This review ran in Clarksville Online on Nov. 29, 2006. But as my granddaughter and I unpacked my collection of snowmen for the coming holiday, my carefully wrapped musical plush Snowman emerged, to the delight of both of us. Everything else was dropped as we sat in the living room, puling the cord that triggered a music box version of the film’s hit song: Walking in the Air. As a Christmas gift idea for the child all of us, and a reminder of just how good animation can be, I reprint this review, with an updated video clip. Enjoy.

I can’t recall how many copies of The Snowman I’ve bought over the years, but it’s been quite a few. I usually end up giving them away to children who watch and are captivated by its’ magic. And then I buy another copy.

To the uninitiated, The Snowman is a delightful, animated short film about a young boy, James, who builds a snowman that springs to life as midnight chimes. It has only a few lines of introduction at the beginning; the remainder of the film is a symphonic soundtrack that follows their adventures, first as Snowman explores James’ world, putting on pants with suspenders, trying on hats, discovering a music box and the dangerous warmth of a fire. James and his fantasy creation dance across the floor of the house before heading outside, where the he and Snowman, in his mossy green hat and scarf embark on a journey north, racing through the forest and flying through the sky to a magical gathering of snowpeople in the far, far north.

Click here to view the embedded video.

The artwork is a palette of soft colors, gentle curves and feathered edges. The movement is soft at times, buoyant and bright at others.

This Oscar winning short animated film (1982), created and written by Raymond Briggs, was directed by Diane Jackson, has brief narration by David Bowie and includes the song Walking in the Air, sung in by Peter Autry . It runs a mere 26 minutes, sans dialogue, but its magic, its’ enchantment, are timeless.

Watching The Snowman has become a Christmas tradition. It is available as a film (videotape or DVD), and as a musical soundtrack. The Snowman has quietly grown into an industry, with Snowman paraphernelia of all kinds available in stores and online. I have it on videotape, on DVD, and audio track as well. And every winter, a softly stuffed snowman, with its own pull cord that provides a few moments of enchanting music, emerges from hibernation to rest on my pillow, or somewhere highly visible in my living room, where he stays until spring.

In the midst of the flash, splash, action and noise of modern toys and audio/visuals deemed fit for Christmas giving, and hyped in all the major markets, pause for a moment and consider the giving a child, or an entire family, the simple beauty of The Snowman. It really is a gift worth giving.

Tumble into The Looking Glass and let your senses savor its unique decor and often exotic cuisine.

This Warfield Boulevard restaurant is housed in a small modern plaza that could be Anywhere, USA, but that’s this eatery’s only resemblance to the rest of the region. Step inside The Looking Glass and whirl into the whimsical, a colorful kaleidescope of mismatched chairs of all shapes and sizes, unique tables, sheer tablecloths and eccentric dolls garnished with tulle and feathers perched on mini-columns, set and ready to eavesdrop on your conversation over dinner. Frosted ornaments spill from the ceilings in random patterns. One wall of glass with a quiet table for two is highlighted by a pair of stained glass hangings of lush wisteria; another is tucked beneath a wedding-like garland of illusion veiling and white ornaments. Hand-painted chairs with gentle messages grace still another table. A deep leather couch invites one to linger over morning coffee and pastry. It’s craft and class pulled from a Lewis Carroll collection of magical stories.

Our server Tiffyalena arrives with tall cool peach iced teas

My companion and I decided to sample a variety of foods. Our sweet and unsweet peach teas (mine with a slice of lemon) were rich and refreshing, the ultimate sip-able on a hot afternoon as we browsed the menu. Choices. Choices. We sampled “leftover” breakfast pizza squares that could easily have become dinner. We were both tempted by the asparagus soup, a creamy concoction served in a bowl on a plate surrounded by a dozen slices of the bread of our choice: sourdough slices for me, French bread for my companion. The soup was thick, hearty and delicious, but could have benefited from the inclusion of chucks of asparagus (so speaks the asparagus fiend). I can never get enough asparagus.

Our gracious server, Tiffyalena, brought out salads with a fresh mix of greens with sliced tomato and slivered carrots, and a rich, seeded raspberry vinagrette dressing, almost liquified raspberry preserves that danced across the tongue with a a savory sweetness.

We both chose entrees made with a touch of coconut. My companion selected a melt-in-your-mouth coconut shrimp, butterflied shrimp dipped in a coconut batter and lightly deep fried to golden crispness — with not a touch of oil (left above). I chose a coconut-pecan chicken, which was in fact two boneless, skinless chicken breasts dipped in a batter with coconut and chopped pecans, again deep fried to a golden crispness (right above). The uneven slicing of the chicken left the very edges a bit too well done, but the flavor and moistness of the majority of the chicken was quite good. The sweet and savoury dipping sauce was a plus, though both chicken and shrimp could be enjoyed with or without it. My companion added a dash of salt and pepper to his entree, but I skipped those extras and found the taste perfectly suited to my palate.

Our side dishes were slightly varied: a creamy fresh potato-egg salad for me, marinated sliced tomatoes for my companion. Neither of us could resist the temptation of asparagus spears as our second ’side dish’ option. Coming from Hadley MA (the asparagus capitol of the world) , I grew up on asparagus and could eat it by the pound (dripping in butter, no salt) to the exclusion of everything else in the kitchen. I savored the opportunity to add these succulent stalks to my evening meal. The temptation to raid the kitchen for more was great.

Friends who have dined there also recommend the Hawaiian Rib-Eye Steak made with pineapple and served with garlic mashed potatoes, and the Salmon Wellington, a baked salmon in pastry puff served with the house sauce. Other house offerings are a 5-Pepper Chicken, Portabello Garden, and a Seafood Diable (mix of mussels, shrimp and scallops).

We reserved the dessert option for another day, though the display of Tiramisu, Rum Cake, Turtle Cheesecake, and delectable truffles were akin to the devil tempting Eve. Again, friends who dine there highly recommend the carrot cake.

The restaurant also serves a wide variety of deli sandwiches and wraps, a selection of salads, and offers soup in a bread bowl as well as the traditional serving. Appetizers include a spinach/artichoke dip, grilled chicken quesidillas, guacamole and mussels provencal (mussels ina butter wine sauce). My last experience of the Provencal dish involved my harvesting the mussels at the seashore, scrubbing off the beards, and cooking them in an herbed white wine and cream sauce into which I diped french bread chunks. with butter. It was a delight to see that delicious item on the menu and not have been the one spending an hour or two preparing it.

In addition to the imaginative indoor dining room, The Looking Glass has an outdoor patio surrounded by tall bamboo fencing. A water garden is overflowing with lotus and pond plants, driftwood and stone, sculpture of herons in flight and poised at water’s edge. Tall tables (one set under a rusty arbor with a kerosene chandelier) rim the garden, which can also be accessed through an ornate gate from the plaza. Music (first middle eastern, then a bit of Pachelbel) created a soothing background of soft sound that made conversation easy.

One of the finest restaurants I’ve dined in, Simon Pierce at Quechee in Vermont, reviewed in magazines worldwide, has a similar menu and quality of cooking, though in a distinctly different country setting. The Looking Glass easily matches that culinary icon in quality, unique ambiance, and unobtrusive service; the taste and presentation of the food we ordered excelled.

Prices range from $7-$9 for sandwiches, $7-$10 for salads, and $10-$18 for entrees.

The Looking Glass Restaurant is located at Warfield Tower on Warfield Boulevard (next to Edington’s Furniture Store) in Clarksville, TN. They are open Monday through Saturday from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m.. take home dinners and House specialties are available daily. For more information, call 931-552-6344 or go to http://www.lookingglassrestaurant.com.

Editor’s Note: Christine Anne Piesyk has written about travel, food and entertainment for radio and print media  for over 30 years.

It’s true, sometimes you just want to go where everybody knows your name. That place for me, and for over 35 years many Clarksvillians and travelers, is none other than G’s Pancake House Restaurants, Inc.  This restaurant chain is named after the late Eugene Sueiro and has two Clarksville locations and one in Oak Grove, Kentucky.

Many a newcomer to this military town has made G’s Pancake House there first dining experience because of its location and proximity to the Fort Campbell, KY military base. But, once inside and settled, the staff and great food does the rest in making sure that you and your family become a mainstay and frequent return customer.

Once a fresh cup of their 100% premium Colombian Coffee is brought to my table, only then am I ready to order from the extensive, moderately priced 24 hour breakfast, lunch and dinner menu.  Made to order dishes include many American and International favorites such as steak, schnitzel, shrimp, chicken, Freedom fries, German potato salad, the classic club sandwich, huge signature omelets, and the best flame broiled burgers this side of the Ohio Valley and Davidson County line.

The food is always hot and fresh and every item can be served with an order of their famous pancakes.  With over 24 styles or combinations to choose from, including French toast or waffles, from old fashion buttermilk to wild blueberry flavored you will begin to understand how this pancake house was first put on the map.

Man, all this talk of great food has really gotten this writer’s appetite up, so ideally I think this is the perfect time to bring up the flag ship and back bone of many American restaurants in the new millennium and that is its “All You Care to Eat Buffet” and salad bar.  With the high cost of inflation and taxes many people are looking for a lot more bang for their buck when they dine out.  That is why a restaurant must be on top of it’s buffet game and G’s more than delivers in this department.  Sounds corny, well just check out this weekly lineup of entrees and fixin’s that are served on any given week day and night.

Meat loaf, baked chicken, smoked ham, roast beef, spaghetti, pork roast, lasagna, liver w/gravy & onions, tacos, ribs, steak tips, pork chops, schnitzel, and don’t miss Catfish & hush puppies Fridays.  Homemade side dishes, more fixings, veggies, corn bread and hot buttered rolls only prepares you for the ultimate buffet discount.  Check this out!

At the Fort Campbell Blvd, (Clarksville, TN) G’s Pancake House location Monday – Thursday night you can have all the benefits of the full buffet with a drink and dessert included for only $ 3.99.  Yes, $ 3.99.  At these prices you can afford to feed Grand Mamma, Grand Pa and all the grandchildren too.

Since I am a diabetic, I have to pass on dessert but that did not stop my wife and colleagues from trying the assorted pies, cakes and frozen desserts that G’s has to offer. Umm, come to think of it, since this is a military town I need to talk to long time manager Quinton about creating and naming a dessert in honor of the soldiers of Fort Campbell especially since soldiers frequent the pancake house so often to eat.

This makes absolute since to me since G’s Pancake Houses are also very community minded and offer senior citizens’ discounts, a kid’s menu, military & collegian discounts and low carb salad options for the calorie and weight loss conscious.

For the many that come to Clarksville, G’s Pancake House, regardless of which location, is usually the first restaurant they dine in and if they are as pleased with the great food, service and hospitality, as my family and I are, then I am sure that G’s Pancake House is sure to become a favorite family grub spot and tradition for many years to come.

G’s Pancake House gets two thumbs up for a full stomach, great food, low cost and service with a smile in my book. Visit G’s Pancake House and don’t forget to tell them that Terry McMoore sent you.

PEACE!!!!!!

Open Tandoor’s elegantly carved doors and walk into another time and place, one where the recipes, the spices, and the process of cooking stands far removed from western culture. The key to cooking here is the tandoor oven, a stainless steel oven not unlike a pottery kiln, lined in clay, flames curling up the sides to cook the flat breads that line its sides and seasoned meats and seafood laced onto three-foot long skewers.

Owner Nasir Hakeem demonstrated the art of making appetizing breads in his tandoor oven. Pressing cheeses, nuts and spices into the dough, he kneads it briefly, rolls it out and, using a heavy black mitt, slaps the dough onto the clay side of the circular oven, where the flames below slowly crisp and bubble the bread. Crispy on the outside, creamy with melted chesses inside. Grilled meats are seasoned first, then strung on a skewer to cook and crisp up in the flames. The aromas and the taste are tantalizing and delicious.

Soups and salads include a Lentil Soup, Chicken Mulligatawny (chicken cooked with lentils), Kachomer (cucumbers, onions and tomatoes in a yogurt dressing) and a spiced Mango Chutney, all priced between $3-$5.

Appetizers include a deep fried and spiced Chicken Cultlet, a marinated and deep-fried Tilapia, Cheese Pakora (deep fried battered cheeses) and a delectable Prawn Masala (prawns cookedwith tomatoes and seasoned with black and white pepper). Appetizers come in substantial portions and are priced at up to $8.

One could feast on the breads alone; Tandoor offers flat tandoor-baked breads seasoned with garlic and cilantro, mixed nuts, chicken and cheese, and plain white flour bread generously buttered and crisped. The dinner plate-sized breads are sliced in halves or quarters and meant to be eaten “as is” or dipped in many of the delicious sauces and seasonings of the main course. Our serving of bread filled with pistachio and other nuts, spices and cheese came hot from the oven, literally melting in our mouths.

The main courses include multiple recipes for chicken, lamb, seafood and vegetables/lentils.

Over several visits, I’ve sample the Chicken Tikka Masala, tender and perfectly seasoned at the medium level of spices, is served in a creamy sauce of tomatoes and spices. The Mughulai Chicken is tender white chicken cooked with a variety of nuts — pistachios, cashews, almonds, coconut — in a creamy sauce sweetened with honey.

My dining companion favored the lamb dishes, including an aromatic and dramatic house specialty, four substantial chops cooked with spices and served on a “sizzler” — a scorching hot platter that sends a cloud of steamy spices smoking over the table. It’s worth ordering simply for the drama of it; the tender meat and subtle seasonings make it a trademark dish.

Lamb dishes come in a variety of style and flavors: with peppers, onions and tomotaoes, in a coconut cream sauce with nuts, with spinach in a cream sauce, with vegetables, mint and yogurt, with chilies, ginger and spices, and with a hot Vandallo sauce.

The Prawn Bhurdi with vegetables and Creamy Prawn Pasanda includes perfectly jumbo prawns that melt in your mouth. Lobster Masala is a marinated lobster cooked in the tandoor oven and served with a tomato based sauce.

Vegetarian offerings Bangen Ka Bartha, a tandoor-baked eggplant dish with herbs and spices, and anumber of dishes with cheeses, lentils, spinach, mixed fresh vegetables, garlic and all the traditional spices.

The main courses are accompanied by steaming family-sized cooper-clad dishes of Basmati rice or a vegetable seasoned rice cooked in rose water. Main dishes are presented in individual serving dishes with ornate handles. The oversized dinner plates are essential to hold the rice, the entree portions and the breads.

Hakkem explained that there are 28 herbs and spices in use in Tandoor’s traditional recipes, including cilantro, mint, curry, ginger, tumeric, saffron, chilies, cayenne, cardomom, coriander. fennel mustard seed, cinnamon, nutmeg, paprika, poppyseeds, peppercorns, cloves, mace, cumin, and more. Add to the spices assorted nuts, cheeses, yogurt, tomatoes, chili peppers, coconut milk, mango and vegetables and the result is a taste far removed from American fare, a delicious taste that transports you to another culture. The mix is exotic, the colors vibrant, and the taste inspirational. The portion size is ample; no one leaves Tandoor still hungry.

All dishes at Tandoor can be made with a variety of “heat;” one can order low levels of spice or bravely opt for “as hot as you can make it.” Which is eye-burning, tear-making, mouth burning hot. Surpisingly, the mid-level spice range, medium, was far less ‘hot” than I expected, and I found myself moving up to the next level on a second visit.

All the dishes are prepared to order, which makes dining at Tandoor a leisurely experience, though one well worth waiting for. Entree prices range from $16-$28.

Tandoor also serves Indian and American beers.

At the back of the main restaurant is a separate, behind-closed doors smoking section called the Hookah Club, which offers water-based pipes and flavored tobaccos (apple, peach, banana, and a dozen others) for those who choose to smoke. A hookah is an Eastern smoking pipe, usually with an urn of water and several tubes, allowing several people at a time to smoke. Membership in the Hookah Club is $10 a year, and members and guests must be 18 to use the room.

The dining room is spacious, with booths, tables, and traditional Indian seating on raised platforms lined with colorful pillows in the hues of spices, smoky mirrors on the walls, and bamboo beaded strands giving ambiance and the barest hint of privacy. Simple pierced clay shades light individual tables, and ornate carved screens seperate the dining area from the entrance and kitchen. Tandoor sets a mood to match the cuisine, and offers its guests unparalleled Eastern taste.

Visiting Tandoor as a large group on several occasions allowed us to share and taste a wide variety of this restaurants unique and perfectly prepared dishes, noting our favorites for future reference. And we’ve gone back, referencing them a number of times.

Service is smooth, attentive, and courteous, and Nakeem keeps a close eye on his customers, ensuring that the dishes he prepares and serves are just what his customers ordered.

Tandoor is located at 116 Morris Drive, off Wilma Rudolph Boulevard near the Governor’s Square Mall. They are open Tuesday through Sunday, but closed on Mondays.

Located on the web at http://www.tandoorclarksville.com/

Many of you have seen the movie which starred Dustin Hoffman, Anne Bancroft, and Katherine Ross. Many more have heard the song Mrs Robinson by Simon and Garfunkel which is based on snippets of music which appeared in the movie.

The song was not completed for the film; only snippets are heard as incidental music. When the film and the music became popular, Paul Simon put the snippets together into a complete song which rose to the top of the charts in 1968 knocking The Beatles’ White Album off the number one spot.

The movie was adapted into a play in the year 2000. The play was critically acclaimed during it’s run both in London’s West End and on Broadway.

RJ Gossett plays Benjamin Braddock, he conveys the mental state, the detachment from a life of his character well. Ben has not yet learned to live his life for himself instead of living it for others. Something he learns from his experiences with Mrs Robinson.

Phillip Ocampo plays Benjamin’s father, his performance brought a sternness to Mr Braddock, and emphasizes the distance between the father and son. While Mr Braddock loves Ben, he tries to make Ben fit his image of his son instead of letting Ben find his own path in life. I enjoy watching Phillip in different roles as each time I see him, I see a new facet of his talent.

Julie Ross plays Mrs Braddock, and while she suffers from the same issues Mr Braddock has she brings into the play a sense of maternal love for her son and her hopes for his future. Julie is a rising star at the Roxy and I can’t wait to see her in the Buddy Holly story later this summer.

Jimmy Bishop played Mr Robinson, he is one of my favorite male stage actors. He brings humor to each character he plays without appearing to try. That being said he can handle the serious roles equally well. My first experience with him was in A year with Frog and Toad, a play I fell so in love with, that I bought the soundtrack.

Leslie Green plays Mrs Robinson, she retired after reprising the rule of Dorothy Dix in the play Dorothy Dix speaks again last season. She has some out of her Roxy retirement with a vengeance. I hope her appearance in this play is a sign of her return to the Roxy stage and not a one time return.

Jennifer Mintzer plays Elaine Robinson, a natural beauty, she keeps me entranced and enthralled whenever she enters a scene. Her personality and talent shines though, alone or in a crowd. I will miss her when she heads out after this production.

The clerk is a shared role played by Kevin Heiser, Jeron Bray, Joe Muller, or Ted Kitterman depending on the night you attend. In the show I attended the clerk blended into the scenery, so smoothly was the part played. Rather than being a distraction from the action, their presence seamlessly enhanced it.

I was not sure before attending a performance of this show, if I would like it or not. Now that I have seen it I can truthfully say I enjoyed it quite a bit. If you have not yet seen it by all means you should go, you will have a great time. Hurry though, as it only plays for the next two weeks with the final performance on July 8th.

I made plans to share space with Debbie Boen and her Clarksville Free Thinkers for Peace and Civil Liberties display in the week leading up to the registration drive and rally.

While we were discussing the rally and making the arrangements to share her space, we discussed offering free ice cold drinks as a means to draw people to the displays. Debbie was to supply the ice chest and the ice, and I volunteered to purchase the drinks.

Three days before the event, I printed on my work’s color laser printer two signs. One stated in red, white, and blue letters on a black background:

The other simply said that the drinks were courtesy of this web site and the Clarksville Free Thinkers for Peace and Civil Liberties.

I planned on giving out business cards with information about this site to the people at the rally, which would be this web sites official openings to the public. Before doing that, only people I had personally told, knew about the site. I picked the cards up the day before the event.

So, shortly before arriving at the rally, I stopped and bought, two 12 packs each of Coke, Pepsi, Mountain Dew, Dr Pepper, and four 24 bottle cases of bottled water.

I arrived at the site around noon. It was very hot and sunny. Fortunately for us, there was a good breeze blowing through the area.

I saw Debbie and parked close to where she was unloading her stuff. Turning on my hazard blinkers, I unloaded the sodas and bottled waters from my car and carried them to Debbie’s table. I returned and moved my car into a near by parking space.

As promised Debbie had her ice chest there and three bags of ice. I put a bag of ice in the chest and then put in a 12 pack of each kind of soft drink and 24 bottles of water. Once I had all the cans and bottles standing up in the ice, I put two more bags of ice on top. I closed the ice chest and looked around.

The area that we were in, was basically a big square in the middle of the parking lot. At one end were two radio stations tables and a stage. On the other three sides were approximately 20 tables. Most of them were political candidates and their able teams of campaign workers. There were a few civic organizations, one which representing Hispanic individuals; one which opposed proposition 1, which seeks to amend the Tennessee Constitution and ban for a second time, gay marriage in Tennessee; members of the Clarksville Civil rights commission; and several others were present.

I won’t go into details of the individual candidates, the speeches they later gave, or their political message (except for two exceptions later on in this piece). The primary purpose of this event was voter registration.

Shortly after I arrived Terry McMoore announced that the first person had been registered to vote!

My head was burning up due to my dark hair. I also noticed that I was rapidly getting red and so decided to check in the Dollar General store located nearby for a hat, sun glasses, and sunscreen. Not finding any sun glasses there that I liked, I bit the bullet and headed for Wal-mart, which was the closest store likely to have the items I was looking for.

I found what I needed and headed back out to my car. I promptly covered my exposed skin with a healthy dose of the SPF50 sun screen. I was already wearing the hat and sun glasses.

I drove back to the rally location parking my car heading back to where I left Debbie. When I arrived I found that she had moved, and was now sharing a tent with Gregg A. Schlanger candidate for the County Commission and Chris Lugo who’s running for the US Senate.

Gregg and I carried the full ice chest with the soft drinks to the tent. After getting it to where we wanted it, I taped the sign advertising the presence of free drinks to the canopy of the tent and one of the legs supporting it. Due to the breeze, the sign kept whipping back and forth. So, I borrowed a paper plate that Debbie had with her and taped it to the back of the sign providing the support it needed.

At this point with everything that I to do to help with the setup being done. I grabbed some of my Clarksville Online cards and headed into the crowd.

I spoke with many good people, discussed issues, and their stand on them. To each person I gave one of my cards. Many returned the favor giving me their cards, campaign literature, or position papers. I made it about 1/4th of the way around the square which enclosed us and went back to Debbie’s tent and drank a water. I did say “it was very hot and sunny”, didn’t I?

Being stubborn, after I finished the water, I returned to the point I had left off at. Finishing up going around the square, I had given out about 100 cards and I hope every one of them visits this site :) If you, the reader is someone to whom I gave a card today, welcome!

I returned again to the shaded area which was Debbie’s space in the tent.

The political speeches started about this time and we heard from many a promising candidate. As I listened to the speeches, I kept an eye out for anyone passing nearby and offered them a soda or water, and gave each; one of my cards. Debbie also read one of her letters to the assembled crowd which had recently appeared in the Leaf Chronicle paper.

One of the highlights of the day was when two Mormons tried to convert me, I returned the favor. I gave them many things for them to think about, which I believe may be one of my missions in this life: To challenge people’s misconceptions, preconceptions, and beliefs. I didn’t criticize them or their faith. I just explained my beliefs and views on religion, how to have a relationship with God, and gay marriage. Needless to say they were all for amending the Constitution a step which I firmly oppose, we have many other much more serious problems that need our national attention.

Around 4pm the event some individuals started packing up their stuff, around 4:30 it turned into a flood. At 4:45pm Debbie and I decided it was our turn.

It was a great day. I got to meet many interesting people and hear their views on the problems, solutions, and issues facing the residents of our community.

I got to meet other interesting people who shared with me the thing which makes this nation great. What is that you ask? Political Discourse. We may not always agree with each others views. That is not required. However, we should always listen with an open mind, and be willing to consider what others have to say. A closed mind is a small mind, remember that.

WHOEVER thou art who passest by
Know that my father was gentle,
And my mother was violent,
While I was born the whole of such hostile halves,
Not intermixed and fused,
But each distinct, feebly soldered together.
Some of you saw me as gentle,
Some as violent,
Some as both.
But neither half of me wrought my ruin.
It was the falling asunder of halves,
Never a part of each other,
That left me a lifeless soul.

-Henry Layton, Spoon River Anthology

Spoon River Anthology is a series of monologues which detail the lives of the residents of a small mid-western town’s cemetery. The recollection of their lives are related to the audience by their shades from the afterlife. Spoon River Anthology was based off of a collection of poems written in 1915 by Edgar Lee Masters.

To this generation I would say:
Memorize some bit of verse of truth or beauty.
It may serve a turn in your life.
My husband had nothing to do
With the fall of the bank–he was only cashier.
The wreck was due to the president, Thomas Rhodes,
And his vain, unscrupulous son.
Yet my husband was sent to prison,
And I was left with the children,
To feed and clothe and school them.
And I did it, and sent them forth
Into the world all clean and strong,
And all through the wisdom of Pope, the poet:
“Act well your part, there all the honor lies.”

-Mrs. George Reece, Spoon River Anthology

As always with the OtherSpace, the sets were sparse, and by being so, are not a distraction from the performers and their performances. I want to give my personal thanks the young actors and actresses who were in the show, they put a lot of time and effort into preparing themselves for this production, and it clearly showed during their performances this evening. They are participants in the Roxy’s School of the Arts program, which takes young people and gives them instruction in acting.

I BELONGED to the church,
And to the party of prohibition;
And the villagers thought I died of eating watermelon.
In truth I had cirrhosis of the liver,
For every noon for thirty years,
I slipped behind the prescription partition
In Trainor’s drug store
And poured a generous drink
From the bottle marked “Spiritus frumenti.”

- Deacon Taylor, Spoon River Anthology

I want to give a special commendation to Ted Kitterman who played a violin during the show, he also did the monologue of Fiddler Jack which I am including below. I knew Ted could act and sing. What I did not know, was that he could play a violin with such skill and passion. His playing was the outstanding highlight that I take from this show.

THE earth keeps some vibration going
There in your heart, and that is you.
And if the people find you can fiddle,
Why, fiddle you must, for all your life.
What do you see, a harvest of clover?
Or a meadow to walk through to the river?
The wind’s in the corn; you rub your hands
For beeves hereafter ready for market;
Or else you hear the rustle of skirts
Like the girls when dancing at Little Grove.
To Cooney Potter a pillar of dust
Or whirling leaves meant ruinous drouth;
They looked to me like Red-Head Sammy
Stepping it off, to “Toor-a-Loor.”
How could I till my forty acres
Not to speak of getting more,
With a medley of horns, bassoons and piccolos
Stirred in my brain by crows and robins
And the creak of a wind-mill–only these?
And I never started to plow in my life
That some one did not stop in the road
And take me away to a dance or picnic.
I ended up with forty acres;
I ended up with a broken fiddle–
And a broken laugh, and a thousand memories,
And not a single regret.

- Fiddler Jones, Spoon River Anthology

Spoon River Anthology is out of copyright and so can be viewed freely. If you would like to read the poetry behind the play, I would recommend “The Project Gutenberg Etext of Spoon River Anthology” which can be freely downloaded.

I HAD fiddled all day at the county fair.
But driving home “Butch” Weldy and Jack McGuire,
Who were roaring full, made me fiddle and fiddle
To the song of Susie Skinner, while whipping the horses
Till they ran away. Blind as I was, I tried to get out
As the carriage fell in the ditch,
And was caught in the wheels and killed.
There’s a blind man here with a brow
As big and white as a cloud.
And all we fiddlers, from highest to lowest,
Writers of music and tellers of stories
Sit at his feet,
And hear him sing of the fall of Troy.

- Blind Jack, Spoon River Anthology

This play runs for one more evening. I strongly recommend that anyone who can, go see it, I do not think you will regret doing so.