In the last installment from our Peaks Island photo walk, let’s look at three lighthouses.
Here’s yet an other installment from our recent walk around Peaks Island. On the east side of the island, there is a place where travelers are welcome to add to a rock garden. There are many carefully balanced rock towers. It was very peaceful.
Here’s a third installment from our Peaks Island photo walk this past weekend in which we look at some buildings and homes on the Portland area coastline.
On our recent Peaks Island photo walk, we snapped more photos than we could handle. I’m going to publish them over the course of a few days to make it more manageable. Today’s photos show boats and seascapes. Enjoy.
Mr. John Jackson, aka Papa John, road into to town this week. Today I took the day off so that Megan and I could give him a lighthouse tour. Here are a few photos.
Here is an advertisement for Day’s Jewelers and Appliance store from the late 1960s. Days is still running in Portland today, though they only sell jewelry now. Back then a color TV was $379.95 while a diamond ring was $150.00
Holy wow. It was an exhausting week filled to the brim with great new plays.
Standouts include Dolphinephilia, a trippy farce based on the true story of Margaret Howe Lovatt. It was presented by the mysterious Marine Mammal Communication Project. Also in the realm of the absurd was Aliens vs. Beckett, a spin on the classic Waiting For Godot, and presented by the always slimy Crowbait Club. And The Green Room, a hilarious one-man show featuring a man arguing with his sock puppet.
And those were only from the shows that I saw. The festival featured dozens of acts, and after soldiering through this week, I commend all who gave the effort for their art.
Megan, as per her usual mode, outdid herself. She acted in three plays, and wrote/directed one as well. I really enjoyed the perky conversations of Take the Long Way home, and the excellent set designed by Carl Currie. And Megan’s performance in the poetic Boy Come Home was perhaps the best of her career.
I also acted in my first PortFringe show. I shared the stage with my wife, as well as the talented Adam Ferguson and Kristina Balboa in Allie Munier’s comedy I Can’t Take You Anywhere. It was an honor to act in such a well-written and humorous play. I hope Allie submits it to more festivals.
I shaved my beard for my art. Most people liked it, while others, myself included, found it strange to see my bald face. One person said that I looked like a creepy pedophile, and that hurt a bit. I’ve never quite understood that comment. How does one look like a pedophile? Perhaps it says more of the describer than it does of the described.
I’m glad the week is over and that we can get a break. Enjoy some photos.
Today was my first time catching the yearly Pride Portland parade. SPOILER ALERT: it ends with an enormous rainbow banner carried by hundreds of people through the streets of downtown Portland. The overall mood was one of enthusiasm and support, a nice thing to see during these troubled times. Here are some photos to give you an idea of the vibe. Also some of my favorite posts from around the ‘net.
Here are two flyers, hot off the presses for PortFringe 2015. Both were lovingly crafted by Allie Munier. Yours truly will be starring in I Can’t Take You Anywhere, alongside my wife. We will be playing a quarreling married couple. If you like these flyers, then you should obviously come see the plays. ( I’m writing this post from a campground by the way ).
For the past seven years I’ve supported my wife, Megan, in her whole-hearted devotion to the difficult art of play making. This past year, I’ve been joining her onstage and backstage occasionally. I’m thinking about changing my title from Rocco Tripaldi, Theatre Husband to the slightly elevated Rocco Tripaldi, Frequent Collaborator.
As I move forward in this endeavor, a quote from the legendary comedian, Groucho Marx comes to mind: “I don’t care to belong to any club that will have me as a member”.
I learned today that a play that Megan is a part of earned over $1000 in crowd funding to appear in this year’s Portland Fringe Festival. When I heard this news, I initially thought that it seemed excessive to solicit donations for Fringe, which is essentially a way to test out new work. Megan reminded me what Fringe is really about. The festival, like most other theatrical events, is competitive. The artists involved don’t simply want to test out their work, they want to take it to the next level. Sometimes you need to make a big impression to achieve that.
Friends in Portland, friends in Boston, friends in New Hampshire and Rhode Island: come see PortFringe. Come especially if it’s been over 5 years since you’ve seen a play. Come as an excuse to visit us and visit Maine. Come to see great artist striving for bigger spotlights!
In New England there is a strange sociological phenomenon that is worthy of investigation. If, for example, a friend asks you to come to their home to visit, it is likely you’d say “no”. BUT, if on the other hand the same friend asks you to come help them, you’d likely say “yes”. That is the Yankee way.
Today with very little notice, I helped my pal, Chris, build this awesome staircase:
There are not many communities in America where a person will go, with very little notice, and help a friend with an unknown project. I’m proud to be a Yankee. Need help with something, give me a call! Here are a few more photos of our awesome effort:
The countdown is on for this year’s PortFringe festival, and the hashtags are just starting to warm up. Get excited people, and make sure you come support the amazing talent in this town.
To wet your whistle here are a few enticing bits from the web!
And remeber to come see “I Can’t Take You Anywhere” starring yours truly playing opposite Megan Tripaldi. Without giving away too much, here’s some cryptic images from our writer / director Allie Munier. We’ll keep you posted as time draws closer.
Urban ducks do not fly South for the winter, because they have a food source all season long: humans throwing bread and Cheetos™. I did not have any bread on me. Sorry ducks. But i had my camera to capture this chilly gallery of duck photos.
On stage, or in real life Beth Chasse will intoxicate you. She is an amazing actress, writer, and an essential force in Southern Maine’s theatre community. A pack of wildlings, including her main squeeze Cory King, and her lovely mom Twila celebrated her birthday in epic fashion last night. Though Pedro did not make an appearance, a song was sung in his honor.
We started the night at Salvage BBQ in Portland for top notch Barbecue and creative cocktails. If you’ve not tried it yet, go. Beth opened a gift from Cory that elevated the tone of the evening to a sassy roar.
We moved on to the Snug, which may be the best venue for the spirited, ribald conversation that this group often produces. Thanks everyone for a great night. I’ve collected some highlights from various social media below.
