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| "Emma" at the Cleveland Playhouse |
Saturday morning… As I begin to write I am high with excitement because today I am going to The Cleveland Playhouse with my sister Marg Anderson. I’ll get ready to leave in about an hour. We are going to see a matinee presentation of “Emma,” based on the classic novel of the same name by Jane Austin. Most Austin fans have read “Emma” several times. It’s a great book that has definitely withstood the test of time (actually centuries). It’s about a young women who lived in England in the early 1800s (I believe); she takes care of her father and sees to the needs of many other people, especially taking great pleasure in matchmaking. Most of her schemes to link men and women together as a couple go awry. But that really doesn’t stop her. She’s a bit frivolous but is a truly good-hearted creature, as evidenced by the care she lavishes on her father. He is definitely a worrier and perhaps a hypochondriac. She is also wonderfully affectionate to her governess and that gives readers insight into her loving, caring nature. At the end of the story, she herself falls in love — and with a man to whom she has been a friend all of her life. I’m definitely looking forward to the play as I have never seen “Emma” dramatized on stage. There are several movie adaptations of it, some of which are quite good. When I finish writing this column later this weekend, I’ll let you know how what I think of the play — and the lecture which precedes it. The Friends of Port Clinton Parks group is hosting two pancake suppers. Proceeds from these will benefit renovations at Lakeview Park, specifically to build a sidewalk on the south side of the paved parking lot there. This will feature six ornamental lampposts and several benches for the enjoyment of those who stroll through the area and want to sit and relax while looking out at our Great Lake Erie. The pancakes will be mixed and flipped by Port Clinton’s own Bob Underwood. And Bob can make better pancakes than anybody! He will be making several flavors including blueberry, pecan and buttermilk. These will be served with sausage, fruit, coffee and soft drinks at St. Thomas Episcopal Church at the corner of Second and Jefferson streets, from 5 to 7 p.m. March 9 and 23. Cost is $6 for adults and $4 for kids. If you cannot attend the suppers but wish to make a donation to this worthwhile project, contact Rev. Bob Butcher. Here is early news of an event that will take place in Lakeview Park later this year. The Port Clinton Artists Club is issuing a call for artists to bring their artwork to the 53rd annual “Arts in the Park” festival on Aug. 7 and 8. This is always a wonderful show. Exceptional and original art is displayed and sold by 150 artists who come to this area to display their work in this show. Some come from as far away as Florida. Ceramics, jewelry, miscellaneous arts and crafts, paintings, drawings, photography, textiles and more are among the offerings. All must be originally designed and created by the artist. If you’re an artisan and want to participate, call Barbara Radebaugh at 419-797-3313. Ottawa County Extension Agent Marcia Jess sent me some information about a “Take Charge of Your Diabetes” program on Tuesday, March 30. This will be held at 6:30 p.m. at the Agriculture Building, 240 W. Lake St. at Oak Harbor. Participants will learn about signs of diabetes and complications from it. They will also learn ways to manage the condition, including how to determine food portions and how to get regular exercise. A cooking demonstration will feature French fruit tarts, green beans, cranberries, nuts and spicy grilled chicken. Seating is limited and the program is free so call 419-898-3631 to sign up. The Extension Office also offers a three-session class called Dining with Diabetes. This provides more detailed information. If you’re interested, call the number above to inquire about it. Jay Bou Sliman sent an e-mail about The Islander Grill at 4590 E. Sand Road. The restaurant is open Tuesday through Saturday and features many of the menu selections from “The Garden,” formerly in Port Clinton. Friends of mine who have dined there say the food and atmosphere are great. I’m going to try it soon. Congratulations to the Port Clinton High School Boy’s Basketball team for their spectacular undefeated season. WOW! People who watched them regularly had nothing but praise for this fine team. At the time of this writing they are on the tournament trail. We all wish them good luck in these endeavors. “Swimming Upstream” is the motion picture to be shown March 12 in the Cinema Arts Series at 7 p.m. at the Ida Rupp Library. Admission is free. Please use the west door off Third Street to enter. “Bound for Glory” will be shown on March 19. These good movies are a wonderful treat on cold winter nights. And now that it is not yet spring they’ll help you throw off your “cabin fever.” You’re invited! Magee Marsh is looking for volunteers for its upcoming bird-watching season. One of the best-kept secrets around, not many people know that our local marsh is one of the 10 best birding sites in the nation. Volunteers work two days a month March through November and meet folks from all over the world. Interested? Call Mary at 419-898-0960, ext. 31. Monday night… Well, “Emma” at the Cleveland Playhouse on Saturday afternoon was fun but not quite so good as “Pride and Prejudice,” another Jane Austen work that played there a while back. That’s what my sister and I thought, anyway. The second act of this two-act play seemed better than the first. I really don’t know much about it but my very amateur opinion was that that the script was good but the directing should have been better. Things perked up as the play neared the end and we really enjoyed that portion of it. We also went to the lecture that preceded the play and this time that was a panel discussion. We loved that and felt that we learned a lot from the panelists. They discussed techniques of adapting books as dramatizations. It was great. Until next week …
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