Date: Fri 30-Oct-1998

By Previous Employees

Published: Aug 11, 1999 12:00 am

Publication: Bee

Author: SHIRLE

Quick Words:

Philemon-theatre-Sherman

Full Text:

(rev "Philemon" @Sherman Players)

THEATRE REVIEW: A Short, Enjoyable History Lesson

(with cut)

By Julie Stern

SHERMAN -- "Try to remember..." a time when the Tom Jones/Harvey Schmidt

musical The Fantasticks wasn't running somewhere Off Broadway in New York

City. Now director Jocelyn Beard has taken on the challenge of staging a much

more rarely performed work by the same pair at the Sherman Playhouse:

Philemon.

Vastly different from Fantasticks, this show has more in common with works

like Godspell or Jesus Christ Superstar, the Sixties rock operas that used

contemporary music to update a passion play.

Set in the Roman city of Antioch in 287 AD at a time when Christians were

being persecuted as revolutionaries, Philemon , based on an actual historical

incident, deals with a third-rate actor-clown who agrees to work as a spy for

the local garrison commander by impersonating a charismatic Christian leader.

Cockian, the corrupt and totally amoral protagonist, is put into prison where

he pretends to be Philemon, the heroic Christian hero whom people in Antioch

have only heard about, but never met. The idea is he will make friends with

the other prisoners and get them to reveal the secret codes and chain of

command that holds the Christian underground together.

In exchange for doing this, Cockian will be given safe passage back to Rome,

and enough money to set him up in his own theater.

Perhaps you can guess the outcome.

There is a wealth of talent in the cast, both in the acting and singing. Peter

Frost as Cockian is bit reminiscent of Michael Douglas, in looks as well as

diction, and plays his part like the son of Spartacus should.

Steve Faiella is excellent as the jaded and cynical Marcus, the garrison

commander who hates being out in the stocks and needs to suppress this

Christian rebellion in order to earn a promotion. Catherine Moles as Cockian's

partner, and Heather McNeil as the vision of his long dead wife, also do a

fine job, as does the rest of the cast, all of whom are on stage all the time,

serving as a sort of classical chorus.

Jocelyn Beard's direction is faultless as well. The only problem I had was

with the music itself. I think that is what made the Fantasticks truly

memorable. Unfortunately, the score of Philemon is somewhat less than

inspired.

However, if you really like Godspell and Superstar you might enjoy this.

Certainly it makes for an interesting history lesson, and happily it isn't too

long.

(Performances continue at the Sherman Playhouse through November 7. Call

354-3622 for details.)

The Way We Were

Malcolm Andrew 'Andy' Bryant

Top Of The Mountain

Garden Club Spring Plant Sale Saturday

Full Slate Of May Programs Planned By Flagpole Photographers

The editorial took no position on the budget going up or down so you're reading things into the editorial that simply aren't there. The turnout is tied to the lack of passage, in that people who came out to vote last time did not this time, indicating a lack of support on their part. Perhaps it wasn't spelled out clearly enough, but that's what the editorial was driving at, people showing lack of support by not casting a vote. The editorial did address likely concerns among voters that may have led to lack of support and lack of turnout. This lower turnout also follows increasing turnout over the past four referendums in three years (meaning it is an aberration from that), and increased turnout is something that I do push for regularly in editorials. Any disappointment you might be seeing is at the break in that trend, not at whether the budget passed or not. I'd rather see more people come out and vote "no" then not vote at all.

Lower Turnout Results In Two Budget Defeats

Clearly, property owners no longer want to bear the burden of expenses while the state does not meet it’s responsibilities. Rising costs must be addressed by actions that do not include yearly increases of property owners’ taxes. The state of CT must meet its share of the educational costs, and other costs.

Town And School Budgets Fail At Referendum

This feels like an oddly misleading headline and narrative, particularly coming from the Editorial Board. The headline "Lower Turnout Results in Two Budget Defeats" pushes a misleading narrative regarding voter turnout, and then seeks to tie the outcome of the referendum to that misleading narrative. Sure, voter turn out for this year's referendum, 18%, was lower than last year's. However, last year's turnout, 25.4%, represented the highest turnout in the most recent 10 budget referendums. If you take the time to examine turnout percentages between 2017 and 2026 (2017: 19.9, 2018: 15.7, 2019: 17, 2020: 0, 2021: 8.98, 2022: 7.7, 2023: 8.8, 2024: 15.1/17.49, 2025: 25.4, 2026: 18), this year's turnout was actually the third highest in the past 10 cycles. Perhaps the headline of this article should say "Lower Voter Turnout Than Last Year", which is more accurate, rather than creating an impression that this year's turnout is some type of aberration - a narrative that the turnout numbers, in all their binary glory, simply do not support. Further, the headline of this article appears to tie the "lower turnout" to the defeated budgets. Sure, that could be true. But, perhaps, its more likely that Newtown residents are feeling the squeeze of multiple economic influences. In Newtown, we've experienced property revaluations and increased municipal spending. Eversource continues to raise rates. The state legislature gives PURA the authority to impose Public Benefit charges that benefit a tiny percentage of the public (and subsequently burdening the rest of us). At the national level, inflation has run rampant for years and many of those costs remain high to this day. In short, the data tells a far less dramatic—and far more honest—story than the headline suggests. This wasn’t an electorate vanishing in apathy; it was a fairly typical turnout delivering an verdict that, perhaps, some at the Editorial Board didn't like. At some point, it’s worth considering that residents aren’t confused, disengaged, or misled by turnout; they’re simply doing math at their kitchen tables and concluding that “no” is the only responsible answer left.

Enjoyed the forum which only confirmed my support for Brandon Moore as the Democratic candidate to run for the state representative position. Brandon Moore did not waiver about his duty to all the people, if elected, when an issue presents itself that requires that he voice a difference of opinion for the wellbeing of Newtown residents. If Michelle Ku’s 16 years have led to her loyalty being to other elected officials, as she implied, then Newtown is going to continue to witness actions that do not protect its residents. She could not unseat republican, Mitch Bolinsky, during a Blue Wave, and once again, will not do it now. Winning that seat is critical for all. That explains why her previous campaign committee now campaigns for Brandon Moore. It explains all the endorsements he has received from local elected democratic officials. It’s why we need Brandon Moore to be the democratic candidate to run for state representative.

Second Newtown DTC, League Of Women Voters Candidates Event Planned

Appreciated the opportunity to hear from both candidates as we were present for the College Dems forum but only heard from Brandon Moore. It was an opportunity to see who can unseat the Republican incumbent and there is no doubt that Brandon Moore should be the Democratic candidate. One concerned parent posed a question about discrimination unaddressed by the school district and interestingly enough, Michelle Ku, who proudly speaks of her Board membership years, said little, while Brandon Moore passionately addressed the issue along with his experience as an Apache Helicopter Commander. This family is supporting Brandon Moore. We need change and someone who is not afraid to disagree, especially about the rising costs of living in Newtown.

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Date: Fri 30-Oct-1998

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