots trace back to the ancient Mesoamerican civilizations, namely the Olmec, Maya, and Aztec, who were the first to cultivate cacao trees.
Exclusively consumed as a bitter fermented beverage among elites, it played a significant role in ritual and royal events.
The introduction of chocolate to Europe in the 16th century after the Spanish conquest of the Aztecs marked a pivotal point in its history.
Europeans adapted the beverage by adding sugar and honey, enhancing its appeal and transitioning chocolate from a luxury to a widespread favorite.
Over centuries, innovations in production further transformed chocolate into the solid form we enjoy today, facilitating its global spread and ubiquity in modern cuisine.
Chocolate Today: Production and Consumption
Globally, the production and consumption of chocolate have reached vast scales, reflecting its popularity.
Global Market: It is now a multi-billion-dollar industry with Europe and North America leading as the top consumers, while emerging markets are increasing their share.
Variety and Innovation: There is a diverse range of chocolate products available, from mass-produced to artisanal and specialty chocolates, and manufacturers continue to innovate with new flavors and combinations.
Ethical and Sustainable Practices: As awareness grows, there’s a higher demand for ethically sourced cacao and fair trade chocolate, encouraging more sustainable farming practices and better conditions for cacao farmers.
Health Consciousness: The market also sees a growing segment of dark chocolate due to its health benefits, leading producers to create products with higher cacao content and less sugar.
Cultural Impact: Festivals, tours, and workshops further endorse the consumption, understanding, and appreciation of chocolate’s rich cultural impact.
These points reflect a complex industry that caters to varied tastes and ethical considerations, progressing alongside consumers’ evolving preferences and values.
- Who Invented Chocolate: Unraveling the History and Origin
- How Chocolate is Made: A Simple Step-by-Step Process
- History of Chocolate: Understanding Its Fascinating Origin and Evolution
- When Was Chocolate Invented: Insightful Information on the History of Chocolate
- What is Chocolate Liquor: Understanding Its Role in Confectionery

domain: food


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Veterans Day is a time to honor those who have served our country and commemorate their sacrifices. An exhibit making a stop in Palm Desert this week does just that while also serving as a way for a daughter to honor her father.
Candie Blankman will present her free-to-the-public Veterans Day exhibit in the Hope Center at Hope Lutheran Church on Portola in Palm Desert. The exhibit will be open on Friday from 12 p.m. until 4 p.m. and Saturday from 10 a.m. until 12 p.m.
Blankman’s exhibit is a tribute to her father, TSgt. Kenneth E. Davis, a World War II prisoner of war who passed away in 2006. He survived the Bataan Death March, two concentration camps in the Philippine Islands, a Hellship to Japan, and forced labor in a Japanese copper mine. VFW Post 3699 Commander Leonard Abramowitz will be at the exhibit, as well as members of posts 3699 and 1534. Poppies will be sold, and refreshments will be served.
“The exhibit helps people remember the enormous sacrifice many men and women have given and continue to give so that we can enjoy our freedom,” Blankman said. “It helps people experience how personal war is — not just numbers and facts and figures — but real people who have families and friends.
“Some survived and returned, but hundreds of thousands did not.”
Blankman, a Los Angeles resident, has presented the exhibit throughout Southern California, Minnesota, and Illinois. It features paintings, drawings, primary documents, photographs, and maps of her father’s story.
In 2010, she traveled to all the places her father was held prisoner. In 2016, she returned to Japan at the invitation of Mitsubishi Materials, the owner of the copper mine during the war, to see the unveiling of a plaque at the mine where her father was held prisoner. By placing the plaque, Mitsubishi acknowledged for the first time that Allied prisoners of war were forced to labor in the mine.
“When I was in high school, I read in the newspaper about my father being a WWII prisoner of war,” Blankman recalled. “He had never talked about it at home. When I was teacher teaching American History, I invited my father to come and tell his story to the high school history classes. I stood in the back of the room weeping. I had never heard these stories myself. I began interviewing him every time I visited and writing his story down.”
Veterans Day is especially important to Blankman because she knows the cost of freedom and that it takes every branch of service at every level and every civilian’s support to protect that freedom. Her exhibit has three goals: never forgetting the cost of freedom, inspiring people to want to know their family stories, and teaching people how to thank a veteran.
“I tell everyone that you do not have to agree with the war or like the president, but you can still thank the men and women who serve,” she said. “I teach adults and children to walk up to any veteran they see and reach out their hand and firmly shake the hand of the veteran and say, ‘Thank you for your service.’ It takes 30 seconds but means so much.”
More information: The church is located at 45900 Portola Ave. in Palm Desert. Blankman’s book may be purchased here.


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Presents a collection of stories selected from magazines in the United States and Canada
(view table of contents
Amazon.com description: Product Description
: The preeminent short FIction series since 1915, The Best American Short Stories is the only volume that annually offers the finest works chosen by a distinguished best-selling guest editor. This year, E. Annie Proulx's selection includes dazzling stories by Tobias Wolff, Donald Hall, Cynthia Ozick, Robert Stone, Junot D'az, and T. Coraghessan Boyle, as well as an array of stunning new talent. In her fascinating introduction, Proulx establishes categories for the stories by subject matter, such as "Identifying the Stranger" and "Perceived Social Values." She writes that beyond their strength and vigor, these stories achieve "a certain intangible feel for the depth of human experience, not uncommonly expressed through a kind of dry humor." As ever, this year's volume surprises and rewards.

domain: artistic


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An upcoming exhibition at Fingerprint Gallery explores the importance of street art for urban communities.
A group of Emily Carr students will be showing their art and research in the week-long show, which kicks off on April 5.
How to Appreciate Graffiti: The Exhibition is the culmination of a semester-long project, which was led by university Canada research chair Dr. Garnet Hertz.
Hertz spearheaded the initiative in a first-of-its-kind hybrid history and art class all about graffiti, getting into the nuances of graffiti’s historical roots, why it serves as social commentary, and how it can give cities an urban identity.
The exhibition will showcase a zine called How to Appreciate Graffiti, created by the students along with contributions from street artists such as Dedos, Zense, Gurl 23, Grow Up, and Phantom.
The exhibition’s opening night will kick things off, with a zine launch and curator’s talk on April 6 at noon, and a show honouring guest artist Smokey Devil, known as Vancouver’s favourite graffiti artist, that day at 6pm.
When: April 5 to 12, 11am to 6pm daily
Where: Fingerprint Gallery (663 Market Hill, Vancouver)


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< Cassette mechanism section >
Removing the playback,recording and eraser heads (See Fig.1~3)
1. While shifting the trigger arms seen on the right side of the head mount in the arrow direction,turn the flywheel R in counterclockwise direction until the head mount has gone out with a click (See Fig. 1). 2. When the flywheel R is rotated in counterclockwise direction, the playback / recording & eraser head will be turned in counterclockwise direction from the position in Fig.2 to that in Fig.3. 3. At this position, disconnect the flexible P.C.board (outgoing from the playback head) from the connector CN301 on the head amp. and mechanism control P.C. board. 4. Remove the flexible P.C.board from the chassis base. 5. Remove the spring "a" from behind the playback / recording head. 6. Loosen the reversing azimuth screw retaining the playback head. 7. Take out the playback head from the front of the head mount. 8. The recording and eraser heads should also be removed similarly according to Steps 1~7 above.
Trigger arm (Mechanism A side)
Playback/Recording & eraser head Flexible P.C.board
Spring "a" Trigger arm
Reassembling the playback, recording and eraser heads (See Fig.3)
1. Reassemble the playback head from the front of the head mount to the position as shown in Fig.3. 2. Fix the reversing azimuth screw. 3. Set the spring a from behind the playback head. 4. Attach the flexible P.C.board to the chassis base as shown in Fig.3. 5. The recording and eraser heads should also be reassembled similarly according to Steps 1~4 above.
CN301 Head amplifier & mechanism control P.C. board Flywheel R
(Mechanism A side)
Reversing azimuth screw Head mount Flexible P.C.board CN302
Head amplifier & mechanism control
P.C. board (Mechanism B side)


text:
The world premiere of Hartford Stage’s The Age of Innocence and a revised version of the musical Rags from Goodspeed Musicals took top honors at the Connecticut Critics Circle Awards Monday, June 11. (Complete list of nominees and winners).
The event, which celebrated the work from the state’s professional theaters during the 2017-18 season, was held at Westport Country Playhouse.
Among area theaters, Ivoryton received nine nominations for five different productions (West Side Story, Million Dollar Quartet, Saturday Night Fever, The Game’s Afoot and The Fantasticks).Connecticut native, Cory Candelet tied for outstanding featured actor in a musical for his performance as the Mute in The Fantasticks. He shared the award with Matt Faucher for his performance as Jud in Goodspeed’s Oklahoma!
Goodspeed received 14 nominations and four awards including Faucher, outstanding production of a musical, Samantha Massell for her leading role in Rags and Kelli Barclay for choreography in Will Rogers’ Follies.
Awards for outstanding actors in a musical went to Samantha Massell in Goodspeed’s Rags and Jamie LaVerdiere in the Connecticut Repertory Theatre’s production of 1776.
Awards for outstanding actors in a play went to Reg Rogers in Yale Repertory Theatre’s production of An Enemy of the People and Isabelle Barbier in Playhouse on Park’s production of The Diary of Anne Frank.
Top directing awards went to Terrence Mann for CRT’s 1776 and Ezra Barnes for Playhouse on Park’s The Diary of Anne Frank.
Outstanding ensemble award went to TheaterWorks’ production of The Wolves; the debut award went to Megan O’Callaghan for The Bridges of Madison County and Fun Home, both at Music Theatre of Connecticut. The outstanding solo honor was awarded to Elizabeth Stahlmann for Westport Country Playhouse’s Grounded.
Michael O’Flaherty, longtime music director for Goodspeed Musicals, received the Tom Killen Award for lifetime service to the theater from Donna Lynn Cooper Hilton, a producer at Goodspeed.
Receiving special awards were New London’s Flock Theatre for its production of Long Day’s Journey Into Night at the Monte Cristo Cottage (O’Neill’s childhood home); the Broadway Method Academy of Fairfield; and Billy Bivona, who composed and performed original music for TheaterWork’s production of Constellations.
The outstanding featured actress award in a musical award went to Jodi Stevens for Summer Theatre of New Canaan’s Singin’ in the Rain. The award for outstanding featured actors in a play went to Peter Francis James for Westport Country Playhouse’s production of Romeo and Juliet, and to Judith Ivey for Long Wharf Theatre’s world premiere of Fireflies.
Design awards went to Fitz Patton for sound and Matthew Richards for lighting for Westport Country Playhouse’s Appropriate; Linda Cho for costumes for Hartford Stage’s The Age of Innocence; Yana Birykova for projections for Westport Country Playhouse’s Grounded and David Lewis, for set design for Playhouse on Park’s The Diary of Anne Frank.
Jenn Harris and Matthew Wilkas, stars of TheaterWorks’ Christmas on the Rocks, presided over the event.
Shore Publication writers Amy Barry and Frank Rizzo co-chaired the event.
This content courtesy of Shore Publications and zip06.
By Karen Isaacs
Do you realize how many professional theatrical productions are seen in Connecticut each year? What would be your guess?
With the ending of the Connecticut theater season which runs from about June 1 to May 31, I attempted to count up the shows. I know I missed some. But including all the professional theaters (those that have some type of contract from Equity the actors’ union) plus the productions seen at the major “presenting” houses such as the Shubert, Bushnell and Palace in Waterbury – the total astounded me.
In all, you could see a professional production for 100+ nights a year. And that didn’t include the “workshop” performances at Goodspeed-Chester, the O’Neill Center and other places.
If you want to consider just the regional theaters – it numbers 70+ productions. (By the way, I saw about 75 percent of these, plus some others). So I was sitting in a theater in Connecticut at least 60+ evenings.
My favorites? Everyone’s list will be different. Mine includes plays that were thought-provoking or challenging. But my list also includes plays that were just pure fun. I’ve broken them down in to a list of my “best” plays and “musicals”. These aren’t in any particular order. Some are by playwrights that I am very familiar with and others by playwrights new to me.
My Favorite Productions of Plays
Hartford Stage gave me three productions that I thoroughly enjoyed and would gladly see again. A Lesson from Aloes by Athol Fugard is a play that I saw first at Yale and found it brilliant. This production directed by Darko Tresnjak was equally so – thought-provoking, beautifully designed and marvelously acted. For sheer fun, nothing could be better than Tresnjak’s direction of A Midsummer Night’s Dream which opened the season. The direction by the Mechanicals was the best I’ve ever seen. And in the middle was the McCarter Theatre’s production of Murder on the Orient Express. Stylish and delightful. Another production I would gladly see again was Grounded at Westport Country Playhouse last July. This one woman show is about a military pilot who is reassigned to operating drones over Iraq from the US. And Playhouse on Park gave Connecticut theater goers a magnificent production of The Diary of Anne Frank.
Some plays were very good, but for one reason or another had something missing. Fireflies at Long Wharf was a charming, sweet play that is blessed with an outstanding cast. I’m not convinced that it would as enjoyable in the ends of lesser actors. Jane Alexander, Judith Ivey and Dennis Ardnt made this work. I also thoroughly enjoyed Seder at Hartford Stage, though some of my critic friends hated it. The questions it raised were fascinating and Mia Dillon was fabulous.
Also in this group would be The Game’s Afoot at Ivoryton which was silly, light but just fun, Noises Off at the Summer Series at Connecticut Repertory Theatre, The Chosen at Long Wharf, Father Comes Home from the Wars, Parts 1, 2 and 3 at Yale Rep and Age of Innocence at Hartford Stage. Boyd Gaines was magnificent.
Some productions miss the mark – it may be a great idea that isn’t quite developed completely, or it wanders off topic, or the director or actors make some erroneous decisions. Or the play may not be that good, but one or two performances make it enjoyable.
Luckily most of the time, even if that happens there are elements that still make the production worth seeing.
But sometimes, to me the production seems so misguided in so many ways, that it disappoints me. This season there were a few that fit that description. Often my fellow critics disagree with me. Yale’s production of Enemy of the People was just such a production. I felt that both the director (James Bundy) and the leading actor (Reg Rogers) were totally off the mark. Office Hours at Long Wharf was a play that I felt didn’t really work on many levels.
My Favorite Productions of Musicals
I didn’t think there were really any outstanding musical productions this season. By that I mean productions where the work itself and all elements of the production hit the mark. Most had flaws of some kind.
Many productions were very good. Ivoryton Playhouse has shown it is capable of presenting very good productions. This season I thought Saturday Night Fever, West Side Story and The Fantasticks were all very good.
MTC (Music Theater of Connecticut) has shown that a very small theater (under 120 seats) and an awkward playing area can be made to work for mid-sized musicals. Kevin Connor did a great job directing both The Bridges of Madison County and Fun Home. The Summer Series at Connecticut Rep did a very good Newsies.
Goodspeed is held to a very high standard – it has wowed us so many times, that we expect perfection in each production. This year, it may have not have been perfection, but it was very, very good.
Rags was a major project: Taking a musical that had failed and working together with the composer and lyricist and a new book writer, to completely reshape the show. Characters were deleted, others added, major plot points changed, new songs written and lyrics revised for other songs. Working with the team was director Rob Ruggiero. This story of turn of the 20th century Jewish immigrants on the lower east side of Manhattan, still isn’t perfect, but the show was done very well and was much improved.
Goodspeed also presented the classic Oklahoma! Again a very good production that I felt missed the mark in some ways.
The Big Theater Stories So Far This Year
Two major theatrical stories hit even the national press. The first was the firing of Long Wharf Artistic Director Gordon Edelstein after allegations of sexual harassment and misconduct.
Later this spring, Darko Tresnjak announced he will leave Hartford Stage at the conclusion of the 2018-19 season. This wasn’t a total surprise. While at Hartford, he had not only produced excellent theater but won a Tony award, directed two new Broadway musicals and was increasingly in demand.
Just as one theater season ends, another begins. I’m already marking my calendar for the shows that I’m most anticipating.
(Revised from a press release)
Hartford Stage’s world premiere of “The Age of Innocence” and Goodspeed’s “Oklahoma!” led the shows nominated for the 28th annual Connecticut Critics Circle Awards. Yale Rep’s production of “Native Son,” Goodspeed’s production of “Rags,” and “Diary of Anne Frank” at Playhouse on Park also received numerous nominations.
The awards event, which celebrates the best in professional theater in the state, will be held Monday, June 11 at 7:30 p.m. at the Westport Country Playhouse. Jenn Harris and Matthew Wilkas, stars of TheaterWorks holiday comedy perennial “Christmas on the Rocks,” will be masters of ceremony for the event which is free and open to the public.
“The Age of Innocence” earned eight nominations, including outstanding play, director and lead actor and three featured actresses, costumes and lighting while “Oklahoma!” received a total of seven nods, including best musical, director, lead actress and actor and featured actress and actor and choreography.
Other outstanding play nominees are: Yale Repertory Theater’s productions of “An Enemy of the People” and “Father Comes Home From the Wars, Parts 1, 2 and 3.” Other nominees included Long Wharf Theatre’s “The Chosen” and the world premiere of “Fireflies” and West Hartford’s Playhouse on Park production of “The Diary of Anne Frank.”
Also earning outstanding musical nods are Goodspeed’s “Rags,” Connecticut Repertory Theater’s “1776,” Seven Angels Theatre’s “Million Dollar Quartet,” and “Fun Home,” Music Theater of Connecticut.
Receiving the annual Tom Killen Award for lifetime achievement in Connectiocut theater will be Michael O’Flaherty, longtime music director at Goodspeed Musicals.
Receiving special awards this year are New London’s Flock Theater for its production of “Long Day’s Journey Into Night” at the Monte Cristo Cottage, the boyhood home of Eugene ONeill; the Broadway Method Academy of Fairfield; and Billy Bivona, who composed and performed original music for TheaterWork’s production of “Constellations.”
Receiving an award for solo performance will be Elizabeth Stahlmann who starred in Westport Country Playhouse’s “Grounded.”
Other nominees are:
Actor in a play: Reg Rogers, “An Enemy of the People,” Yale Repertory Theatre; Jerod Haynes, “Native Son,” Yale Repertory Theatre; Jamison Stern, “The Legend of Georgia McBride,” TheaterWorks; Boyd Gaines, “The Age of Innocence,” Hartford Stage; Daniel Chung, “Office Hour,” Long Wharf Theatre.
Actress in a play: Jackie Chung, “Office Hour,” Long Wharf Theatre; Isabelle Barbier, “The Diary of Anne Frank,” Playhouse on Park; Mia Dillon, “Seder,” Hartford Stage; Jane Alexander, “Fireflies,” Long Wharf Theatre; Cecelia Riddett, “The Revisionist,” Playhouse on Park.
Actor in a musical: Jamie LaVerdiere, “1776,” Connecticut Repertory Theatre; Rhett Guter, “Oklahoma!,” Goodspeed Musicals; Jim Schubin, “Newsies,” Connecticut Repertory Theatre; David Pittsinger, “The Fantasticks,” Ivoryton Playhouse; Michael Notardonato, “Saturday Night Fever,” Ivoryton Playhouse.
Actress in a musical: Samantha Massell, “Rags,” Goodspeed Musicals; Mia Pinero, “West Side Story,” Ivoryton Playhouse; Juliet Lambert Pratt, “The Bridges of Madison County,” Music Theatre of Connecticut; Samantha Bruce, “Oklahoma!,” Goodspeed Musicals; Annabelle Fox, “Singin’ in the Rain,” Summer Theatre of New Canaan.
Director of a play: James Bundy, “An Enemy of the People,” Yale Repertory Theatre; Seret Scott, “Native Son,” Yale Repertory Theatre; Ezra Barnes, “The Diary of Anne Frank,” Playhouse on Park; Eric Ort, “The Wolves,” TheaterWorks; Doug Hughes, “The Age of Innocence,” Hartford Stage.
Director of a musical: Terrence Mann, “1776,” Connecticut Repertory Theatre; Jenn Thompson, “Oklahoma!,” Goodspeed Musicals; Kevin Connors, “Fun Home,” Music Theatre of Connecticut; Rob Ruggiero, “Rags,” Goodspeed Musicals; Brian Feehan, “The Fantasticks,” Ivoryton Playhouse.
Choreography: Katie Spelman, “Oklahoma! ,” Goodspeed Musicals; Christopher d’Amboise, “Newsies,” Connecticut Repertory Theatre; Kelli Barclay, “The Will Rogers Follies,” Goodspeed Musicals; Todd L. Underwood, “Saturday Night Fever,” Ivoryton Playhouse
Ensemble: Cast of “Avenue Q” (Weston Chandler Long, James Fairchild, Ashley Brooke, Peej Mele, E J Zimmerman, Abena Mensah-Bonsu and Colleen Welsh ), Playhouse on Park; Cast of “The Wolves” (Shannon Keegan, Claire Saunders, Dea Julien, Carolyn Cutillo, Emily Murphy, Caitlin Zoz, Rachel Caplan, Olivia Hoffman, Karla Gallegos, Megan Byrne), TheaterWorks; Cast of “The Chosen” (Ben Edelman, George Guidall, Steven Skybell, Max Wolkowitz) Long Wharf Theatre; Cast of “The Game’s Afoot” (Erik Bloomquist, Victoria Bundonis, Molly Densmore, Katrina Ferguson, Michael Iannucci, Craig MacDonald, Maggie McGlone-Jennings, Beverly J. Taylor), Ivoryton Playhouse.
Featured actor in a play: James Cusati-Moyer, “Kiss,” Yale Repertory Theatre;
Peter Francis James, “Romeo and Juliet,” Westport Country Playhouse; Tom Pecinka, “Father Comes Home from the Wars, Parts 1, 2 & 3,” Yale Repertory Theatre; Dan Hiatt, “Father Comes Home from the Wars, Parts 1, 2 & 3,” Yale Repertory Theatre; Jason Bowen, “Native Son,” Yale Repertory Theatre
Featured actress in a play: Judith Ivy, “Fireflies,” Long Wharf Theatre; Darrie Lawrence, “The Age of Innocence,” Hartford Stage; Carly Polistina, “The Crucible,” Connecticut Repertory Theatre; Sierra Boggess, “The Age of Innocence,” Hartford Stage; Helen Cespedes, “The Age of Innocence,” Hartford Stage
Featured actor in a musical: Matt Faucher, “Oklahoma!,” Goodspeed Musicals; Joe Callahan, “Million Dollar Quartet,” Ivoryton Playhouse; Sean MacLaughlin, “Rags,” Goodspeed Musicals; David Garrison, “The Will Rogers Follies,” Goodspeed Musicals; Cory Candelet, “The Fantasticks,” Ivoryton Playhouse.
Features actress in a musical: Jodi Stevens, “Singin’ in the Rain,” Summer Theater of New Canaan; Gizel Jimenez, “Oklahoma!” Goodspeed Musicals; Nora Fox, “Saturday Night Fever,” Ivoryton Playhouse; Megan O’Callaghan, “Fun Home,” Music Theatre of Connecticut; Kimberly Immanuel, “The Fantasticks,” Ivoryton Playhouse.
Projection design: Yana Birykova, “Grounded,”Westport Country Playhouse; Luke Cantarella, “Rags,” Goodspeed Musicals; Lucas Clopton & Darron Alley, “A Midsummer Night’s Dream,” Hartford Stage; Wladimiro A. Woyno R., “Kiss,” Yale Repertory Theatre.
Set design: Emona Stoykova, “An Enemy of the People,” Yale Repertory Theatre; Alexander Dodge, “A Midsummer Night’s Dream,” Hartford Stage; Andrew Boyce, “Appropriate,” Westport Country Playhouse; David Lewis, “The Diary of Anne Frank,” Playhouse on Park; Martin Scott Marchitto, “The Fantasticks.” ,Ivoryton Playhouse
Costume design: Linda Cho, “Rags,” Goodspeed Musicals’ Linda Cho, “The Age of Innocence,” Hartford Stage; Joshua Pearson, “A Midsummer Night’s Dream,” Hartford Stage; Fabian Fidel Aguilar, “Romeo & Juliet,” Westport Country Playhouse; Leon Dobkowski, “The Legend of Georgia McBride,” TheaterWorks.
Lighting design: Ben Stanton, “The Age of Innocence,” Hartford Stage; Michael Chybowski, “1776,” Connecticut Repertory Theatre; Stephen Strawbridge, “Native Son,” Yale Repertory Theatre; Matthew Richards, “Appropriate,” Westport Country Playhouse; Yi Zhao, “Father Comes Home from the Wars, Parts 1, 2 & 3,”Yale Repertory Theatre.
Sound design: Frederick Kennedy, “Native Son,” Yale Repertory Theatre; Kate Marvin, “Grounded,” Westport Country Playhouse; Fitz Patton; “Appropriate,” Westport Country Playhouse; Jane Shaw, “A Lesson from Aloes,” Hartford Stage; Robert Kaplowitz, “Office Hour,” Long Wharf Theatre.
Debut: Shannon Keegan, “The Wolves,” TheaterWorks; Megan O’Callaghan, “The Bridges of Madison County” and “Fun Home,” Music Theatre of Connecticut; Noah Kierserman, “Newsies,” Connecticut Repertory Theatre.
DIRECTIONS: Westport Country Playhouse is at 25 Powers Court in Westport, just off Route (Exits 17 or 18 off I-91 brings you to Rt. 1.) www.westportplayhouse.org.
By Karen Isaacs
Athol Fugard, the South African playwright has the ability to illuminate universal issues in a way that is both personal and touching.
His A Lesson from Aloes which is getting a stunning production at Hartford Stage through Sunday, June 10 is just one example of this talent.
I first saw Aloes at its U.S. premiere at Yale Rep in 1980 before it went on to Broadway where it garnered a number of awards and nominations.
At that time, I found it a thought-provoking and a deeply disturbing play. When Hartford Stage announced it was closing the season with Aloes (originally a different Fugard play had been announced), I wondered if my recollections would be reinforced.
Let me say immediately, that they were. This play is everything a good play should be. It has characters that you come to care about, it brings to our minds issues that are universal, and you will walk out of the theater thinking and feeling.
While Fugard provides in the text all the background you absolutely must know, like many of earlier plays, this deals with Apartheid in South Africa and the repressive governmental regime. He says he began the play in the early ‘60s and after sporadic work on it, abandoned it in the early ‘70s only to have it return to him in the later ‘70s. It had its world premiere in 1978.
Apartheid, which was institutionalized in 1948, was a system of strict racial segregation with all residents being classified as “White,” “Asian” (Indian or Pakistani in heritage), “Coloured” (bi-racial) or “African” (Black Africans). “Africans” were forced to move from their homes to what were called “homelands” and strict segregation was enforced between each of the groups. “Africans” needed a “passbook” to travel into non-African areas. Contact between the groups was minimized so that even friendships were illegal.
Remember that South Africa had first been colonized by the Dutch, (called Boers or “Afrikaners”) and later the British. The Boer War between two Boer states and the British colony in 1899-1902 was over the control of gold mines. The British ultimately won (Winston Churchill’s reporting on the war and escape from capture, made his name in England). The result was the creation of an independent dominion of Great Britain as the Union of South Africa.
By the early 1960s, various protests had been held against the system but quashed by the government who used imprisonment, torture, banning (a method of forcing no contact with the individual), and other methods.
Aloes is set in Port Elizabeth which had seen numerous protests against apartheid, including multiple bus boycotts.
Piet is an Afrikaner but one who has joined the protest movement. He and his wife, Gladys who is of English descent, live a lower middle class life. He seems to have nothing to do but focus on his newest hobby — aloes, those plants that look somewhat like cacti and survive in the arid, hot environment near Port Elizabeth.
As the play opens he is trying to identify a mystery aloe, while his wife sits in the sun staring ahead. It is late afternoon and they are expecting visitors for supper: Piet’s friend Steve with his wife and four children. Piet after leaving a failing farm had been a bus driver and one day, during a bus boycott had abandoned his bus and listened to the protestors. Steve was speaking.
Though quiet, Gladys seems unsettled; something appears “not quite right with her.” The idea of guests rattles her.
As the act progress through the interactions of these two people, we learn so much more. That Steve had been “banned” and had broken the banning order by attending a party where he was arrested and jailed. That after the party, the security police searched Piet and Gladys’ house; they discovered diaries that Gladys had been keeping for years and confiscated them.
It isn’t until act two that Steve arrives, without his wife and children. He is leaving South Africa in a week to live in Britain. The inhospitable atmosphere has made it impossible for him to flourish and he fears his children would face the same future.
This triangle of backgrounds and points of view all share one thing: they have each been perhaps fatally wounded by the political repression and actions of the government.
Piet is viewed by some of his political colleagues as possibly the informer that let the police know that Steve would be at the party. He says he can make the case that any of the attendees were the one.
Gladys had a nervous breakdown following the confiscation of her diaries and feels her very privacy violated. She was hospitalized and underwent electric shock treatment.
Steve see no alternative but to leave his country, despairing that change will ever happen. [It took until 1994 for the apartheid system to finally end though it had been modified in the ‘80s.]
Each in his or her way is like the aloes that were able to survive in the environment. As Piet says, “we all need survival mechanisms” and the aloes have survived. Gladys though wants more than just to survive; she would readily follow Steve’s path and relocate to England but Piet is an Afrikaner through and through. Like the aloes he will not give up.
In this domestic drama, Fugard manages to explore the issues of how humans adapt and survive; the various mechanisms we use to convince ourselves that either we can change things or that things will change or that we can survive. The three characters have faced issues of trust and commitment to each other, to the country of their birth and to their principles. The ability to trust others has been shaken to the core.
Of the three, Gladys, played beautifully by Andrus Nichols, is the most complex. It might be due to the mental illness brought on by the raid and the idea that some anonymous men are reading her private diaries OR by deep seated anger and resentment with Piet and his ability to go on without acknowledging the situation. Put she is the instigator of some of the more explosive conversation with both her husband and with him and Steve. In some ways, she sees things more clearly that Piet.
Ariyon Bakare’s Steve is a simmering volcano. You wait for him to explode with rage at his situation – having been persecuted, jailed, discriminated against and now, seeing no recourse but to abandon his home. It isn’t been the first time he has been forced out; he and his father had to leave their home for the newly established “homelands” far from the sea where his father loved to fish. That he suspects Piet is no surprise.
But it is Randall Newsome (Piet) who with a minimum of movement and controlled emotions is the center of this piece. Newsome projects a quiet dignity and sense of self that is both admirable and, to Gladys, infuriating. Is he the idealist? Or is he blind to realities?
Director Darko Tresnjak, who immigrated to America with his mother when he was 10 from the repressive Communist Yugoslavia (now Serbia), certainly must have an understanding of what fear can do to people. He has said he believed this play had particular relevance for the current world situation. It is not difficult to see what he means.
Adding to his powerful direction – he uses stillness to maximum effect, he is aided by superb lighting by Matthew Richards which often focus our attention on the aloes – those stubborn, determined to survive plants. The sound design by Jane Shaw occasionally punctures the silence with reminders of the world outside.
Some may find A Lesson from Aloes to talky and slow moving.
But for me, it is a thought-provoking exploration of how different individuals cope with their environment and, like the aloes, learn to survive.
For tickets visit Hartford Stage or call 860-527-5151.
This content is courtesy of Shore Publications and zip06.com
By Karen Isaacs
Age of Innocence at Hartford Stage through May 6 is a stunning production. Yet, just like the characters, it is at times so controlled that real emotion is difficult to find.
Douglas McGrath has taken Edith Wharton’s novel of constricted high society in New York City in the 1870s and condensed it to 100 minutes. By focusing on specific scenes with little connection between them, at times it feels episodic and lacks flow. It also seems more difficult for the actors to develop their characters fully. It is like you are “dropping in” for a few minutes before leaving.
In some ways he and director Doug Hughes have tried to solve the problem with “the Old Gentleman” who serves as a narrator. He is actually the older version of the hero of the play.
Newland Archer is a young lawyer from a family well connected and a member of New York “high society”, what was sometimes known as “the 400.” He is engaged to be married to May Welland, the very conventional daughter of another wealthy society family. But before the marriage can take place – May insists on a year’s engagement – he meets her unconventional cousin, Countess Ellen Olenska who has returned to the City after leaving her husband and perhaps having a dalliance. All of society is horrified by her rejection of their rules and expectations, trying to ostracize her until one of the most prominent families declares that they can’t turn their backs on “one of their own.” Newland finds her both exciting and interesting as he meets her and later is assigned some legal work for her. Yet he goes through with the marriage to May which turns out to be as routine, predictable and dull as he had realized during the engagement. New things, new experiences, doing something different are all anathema to May.
With the Countess still in New York, the two are thrown together often both socially and because of the legal complications of her life. The relationship develops and both acknowledge their mutual attraction. He has even decided to run away with the Countess, who is returning to Europe (but not her husband) before May thwarts it.
The picture of society that Wharton and McGrath paint is damming. These are people who live by a strict set of rules that they have created about how one should behave, what is moral or not, and what is proper. They do not hesitate to ostracize any who violate them in even the slightest way, while viewing themselves as superior to all others, as shown by their causal prejudice and bigotry. They are snobs of the worst type.
That’s what makes most the characters so problematic; they lack any empathy or compassion, are smug in their certainty of their beliefs and feel they are the true leaders of not only society but also the country, or they should be.
So much of this production is excellent. The setting by John Lee Beatty is outstanding. It looks like a glass enclosed conservatory from the Victorian era replete with crystal chandeliers. It recalls a greenhouse or hot house where rare blooms are cultivated protected from any outside elements. A perfect metaphor for the society.
Add to that exquisite Victorian costumes by Linda Cho complete with bustles, boning and trains. No wonder the ladies had “the vapors” – they couldn’t take a deep breath. Add to that Ben Stanton’s fine lighting design.
Hughes makes good use of the piano at the back of the set; Yan Li is at the keyboard to provide background music – some of it recognizable and other parts written by Mark Bennet who also did the sound design. It is a perfect touch.
Boyd Gaines is magnificent as “the old gentleman.” He injects some humor as he mocks his younger self, empathy for the characters, and helps us understand these people. When he exits the stage, it hard not to feel pity for him and want to reach out to him.
Sierra Boggess plays the flamboyant countess who may be unconventional but seems to have the most developed sense of conscience and of proper behavior than any of the others. It’s a showy role and Boggess makes the most of it.
Andrew Veenstra plays Newland Archer, the very proper and conflicted young lawyer. Due to the unconnected short scenes, he has difficulty letting us really know this contradictory young man who begins to want to rebel against the expectations of the society.
Helen Cespedes plays Mae. She gives us hint that Mae has more cunning and awareness than we might think. It’s a difficult and unsympathetic role as she is so unwilling to break any convention.
Director Doug Hughes – would he please come back to Connecticut as an artistic director – sets a mood that doesn’t try to make these people easier to like than they are. He also stresses how contained they are in refusing to show emotions; these are people that you might characterize as “cold fish.”
Age of Innocence could be thought of us an “American” Masterpiece Theater drama. Certainly any who have seen “Downton Abby,” or the earlier “Forsyth Saga,” or the dramatization of the novels of Anthony Trollop or William Thackery will recognize these people.
For tickets visit Hartford Stage.
By Karen Isaacs
One person shows may seem easy, but are notoriously difficult. Not just in the performing but also in the creating. And when the performer is also the creator of the piece and it is biographical, the difficulties seem to multiply. The selection of the material, the editing and the drama is complicated by the fact that it is true and the author/performer is emotionally connected to the people and events.
Both the plusses and minus of this are on display at Hartford Stage’s production of Feeding the Dragon, written and performed by Sharon Washington.
Washington’s childhood was unusual due to where her home was located: in a custodial apartment in the St. Agnes branch of the New York Public Library on the upper west side of Manhattan. Her father was the custodian one of whose duties was to keep the old, coal operated furnace going: thus the expression “feeding the dragon.”
It was only for four years but these were obviously formative years. Unfortunately she never actually mentions how old she was during these years (1969-73) but from some of the episodes she recounts she probably was pre-teen or early teens.
In interviews, she has said that people encouraged to write her story because of the unusual location of the apartment. But certainly there is more that she wants to tell: the story of her working class African-American parents and their struggles; her sense of self as an African-American woman, and how she became an actress.
In this 90 minute play which will be heading to Off-Broadway’s Primary Stages, she is only partially successful. Leaving the theater, I was still puzzling over half told memories than left us hanging and things she never addressed at all.
She talks little about reading in the empty rooms of the Library after it had closed. But what books did she consume? How did they affect her? They obviously spurred her imagination but little is said. Did she have other adventures in the multiple rooms of the library?
The same thing happens when she tells a story about discovering some wrapped boxes in the bottom of her mother’s closet. The contents are unusual and puzzling. Later in the piece she briefly refers to it, but there is never a conclusion to the story. Why did her mother have those things? How had she gotten them? What was the significance? I thought of multiple possibilities but would have liked to know which was true. It’s hard to believe that Washington never spoke her mother about it.
Focus is one of the problems with this piece; what is the story she’s trying to tell? It goes in several directions, but each seems unsatisfying. It’s not told from the point of view of her as a child, but it doesn’t really bring the insight of her adult self.
The ending seems like a trite summing up of platitudes.
Washington is a fine actress, but as she plays the multiple people in her story, including her mother, aunts, grandmother and others, her portrayals are good, but not great. These are people she knows well, so you expect her characters would be fuller.
The set by Tony Ferrieri is simple, but suggests a library with the high stained glass windows and the card catalogue drawers creating the steps. Ann Wrightson has done a fine job with the lighting and Maria Mileaf’s direction injects both movement and variety to it.
But at the end, I looked at the tag line on the poster “her story speaks volumes” and realized that these were very incomplete volumes. So much more should have been possible.
Feeding the Dragon is at Hartford Stage through Feb. 4. For tickets visit Hartford Stage.
By Karen Isaacs
Next to Normal at TheaterWorks.
You could criticize practically nothing in this production. Rob Ruggiero cast it brilliantly with Christiane Noll, David Harris, Maya Keleher (in her professional debut), Nick Sacks and John Cardoza. Ruggiero used the aisles to add to the intimacy; it was remarkable.
A Midsummer Night’s Dream at Hartford Stage
This Shakespeare play is done so often, it is easy to say “oh no, not again.” But Darko Tresjnak’s production was outstanding. He balanced all the elements and did not let any one of the multiple plots overtake others. His handling of the play put on by “the mechanicals” at the ends was terrific.
Fireflies at Long Wharf
Jane Alexander, Judith Ivy and Denis Ardnt gave touching performances, creating real people in this sweet romance about an older, retired school teacher, her nosy next store neighbor, a drifter. Gordon Edelstein kept it moving and preventedit from becoming saccharine.
Rags at Goodspeed
This story of Jewish immigrants on the lower east side of New York was completely revamped for this production: extensive revisions of the book, lyrics and songs. The result wasn’t perfect but with Rob Ruggiero’s sensitive direction, this show touched the heart.
The Absolute Brightness of Leonard Plekey at Hartford Stage
This may have been a touring show, but James Lecesne not only was brilliant in turning his novel into a one actor play but did so much outreach in the community on the issues of teens facing bullying due to sexual orientation.
Diary of Ann Frank at Playhouse on Park
David Lewis made full use of the large and sometimes awkward stage area to create the attic in which the Franks and others hid for many years. Director Ezra Barnes cast the show almost perfectly from Isabelle Barbier as Anne to the entire ensemble. It was touching and real.
A Comedy of Errors at Hartford Stage
It is perhaps Shakespeare’s silliest play and director Darko Tresnjak emphasizes it beginning with his own colorful Mediterranean village set, a canal with real water and more. Who cares if the lines sometimes gets lost in the process?
Seder at Hartford Stage
How do you survive in a repressive regime? How do you make others, who have not lived through it, understand your choices? That was at the heart of this new play which thoroughly engaged me. Plus it had Mia Dillion once again showing her skills.
Wolves at TheaterWork
Wolves was a sensitive and insightful look into both the world of girls’ sports (in this case a soccer team) but also into the society that teenagers create for themselves. Though a few of the young actresses looked a little too old, we become totally engaged in them and their lives.
The Games Afoot at Ivoryton
Sometimes just seeing actors have a great time with a so-so play is more than enough. That was the case in this comic thriller by Ken Ludwig. It succeeded because of director Jacqueline Hubbard, set designer Daniel Nischan and a cast that just had fun.
The runners up
“Trav’lin’ –the 1920s Harlem Musical at Seven Angels.
It may not be a great musical, but this show introduced me to a lesser known composer – J. C. Johnson who wrote “This Joint is Jumpin’” and many others. The plot is simplistic but the cast was wonderful.
Noises Off at Connecticut Repertory Theater
My favorite farce got a fine production this summer with some inventive touches by director Vincent J. Cardinal, terrific casting and timing that was just about perfect.
Million Dollar Quartet at Ivoryton
This show lives and dies on the quality of the performers and here Ivoryton Playhouse and executive director Jacqui Hubbard hit the jackpot. All six of the major performers are experienced and the four “legends” have all played their roles before.
The Bridges of Madison County at MTC
The music is glorious and Kevin Connors created a production that worked very well on his three sided stage. While the chemistry didn’t seem to be there, musically the cast was strong.
The Great Tchaikovsky at Hartford Stage
Hershey Felder combines his talents as pianist, actor and director to create shows about the lives for well-known popular and classical composers. This show about Tchaikovsky was a delight.
Heartbreak House at Hartford Stage
Darko Tresnjak directed this version of Shaw’s masterpiece. It might have made the top ten BUT for one decision that Tresnjak made: he decided to make Boss Mangan a Donald Trump look/act alike. The similarity would have been recognizable without it and it distracted from the play.
Endgame at Long Wharf
Samuel Beckett writes difficult plays requiring an audience to understand his pessimistic world view and his abstract characters and plots. Gordon Edelstein directed a production that may not have been definitive but gave us outstanding performances by Reg E. Cathey, Brian Dennehy and Joe Grifasi.
Biloxi Blues at Ivoryton
This Neil Simon play, part of the Eugene trilogy got a fine production directed by Sasha Bratt that focused less on the laughs and more on the situation.
Native Son at Yale Rep
This production boasted a terrific performance by Jerod Haynes as Bigger, an urbanset by Ryan Emens and jazzy sounds by Frederick Kennedy that produced a taut, film noir feel to this story about race and prejudice.
Romeo & Juliet at Westport Country Playhouse
Mark Lamos, who is a fine director of Shakespeare gave us a pared down version of this classic tragedy that featured some fine performances – including Nicole Rodenburg as Juliet, Felicity Jones Latta as the Nurse, and Peter Francis James as Friar Lawrence, plus a magical set by Michael Yeargan. Lamos emphasized the youth and energy.
West Side Story at Ivoryton
This production had many more plusses – Mia Pinero as Maria, Natalie Madion as Anita, good direction by Todd L. Underwood – than minuses.
By Karen Isaacs
A Christmas Carol – A Ghost Story of Christmas has returned to Hartford Stage for its 20th year of performances through Saturday, Dec. 30. Over that time, Bill Raymond was Scrooge 17 years.
But now, the role is in the very capable hands of Michael Preston and director Rachel Alderman.
If this is the first time you are seeing this show, it is as wonderful as ever. For the long-time fans of this production, there are some subtle changes.
Preston is terrific as Scrooge. Calling on his background with the Flying Karamazov Brothers he throws in a bit of juggling and some judicious physical comedy to the delight of the audience. He also makes Scrooge sterner in the beginning. Though he prepares us for Scrooge’s well known redemption, he doesn’t soften the man at the beginning. When he begrudges Bob Cratchit a lump of coal, his wages or refuses to donate to help the needy, there is no sense that this is a game that we should be in on. It is the man.
Over the years, Raymond had added too many winks to the early scenes; he made it not only more difficult to believe Scrooge was so nasty, but also made the redemption seem less like a “miracle.”
With Preston you are amazed at the transformation. While some of the cast from previous years return to their roles, new cast has joined the group. Yet even the returnees have evolved their characters in response to the new Scrooge. Noble Shropshire is even more tart as Scrooge’s housekeeper, Mrs. Dilber, and Robert Hannon Davis’ Bob Cratchit seems even more put-upon. Alan Rust returns as both Bert, the cider vendor and the Spirit of Christmas present. His good humor is in sharp contrast to Scrooge.
Added to the cast this year are Rebecka Jones as Betty Pidgeon, the doll vendor as well as the Spirit of Christmas Past and Old Josie. Her portrayals are spot on.
Director Rachel Alderman has used multi-racial casting throughout the production with Terrell Donnell Sledge playing both Scrooge at 30 and his nephew, Fred. His performance and those of Shauna Miles as Mrs. Fezziwig and Vanessa R. Butler as both Fred’s wife, and Belle, Scrooge’s one-time fiancé are good. Yet some audience members may be disconcerted by it all or wonder about the genetics involved.
It seemed to me that this production was crisper than usual; the credit goes to Alderman.
Once again the special effects – the lighting by Robert Wierzel, scenic design by Tony Straiges, costumes by Alejo Vietti, sound and original music by John Gromada and choreography by Hope Clarke are all excellent. And of course, the marvelous flying effects by ZFX, Inc. I hope they figure out a way to let Scrooge fly also. It is a matter of logistics since he is on stage so much but casn’t be in the flying harness the entire show.
Quibbles? That the voices of the children were hard to hear. But that is a minor complaint.
If you have never seen this production, remember the subtitle: A Ghost Story of Christmas. Ghosts play a major role in the piece and their masks and actions can be appropriately eerie. This may not be the right production for younger children or any child easily scared.
For all the rest of us, this is a wonderful gift to Connecticut. Even if you’ve seen it before, you should definitely see it again this holiday season.
It is at Hartford Stage, 50 Church Street through Dec. 30. For tickets visit Hartford Stage or call 860-527-5151.
This content is courtesy of Shore Publishing Weeklies and zip06
By Karen Isaacs
How do you take over a part that for 20 years has been play almost exclusively by one actor? Michael Preston is facing that dilemma as the new Scrooge in the Hartford Stage production of A Christmas Carol – A Ghost Story of Christmas, which runs through Sunday, Dec. 30.
Preston admitted that Bill Raymond, the former Scrooge who retired from the role last year, had been a hero of his. “It was great to work with him,” Preston said, referring to playing Mr. Marvel for several years in the production. But he admits it is a “little strange” taking over the part.
“I see Scrooge as a man who has turned away from any comfort and shut himself off,” Preston said. “It’s about loss and disappointment, which are human traits.”
“It’s the journey he (Scrooge) takes to reach a point of celebrating life and touching people,” he added. “At any moment one of the ghosts could send him down.”
For both Preston and director Rachel Alderman, this adaptation by Michael Wilson (former Artistic Director at Hartford Stage) gets to the heart of the story and focuses on the dynamic relationships.
“Everyone is trying to get him (Scrooge) to change and reaching out to him,” Alderman said. This adaptation is so reflective of the heart and warmth of Michael Wilson; it just infuses the entire story, she added.
Preston views the role as “tremendously entertaining” which requires “great clowning,” “You have to prepare the audience for the ending; Scrooge is has very human traits that are unpleasant, but there is a small spark within him, that the ghosts and his associates manage to fan,” Preston said. “You have to find the moment when he changes.”
One of Alderman’s responsibilities is adapting the staging to the new cast members – not only are there three new performers in major roles, but three others are switching roles. Plus there are the students from Hartt School of the University of Hartford which comprise the ensemble and the numerous children in the cast.
In the space of just six weeks, the cast will perform the show almost 50 times – 34 regular performances and 14 school group performances. For those, Buzz Roddy plays Scrooge.
“The audiences are so enthusiastic that energizes the cast,” Alderman said. “For some it is an annual event, some have never seen live theater, and each year there are grandparents bringing their grandchildren to the show.” The cast, she says, feels that and responds to it.
It’s the audience as well as the students and children who help keep the whole show renewed and alive, she said.
Once again, a sensory-friendly performance will be available at reduced prices on Saturday, Dec. 2. This is geared for families with autism or other sensory sensitivities. A variety of accommodations to the production are made. For information on this, contact hartfordstage.org/sensory-friendly.
Local craftspeople will fill the lobby of the theater on “Market Days” that begin Sunday, Dec. 3 and continue the following two weekends. It’s been a popular event for audience members who can shop the unique offerings and local businesses.
For tickets or information, visit Hartford Stage.
By Karen Isaacs
Two new Scrooges are gracing Connecticut stages this holiday season. Each will bring takes on the classic character and story of A Christmas Carol.
A new musical version of the story is at Goodspeed Musicals through Sunday, Dec. 24. A Connecticut Christmas Carol is the brainchild of LJ Fecho and Michael O’Flaherty, Goodspeed’s longtime music director.
“We had the idea about two years ago,” O’Flaherty said. “We had done a very silly and fun Pennsylvania Dutch version a few years ago. Larry (the book is written by him) suggested setting it in Connecticut”.
The setting is the Goodspeed Opera House around 1925 and where William Gillette, the famous actor who lived up the river from the Opera House, planning a production of the story.
The unique part of this production – besides a totally original score that O’Flaherty characterizes as “pure musical” – is that the various ghosts are famous Connecticut residents – from Mark Twain, Harriet Beecher Stowe and P. T. Barnum. These three play the ghosts of Christmas Past, Christmas Present and Christmas yet-to-be.
This Scrooge, played by Lenny Volpe (he was Cap’n Andy in Goodspeed’s production of Show Boat) is not an ogre, O’Flaherty said. “We needed someone with strong comedic chops who could pull off the lightness of the ending.”
The show is being presented at Goodspeed’s Terris Theatre in Chester. There’s a number of special events and promotions during the run. For information and tickets, visit Goodspeed.org or call 860-873-8668.
While the production is a favorite of theater goers throughout the state, a new Scrooge is taking over at Hartford Stage. The annual presentation of A Christmas Carol – A Ghost Story of Christmas which runs through Saturday, Dec. 30.
It’s the 20th year for this adaptation by former Artistic Director Michael Wilson; each year it sells out, despite many performances. For most of these twenty years, Scrooge was played by Bill Raymond. But last year, he announced his retirement.
Michael Preston, who had played Mr. Marvel has taken over the part. It’s being staged by Artistic Associate Rachel Alderman. Alderman says this year’s production features some new costumes and new designs. While admitting to some hesitation at taking over from Raymond, Preston said he is looking forward to creating his own interpretation of the classic character.
In addition to all the usual performances, for the fourth year, a sensory-friendly performance is scheduled for Saturday, Dec. 2. Ticket prices are reduced by 50 percent to make the show more accessible for families with autism or other sensory sensitivities. Changes in the production include reductions in jarring Moises or strobe lights and startling effects. In addition house lights are only dimmed, audience members can move about and there is trained staff, volunteers and designated quiet areas and stress relievers available. For information about this performance visit hartfordstage.org/sensory-friendly.
A Christmas Story
One of the first holiday shows is a return visit of the Broadway musical, A Christmas Story, at the Bushnell in Hartford, Friday, Nov. 24 to Sunday, Nov. 26. The musical that had numerous Tony nominations is based on the Jean Shepherd essay which became a classic film. The creative team of Benj Pasek and Justin Paul (Tony Award for Dear Evan Hansen, Academy Award for La La Land), did the music and lyrics. It’s about Ralphie, his desire for a Red Ryder air rifle, and his family in an Indiana town in the 1940s. Though it is a short run, the show is terrific and it will get the holiday season off in a heart-warming but comic way. For tickets visit bushnell.org or call 860-987-5900.
Very few people remember the days when radio aired plays with live studio audiences watching as the actors played multiple parts, carried scripts and presented well works and created reality with the aid of sound effects.
Connecticut resident has adapted two famous Christmas stories into the radio play format. Each has become a holiday tradition, not just in Connecticut but throughout the country.
Ivoryton Playhouse is giving us It’s a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play from Thursday, December 7 to Sunday, Dec. 17. Inspired by the classic American film, five actors, directed by Sasha Bratt, perform the dozens of characters in the radio play as well as produce the sound effects. For tickets visit IvorytonPlayhouse.org or call 860-767-7318.
While you are attending the Playhouse you can also see the Ivoryton Illuminations which runs to Friday, Jan. 5. More than 350,000 lights are throughout the village and on Connecticut’s tallest Christmas tree.
MTC (Music Theatre of Connecticut) gives us the radio play version of A Christmas Carol from Friday, Dec. 1 to Sunday, Dec. 17. Again, you are the studio audience as actors play multiple roles and handle sound effects to create the perfect illusion for the radio audience who would be listening at home. For tickets, contact musictheatreofct.com or call 203-454-3883 MTC is located at 509 Westport Avenue (behind Nine West) in Norwalk.
We all love the cartoon of A Charlie Brown Christmas, but now you can see a live production on stage at the Bushnell. All the favorite Peanuts characters come to life in this all-new touring stage adaptation of Charles M. Schulz’s classic Emmy and Peabody Award-winning animated television special – all set to Vince Guaraldi’s unforgettable music. It runs Friday, Dec. 1 to Sunday, Dec. 3. For tickets visit bushnell.org or call 860-987-5900.
Another well-loved TV cartoon, Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer, makes a stop at New Haven’s Shubert Theatre. The show is new to the city though it played in Hartford for two years. It runs Friday, Dec. 8 to Sunday, Dec. 10. For tickets visit Shubert.com or call 203-562-5666
The holiday season would not be the same without productions of Tchaikovsky’s famed ballet, The Nutcracker.
A very original take on the classic, returns to the Bushnell in Hartford where it wowed audiences last year. That’s The Hip Hop Nutcracker, an evening-length production performed by a supercharged cast of a dozen all-star dancers, DJ and violinist. The press materials says, “Through the spells cast by the mysterious Drosselmeyer, Maria-Clara and her prince, Myron, travel back in time to the moment when her parents first meet in a nightclub. Digital scenery transforms E.T.A. Hoffmann’s story of a palace of sugarplums into a romance set in 1980s Brooklyn. The dance work celebrates love, community and the magic of New Year’s Eve.” It’s at the Bushnell on Sunday, Dec. 17. For tickets contact bushnell.org.
You have your choice of more traditional takes on the classic. The Connecticut Ballet’s production, Saturday, Dec. 16 and Sunday, Dec. 17 is in Stamford and features guest arts from the New York City Ballet and the American Ballet Theatre. For tickets visit palacestamford.org. The Bushnell has the Nutmeg Ballet’s production also on Saturday and Sunday, Dec. 15 and 16. For tickets visit burshnell.org. The New Haven Ballet at the Shubert Theatre features guest artists from major ballet companies. It’s Saturday and Sunday, Dec. 16 and 17. For tickets visit the203-562-5666 or at www.shubert.com.
In addition, The Kate is broadcasting the Bolshoi Ballet’s Nutcracker in high definition on Tuesday, Dec. 19. Toyota Oakdale Theater is presenting The Great Russian Nutcracker on Saturday, Dec. 2. For tickets, call 800-745-3000.
If you are looking for something a little more cynical or adult, you have several choices. The Shubert Theater is presenting The Santaland Diaries based on the essay by David Sedaris. This one person play is about the fictionalized experiences of Sedaris when he worked one Christmas season as an elf at Macy’s – 34th Street Santaland. It runs Friday, Nov. 24 to Sunday, Nov. 26.
TheaterWorks in Hartford is bringing back Christmas on the Rocks for the fifth year. This series of short one-act plays, shows us what all of those famous children from various holidays stories became when they grew up. So we see an adult Ralphie (A Christmas Story), Tim (A Christmas Carol), Clara (The Nutcracker), Charlie Brown (A Charlie Brown Christmas) and more. A new episode this year is based on the children from It’s a Wonderful Life. It runs Tuesday, Nov. 28 through Saturday, Dec. 23. For tickets visit theaterworksHartford.org or call 860-527-7838.
Sister’s Christmas Catechism is also returning to Connecticut stages this year. It’s at Long Wharf Theatre from Tuesday, Dec. 5 to Sunday, Dec. 17. It’s subtitled The Mystery of the Magi’s Gold and Sister uses science, local choirs and some audience members to find out what happened to the gold. There’s lots of audience interaction. For tickets visit longwharf.org or call 203-787-4282.
Playhouse on Park is again presenting what is billed as a “Burlesque Extravaganza,” Mama D’s Christmas Stocking: Where’s Santa? What is it? The press material says it’s a celebration of “all things sexy in an evening of music, dance and comedy.” The material admits “We’re rude, we’re crude and we’re partially nude.” The event is scheduled the weekends of Dec.15-16, 22-23, 29-30 and a special New Year’s Eve show. For tickets or information, visit playhouseonpark.org or call 800-523-5900.
With so many offerings, you are bound to find something that will fit your schedule and your taste.
This content is courtesy of Shore Publication Weeklies and zip06.com

domain: entertainment