Date: Fri 01-May-1998

By CAROL LEWIS

Published: Aug 11, 1999 12:00 am

Publication: Bee

Author: CAROLL

Quick Words:

Noonan-Coupla-Chicks-theatre

Full Text:

(rev "Coupla White Chicks Sitting Around Talking" @Stamford)

Theatre Review--

"White Chicks" Predictable, But Still Very Enjoyable At STW

(with cut)

By June April

STAMFORD -- Sassy, snappy and surprisingly succinct, John Ford Noonan's A

Coupla White Chicks Sitting Around Talking is a delightful and entertaining

play which is the last for Stamford Theatre Works' 1997-98 season.

In less than a week, two very different women become friends when their worlds

collide and shift in orbit. As the "perfect House and Garden /Martha Stewart"

Westchester housewife, Maude Mix is invaded by her new neighbor, Hannah Mae

Bindler. The two are as opposite in physical appearance as they are in

personality... at least on the surface.

Playing the warm, folksy and loud-mouthed former Texas cheerleader, Susan

Patrick is tall, dark, flashy and outgoing. A voice teacher at HB Studio in

New York, this actress is bright and fast-talking.

Petite and blonde, Deanne Lonette's portrayal of the uptight Maude is

sensitive and beautifully spoken. Her Shakespearian experiences are very

evident in her acting. The latent passions within her are sometimes a little

more zealously exhibited than is necessary for the audience to understand, but

Lonette is a very fine actress and delightful in the role.

Director Nela Wagman used backstage manager Dora Gorham in a creative,

integrated way. Between scene changes Ms Gorham danced around the set to the

music as she picked up and put down the appropriate props. It was funny and

different, and thoroughly enjoyed.

Written almost 18 years ago, Connecticut playwright John Ford Noonan's Coupla

White Chicks... demonstrates a wicked sense of humor, and an appreciation of

women. A teacher, television scriptwriter, actor and playwright, Mr Noonan

brings an awareness of his craft into this production. Though it is fairly

predictable, the play moves quickly and it is fun and provocative.

Playing through May 10, this reviewer gives a pat on the back once again to

Stamford Theatre Works and Artistic Director Steve Karp for offering audiences

theatre very much worth going to.

For tickets and further information call the box office at 359-4414.

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Well that is some spin. The Democrats have a super majority on the LC and passed the Education Budget without serious consideration of if the voters could afford the multi million dollar increase. "Was the request justified?" rather than "is this needed?" and "can the voters shoulder yet another large increase?" The voters rightly sent it back. Then for some reason all the discussion around reductions to the increase seemed to be coming from the classroom, rather than administration and overhead costs. Is this a coercive tactic to manipulate parents into supporting the budget like tacit threat of cutting freshman sports was two years ago? Who believes the Democrats did not caucus privately before the meeting and came in with a number already worked out? This is the Dems budget, they own it.

Education Cuts: Who Voted For What

I think it is important that we do not villainize every black box seen around a home, business, farm, or municipal property. A black exterior station does not always mean rat poison is being used. These stations can hold a number of different products, including monitoring blocks, snap traps, non-toxic bait, anti-tick bait stations, organic salt- or cornmeal-based control products, and newer fertility-control approaches intended to reduce rodent populations without traditional poisons. The better conversation, in my opinion, is not simply “black boxes are bad,” but rather: what is inside them, who is maintaining them, and whether the rodent issue is being managed responsibly. Exclusion, sanitation, trapping, habitat reduction, and careful monitoring should all be part of a responsible IPM strategy. To be fair, on my own property I do use rodenticides, including Bromethalin and Bromadiolone, in secured bait stations. But that is a choice I make for my property, based on my circumstances and the risk I am trying to manage. I also believe property owners should understand the tradeoffs and be encouraged to use the least harmful effective method whenever possible. I support protecting Newtown’s wildlife. I also support giving residents accurate information and not assuming that every black box represents reckless or unsafe pest control. The goal should be responsible rodent management, not fear of the box itself.

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Debora, thank you! I accidentally doubled the project prices by adding the bond to the appropriation. Thank you so much for catching that and pointing it out. With the corrected numbers, the voters approved a combined $1.32 million for a salt shed ($600k) and library pavement ($720k), while rejecting the $1.12 million replacement turf. Regarding the 80s, I truly respect the hurdle of 14% mortgage rates. My point is simply that the math has shifted: in 1980, while the rates were higher, the price of a home relative to earnings was significantly lower. We are facing a different, but equally crushing, financial wall. Ultimately, it is disheartening that voters who recognized safe sidewalks and parking lots as essential, dismissed a playing field in the exact same condition. The turf has passed its life cycle and is just as much of a liability as the library’s pavement, the only difference is that this safety concern affects thousands of children who, coincidentally, cannot vote. These are apples-to-apples needs. I was hopeful our community would agree that all Newtown residents deserve safe conditions, regardless of which facility they utilize. Again, I would be remiss not to mention that when 82% of residents don’t show up, we have to deal with the interests of those who did. Hopefully, the next referendum will have a bigger turnout.

The ‘Me’ Generation

Thanks for the reply. I meant the numbers you presented in your letter. I found one place where other numbers were listed: https://www.newtownbee.com/04232026/get-out-and-vote-on-the-2026-27-proposed-municipal-and-school-budgets/?q=\\\%22advisory%20questions\\\%22. In that article, the numbers were cited as: Treadwell field: $1,125,000 Library: $720,000 Salt Storage: $600,000 As one who started out in the early 80's when inflation was double digits, my 1985 mortgage rate was 14%, and child care costs were comparable (in present value), I shared your grief but never considered the voters ironic or shameful. PS. I agree college tuition is ridiculous. Thankfully, universities are offering (or considering) waiving all or most tuition for middle class families (upwards of $200,000 incomes). Hopefully, they'll also reconsider their need for those funds in the first place.

Sure! Child care costs: https://www.ffyf.org/2022/10/13/data-child-care-prices-continue-to-rise-ahead-of-midterm-elections-outpacing-inflation/ (also from 2021-2025 we had 2 children in a local daycare in Newtown and it cost us $3200 a month, so that's a number I am very familiar with) Home price / median price vs income source: https://www.jchs.harvard.edu/home-price-income-ratios Tuition increase vs inflation: https://feed.georgetown.edu/access-affordability/noting-a-decline-in-middle-class-students-colleges-provide-more-aid/ Hope this helps :)

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Date: Fri 01-May-1998

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